It took a while but Oregon's Wauna Federal Credit Union iscelebrating NCUA approval of a field of membership expansion acrossthe Columbia River into Washington to add Pacific County.

“We're quite pleased but the process we found out is not asimple one,” observed Robert Blumberg, president/CEO of the $130million Wauna FCU of Clatskanie, Ore.

Wauna said its expanded FOM encompassing a rural county of20,000 would permit the Oregon credit union to serve a large numberof underserved members.

There are no immediate plans to add a branch in Pacific County“but we may look at other delivery alternatives including mobileunits or satellite offices,” said Blumberg.

It is the first time during Blumberg's tenure since 2007 thatthe Wauna credit union has applied for expanded FOM.

Wauna first applied to the NCUA last November with a secondapplication with more detail requested in February. The agencyapparently streamlined its rules last August permitting regionaloffices to approve applications with fewer than 1 million inpopulation, said Blumberg. Previously, he said, such applicationswere dispatched to Washington headquarters with later delegation toregional directors.

“Our second application with more information was 35 pageslong,” noted Blumberg.

“The credit union had to first demonstrate its financialsoundness and ability to serve and additional geographic territory,plus present a written, detailed plan to outline the resources thatwould be used to effectively serve Pacific County,” he said.

That included an advertising strategy, public relations andcommunity outreach plus targeting specific segments of thepopulation who may not be served by other financialinstitutions.

“Our management team and the board of directors conductedsignificant research and analysis to prepare our plan,” Blumbergsaid.