The Michigan Credit Union League said one of its CUSO processingaffiliates has purchased a 10% interest in Michigan BusinessConnections, an Ann Arbor CUSO, to help grow member businesslending.

The league said its CUcorp operation and Michigan BusinessConnections would be “developing a marketing agreement where MBCwill utilize CUcorp sales representatives to augment MBC sales andcustomer support functions.”

The goal is to increase the number of Michigan credit unionsinvolved in business lending as well improve MBL education andtraining, the league said.

Michigan Business is majority owned by three credit unions, the$1.8 billion Lake Trust of Lansing, the $261 million ChristianFinancial in Rosedale and the $1.1 Michigan Schools and Governmentin Clinton Township,

MBC CEO Bill Beardsley said CUcorp's interest in his CUSO willincrease business lending collaboration among credit unionsthroughout the state. He noted that Michigan already has a trackrecord in business lending with a $1 billion portfolio.

“We look forward to leveraging the credit union relationshipsthat CUcorp has with Michigan credit unions to enhance ourinteractions with both current and new credit union subscribers.”Beardsley said.

“Collaboration has always been a significant priority for MBC,and I am hopeful that this alignment will also ensure continueddialogue amongst all business-lending stakeholders,” he said.

David Adams, president/CEO of the league, said, “While we lookforward to this new partnership, MCUL & Affiliates remainscommitted to ongoing dialogue and collaboration with otherMichigan-based business-lending CUSOs such as CenCorp andCommercial Alliance.”