The world's largest credit union said it notched a record yearin 2012, hitting new marks for new members, loans and checkingaccounts.

Membership at the $52.5 billion Navy Federal surpassed 4 millionas 600,000 new members joined, the Vienna, Va., credit union said.There were $10 billion in mortgage originations – driven by historically low rates and anoffer to pay $2,500 in closing costs – and another $4.8 billion inin auto loans, a 46% increase over 2011, Navy Federal said.

The credit union opened 22% more credit card accounts in 2012 than 2011, nearly 250,000 of them,Navy Federal said, citing the success of several low-rate cardproducts and promotions.