PSCU is among the latest to sign a petition thatcalls for a more open and transparent process in appointingdirectors to the NCUA.

The St. Petersburg, Fla.-based payment servicesCUSO is backing the initiative launched by Chip Filson, chairman of Callahan & Associates Inc., duringCUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington lastmonth.

The petition asks President Obama to consider nominees “whounderstand the shared economic value for people and communitiescreated by the cooperative model.”

As of Tuesday, the petition had 4,716signatures.

“This call to action for our industry is rooted in the beliefthat informed and enlightened governance of cooperatives will helpmove the transformation of the industry forward and drivesustainable relevance for credit unions,” said Michael Kelly, PSCUpresident/CEO.

Kelly noted that cooperatives fill a special role in financialservices. In 2012, 2.1 million new members chose to join amember-owned and memberfunded institution, PSCU said. Credit unionsalso granted a record $330 billion in new loans, which helpedmillions access record low rates, refinance debt and build consumerconfidence, according to the CUSO.

“NCUA leaders who are intimately familiar with the purpose,mission and values of the cooperative model can be powerful agentsfor the changes our industry needs to achieve its full growthpotential,” Kelly said.

PSCUsaid in unity with other organizations in the industry, is calling on the creditunion community to support of the petition, which requires 100,000signatures by March 26 for the White House to respond.