Dave Osborn, CEO of the $1.4 billion Anheuser-Bush EmployeesCredit Union in St. Louis, told CU Times the credit union systemdoes not need to have an association in every state.

“Building 20,000 credit unions across the nation would not havebeen possible from Madison. Time has changed the landscape andeveryone is aware of the consolidations in our industry. However,we still need credit unions to be unified and we need someorganization to stand up for our interests in Congress and thestate legislatures,” Osborn said.

“I do see the need for coordination of this state activity withthe national advocacy activity. But, we don't need an associationin every state. We need advocacy in every state and that can bedone with regional associations, which would require moreconsolidation on the state tier. That should also lower the cost ofproviding the advocacy,” he added.