Two of the credit union industry's big names in insurance aretangled up in a legal battle over allegations of defamation, unfairmarketing practices and attempts to steal customers, according to alawsuit filed in Wisconsin circuit court on July 26.

According to the complaint, the beef between Madison, Wis.-basedCUNA Mutual Group and East Windsor,Conn.-based Insuritas revolves around a July 20 articlewith the headline “CUNA Mutual Group Leaves Credit Unions Behind inShift to Direct-to-Consumer Strategy” that Insuritas allegedlyauthored and posted on its website. It claimed CUNA Mutual Groupand its subsidiary, TruStage, have failed to tell credit unionsthat TruStage offerings are no longer just for members only.

“TruStage has recently carefully added language throughout theirconsumer-facing website noting that many of the products they offerare no longer tied to credit union membership, yet have allowedtheir credit union partners to continue to promote the TruStageprogram as an exclusive benefit for credit union members,” the postclaimed. “In fact, the website you may be directing your members totoday educates your members on the fact that they can takeadvantage of TruStage products regardless of their current orpotential membership in your credit union.”