FLINT, Mich. – For an automotive credit union, the $223 millionFinancial Plus Federal CU is doing okay with a community charterafter changing its name little more than a year ago. Indeed, theFlint-based CU, formerly West Side Auto Employees and whichconverted in September 2002, said it has seen its ratio of newmembers climb by a third from 1,800 to 2,900 a year and “we are now96% loaned up,” said David McGrain, vice president of marketing.The high loan volume-bucking a national CU trend-was attributed toan effective indirect loan program on both autos and RVs, quickresponse time on loan approvals plus favorable rates on fixed ratemortgages. The 33,000-member Financial Plus, which serves employeesof five General Motors plants from one office, also announced thisweek it will be opening its first branch next May on a site fivemiles from its headquarters. Land has been purchased for two morebranches to open in 2005 and 2006, said McGrain.