This year, six state credit union leagues formed newpartnerships, launching a new chapter of industry collaboration,competition and survival.

Last week, the CEOs of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions and the New York Credit UnionAssociation signed a letter of intent that they say will createthe nation's largest league collaboration project. And in January,the Ontario, Calif.-based Plexcity, a collaborative organizationformed by the California, Nevada, New Jersey, Maryland and Districtof Columbia state associations, launched its operations.

These two entities will inevitably compete to attract theremaining 33 state leagues. More importantly, however, is whetherthese collaborations will enable the trade associations to survivethe unrelenting credit union industry trends of mergers, dwindlingmembership dues and other revenue sources.

The Plexcity collaboration is already producing positiveresults.

“We continue to see significant efficiencies, with operatingexpenses in these areas being reduced by about 30% [by] next yearwhen compared to what it would have been had we kept thesefunctions in house,” John Bratsakis, president/CEO of the Marylandand District of Columbia Credit Union Association, said.

Diana Dykstra, president/CEO of the California and Nevada CreditUnion Leagues, and Greg Michlig, president/CEO of the New JerseyCredit Union League, also said they were pleased with Plexcity'scollaborative model, noting it allows them to devote more time andresources for advocacy and membership needs.

Tony Kitt, CEO of Plexcity, and former Bethpage Federal CreditUnion President/CEO turned independent consultant Kirk Kordeleski,who helped facilitate the Florida/New York partnership, said theindustry's collaboration projects will continue to grow.

Get more details and insights on how these leaguecollaborations formed and the benefits Plexcity has produced in theNov. 4, 2015 print issue of Credit Union Times.