THE STRUCTURE AND GROWTH OF THE CREDIT UNION INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED-STATES - MEETING CHALLENGES OF THE MARKET

Credit Unions in the United States have grown significantly in recent years. This paper identifies and analyzes the unique characteristics o f the credit union industry contributing to this growth. The consolida tion of smaller institutions and product diversification among larger credit unions in the environment of financial deregulation in recent y ears has resulted in enhanced services for credit union members. The i ndustry is expected to continue its growth in membership and assets re lative to other depository intermediaries.