Capital Briefs: Credit Unions Urge Truce in Court Case

Credit union trade groups are pressing the banking industry to agree to delay court action in a controversial credit union membership case until Congress passes a law or adjourns.

The Credit Union National Association and the National Association of Federal Credit Unions in a March 4 letter to banking trade groups said Congress ought to be given time to decide whether all members of a credit union must share a single, common bond.

Spokesmen for the American Bankers Association and America's Community Bankers declined to comment Monday.

The credit union groups requested a reply before a March 20 federal court hearing that will set a timetable for future action in the case. Last month the Supreme Court ruled that occupation-based credit unions may not serve employees at unrelated companies.

CUNA and NAFCU also asked the ABA to withdraw its pending request that the court force divestitures of members added illegally. Banking industry leaders have said that they will drop this request, but have not yet done so.

In an unrelated move, Judge Thomas P. Jackson of the U.S. District Court here rescheduled on Monday a March 20 status conference on the case for April 15. The ABA requested the delay because its lead lawyer is out of the country.

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