WASHINGTON – According to Callahan & Associates data, credit union membership has grown three times faster in the last decade than the U.S. population as a whole. During this period the U.S. population increased by 13%, while CU membership was up by 45%. Credit union membership penetration of the population has increased from 22% to 28%. The top five states in terms of penetration are the following: District of Columbia, 78%; Alaska, 60%; Utah, 54%; Hawaii, 51%; and Maine 47%. Utah had the fastest growing membership going from 793,344 in June of 1990 to 1,226,305 in June 2001. Utah also had one of the fastest growing populations in the country, growing from 1,722,850 in April of 1990 to 2,233,169 in April of 2000. Utah also had sweeping FOM legislation that may have helped its CU membership spike. California, which has 15% of all credit union assets in the nation, had a membership growth rate of 38%. Credit Union Times will publish a Callahan's chart breaking down membership growth by state in an upcoming issue.