ALEXANDRIA, Va.-Speakers at the Jan. 26 Partnering and Leadership Successes workshop on alternatives to predatory lending will be facing a sold out crowd, NCUA Board Member Debbie Matz announced last week. "It is very encouraging to see the overwhelming interest shown by credit union leaders in providing alternatives to predatory lending," she said. "Credit unions have tremendous opportunities to attract new members by offering innovative services that help consumers avoid predatory lenders' triple-digit interest rates and hidden fees." Nearly 270 credit union officials have registered for the PALS workshop. Affordable mortgages, risk-based loans, and financial education are just some of the subjects to be covered by panelists at the workshop, which is being co-hosted by NAFCU, the Texas Credit Union League, and the Texas Credit Union Foundation. Additionally, NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar will be providing a keynote address. For those interested but unable to attend, several of the presentations will be posted next month on the PALS Web site. The PALS workshop held in Washington, D.C. on member business lending at the end of last year was standing room only with a waiting list so long, another conference was scheduled for San Francisco on March 25, 2004.