SALEM, Ore. – Responding to what Oregon's top credit union regulator admits is jawboning, CUs in the state continue to "respond favorably" to an edict laid down two months ago by the state Division of Finance and Corporate Securities State Division urging CUs to offer payday loan alternatives or face constraints on expansion. "Isn't that what regulators do best-regulatory jawboning?" jibed Floyd Lanter, administrator of the Division and CU supervisor. In applauding the industry for introducing more short-term products in recent weeks, Lanter agreed "no one is happy to hear from the regulator" whether it be payday loans or other areas. However, pressure exerted on community CUs is necessary "in helping remind them of their original charter" and duty to aid the underserved. "I do like the response I've been getting from the industry," said Lanter. A few Oregon CUs have launched payday alternative products since Lanter's public push for them. Meanwhile, the Credit Union Association of Oregon said it views the actions by Oregon CUs in offering payday products as a matter of an "individual" policy decision. There had been talk the CUAO might take some steps to further clarify or possibly question the Lanter policies to enforce payday alternatives as spelled out in a letter to CEOs and in CUAO meetings. Lanter has said he would insist that federal CUs seeking to convert to state charter offer a business plan showing payday products or steps in offering short-term loan products. His payday policies "do cover expansion requests" by community charter CUs, said Lanter.