KENTWOOD, Mich. - CU*Answers said it is going into 2005 on the heels of one if its best years yet, having signed 11 new clients to its CU*BASE processing system in 2004, representing more than 110,000 new members. There now are 106 credit unions on the platform, says the Kentwood-based CUSO. The client base has increased 50% in the past five years, it says. "The signing of 11 new clients, plus reaching the 100 client-signing mark in 2004 represents a significant milestone for CU*Answers as a technology provider, but more importantly as a CUSO and as a firm owned 100% by credit unions," said CU*Answers CEO Randy Karnes. The former WESCO was founded nearly 35 years ago and now offers in-house and service bureau core processing, home banking, check processing and direct deposit services to a total of 160 credit unions in 13 states.