TNB Adds Three More Card Portfolios

DALLAS – TNB Card Services, the card processing arm of credit union owned Town North Bank, announced that it has purchased the credit card portfolios of three more credit unions which, in turn, entered into agent relationships with the firm. “We hear again and again that because TNB is owned and directed by credit unions, there is a natural feeling of trust, even among credit unions that don’t know us that well,” said Rollie Penn, executive vice president for TNB. “They can also judge the benefits their cardholder members will enjoy, based on our track record of providing enhanced card products, better interest rates, top-level customer service, and successful marketing for the card portfolios we own.” The three credit unions, located in Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, brought to more than 50 the number of credit unions that have sold their portfolios to TNB, the firm announced. The three are the $110 million Mizzou Credit Union, headquartered in Columbia, Missouri; the $24 million Sentry FCU, headquartered in Brookhaven, Pennsylvania; and the $33 million Marshfield Medical Center Credit Union, headquartered in Marshfield, Wisconsin. According to NCUA data, as of September 31 2004, the deals brought an additional 5,000 accounts to TNB, worth roughly $5 million in receivables. Mizzou Credit Union weighed offers for its portfolio from two potential buyers, said President and CEO Hal James, and in addition to the fair price TNB offered, the fact that TNB is owned and directed by credit unions helped push the decision in its favor. “There is a whole host of options that will now be available for our members,” James said, “such as better rates, variable rates, and rewards, that we couldn’t offer. The advantage now is that as a credit union we can focus on our existing products and let someone else worry about enhancing the credit card program.”