DUBUQUE, Iowa – An alliance between three Iowa credit unions could be an edge for helping them compete in a highly competitive market here. The $40 million Alliant Credit Union, $9 million Dubuque Teachers Credit Union and $10 million Health Services Credit Union have formed a partnership called The CU Link. Through this partnership, the CUs purchased land and constructed a facility. Though housed together, each occupies a separate suite in the building while also offering drive-up teller lanes, safe deposit boxes, surcharge-free drive-up depository ATM, and a night deposit drop. "Rarely do you see three entities in the same industry equally share in the construction of a building with the goal to thrive while maintaining separate identities. Sharing expenses to offer increased access and services for members is a win-win for all of us," said Jean Hoeger, president of Alliant Credit Union. Sally Miller, president of Dubuque Teachers CU, said she was interested from the start. "We needed additional space along with better parking, and this was the most reasonable answer," Miller said. "This works because we all have closed fields of membership. Besides sharing expenses, we also share trust and cooperation." The property was purchased from Medical Associates Realty, L.P., and the groundbreaking was held in October 2004. "We are small credit unions and Dubuque is a highly competitive market for financial services. I could see that we needed to have a west side location, but it was not feasible to proceed independently," said Joe Gonzalez, president of Health Services Credit Union. Gonzalez said he took the concept to the other two organizations a few years ago, and the three credit unions decided to move forward with it in 2004. Unlike community credit unions, each of these credit unions has a closed field of membership. * Alliant Credit Union serves employees and family members of Alliant Energy and its subsidiaries, American Transmission Company and Nuclear Management Company; * Dubuque Teachers Credit Union serves employees of public and parochial schools in Dubuque County, and in all other counties of Iowa served by the Keystone Area Education Agency and JDC UniServe Unit, as well as their family members; and * Health Services Credit Union membership is open to all employees & volunteers of health care facilities in Dubuque County as well as their family members. [email protected]