CHICAGO – A+ Federal Credit Union didn't waste any time absorbing all the insight it gathered from NACUSO's Business Services Collaborative. The $461 million credit union was one of several attendees here that have just begun to roll out business lending and deposit services. A+ FCU along with six other Austin, Texas-based credit unions recently launched CU Business Solutions. The other owners are $358 million Austin Telco FCU; $216 million Greater Texas FCU; $366 million IBM Texas Employees FCU; $40 million Texas Health CU; $671 million University FCU and $497 million Velocity CU. "It was very beneficial for us because a lot of the credit unions that were there are in the same phase we are," said Sharon Gaugler, A+ FCU vice president of lending. "We were able to talk to different people about some of the obstacles they've run into and (talk about) things we haven't even considered." Gaugler said CU Business Solutions recently hired Lewis Aven as its new CEO. Two more staffers are in the process of being hired and the CUSO has its own office now. The search is also underway for the appropriate technology and forms to get the CUSO up and running, she added. Aven along with Andrea Stocks, A+ FCU vice president of operations, also attended the Collaborative. "This will help strengthen member business lending for credit unions," Gaugler said referring to the Collaborative. "We can have a more united voice and more strength by working together through CUSOs or credit unions in general." [email protected]