MELBOURNE, Fla. — Two long-time members recently sang the praises of Space Coast Credit Union's business lending program in an article that appears in a Florida newspaper.

James and Sandy Haley have been members of the $1.5 billion Space Coast since 1988, according to an article in today's Daytona Beach News Journal. The Haleys said they have their personal accounts and previously had a mortgage with the credit union so when they saw a flier announcing that commercial loans were available, they applied for and were approved for a $125,000 loan to expand their marine repair business.

Ed Cavaliere, a business service manager at one of Space Coast's branches, told the publication that consumers are both surprised and pleased to find their credit union can offer them that kind of help.

Space Coast is not without its critics. The Florida Bankers Association said it “is among the 10 percent of credit unions that have overstepped their bounds, going beyond their original mission of providing financial services to small groups who might not be served by banks.”

CUNA Spokeswoman Katye Long defended credit unions in the article saying they are more apt to give loans to small businesses compared to banks.