PHOENIX — With its third anniversary set for January, Credit Union Financial Network, an investments, trust services and insurance CUSO, is gearing up for another year of expansion.

CUFN just signed on four more credit unions for a total of twelve clients. Five staffers and 18 financial advisors now serve members at Arizona credit unions. The CUSO is taking a controlled approach to growing coming off a 65% growth rate in 2006 and an expected 100% rate this year, said Mike Prior, president/CEO of CUFN.

“We've had amazing growth. We made a concerted effort to slow down,” Prior said. “We were so busy, we waited ten months before adding the last two credit unions.”

To help facilitate that growth, CUFN has hired an executive to oversee compliance and business development. All 18 of the financial advisors underwent training this year to earn Certified Financial Planner and other similar designations, Prior said. The CUSO also plans to roll out its “Financial Planning…Your Way” program in early 2008. The program will give members several enrollment and payment options. Prior said the CUSO still considers Arizona its top priority but expanding beyond the state hasn't been ruled out.

“By design, we take care of our own back yard,” Prior. “If we have the right people in place, we would consider expanding to other parts of the country.”