As if there weren't enough to get excited about at this year's Governmental Affairs Conference, CUNA will be going live with a new consumer site, aSmarterChoice.org, which may help credit unions become more mainstream.

The Web-based tool, developed through a partnership between CUNA and the state credit union associations, takes aim at helping credit unions build membership by sharing the credit union story while making it easy for consumers to identify and find a credit union they can join.

The site will feature the first all-inclusive, comprehensive credit union locator, regardless of their charter, affiliation, size or business model. In what is being touted as a first, consumers can visit a single website and be directed to a credit union they can join with minimal hassle and no confusion. ASmarterChoice.org will also include basic information about credit unions and shine a light on the good credit unions do that appears in the national, regional and local news media.