The bill, which might face some objection in the House following reported grumbling by the Christian Coalition over gambling concerns, defines a savings promotion raffle under general statutes requiring that money be deposited into the special savings account in order to win.

The North Carolina league said the opposition was from a group not affiliated with the Christian Coalition and that its concerns had been resolved.

“There is absolutely no opposition to the bill that we are aware of at this time,”
said league spokesman Jeff Hardin.

In other states, banker opposition to the raffles bills on competitive grounds has at times been a stumbling block in getting legislation adopted but the North Carolina Bankers Association confirmed Monday it “takes no position” on the measure.

Noting banker objections that killed a similar measure in Iowa, Paul Stock, executive vice president and general counsel of NCBA, acknowledged “there is tension between credit unions and community banks” in many parts of the U.S. but the banker trade group saw no need “for any pro forma” opposition to the league-backed Senate bill in North Carolina.

Besides, NCBA had checked with its counterpart in Michigan and found no competitive problems there, Stock said.

A spokesman for the league said the next step for the Senate bill is a hearing by the House Banking Committee with one due to be scheduled in the next few weeks. Once adopted by the full House and signed by Gov. Beverly Perdue, it would become effective Oct. 1.

“Credit unions would look to roll out Save to Win in 2012,” the spokesman said.