Oklahoma's credit unions face challenges that sound pretty familiar throughout the industry: compliance burdens, low investment returns, corporate assessments and a lackluster economy. But thankfully for credit unions in the Sooner State, the highs and lows of the real estate market experienced in other states isn't part of that mix.

That's because the state is insulated from the economic volatility experienced on the coasts, said Gary Jones, president/CEO of the Credit Union Association of Oklahoma. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oklahoma reported a 4.7% unemployment rate for June 2012. And, online real estate database Zillow included Oklahoma City and Tulsa in a list of metropolitan areas that have experienced the smallest residential home value decline since market peak. Both cities saw home prices drop less than 4%.

"We're very fortunate here in Oklahoma," Jones said. "We're experiencing the same trends but not quite as volatile as in other parts of the country."