In 2012, credit unions started competing with a number of new players on the business lending front including Amazon and Costco. Industry experts don't expect this trend to let up in 2013, particularly among firms that are offering more micro loans, a niche product seen at many credit unions.

A number of credit unions beefed up their loan participation programs this year; among them the $50 billion Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, Va., which announced a lending collaboration effort with other cooperatives. Several CUSOs reported record lending in 2012 with their credit union owners and partners.

Given the ongoing push to grow loans, 2013 is expected to be another year for the industry to form more collaborations, tap into undiscovered small business sectors and round out their programs to include offerings such a remote deposit capture and mobile banking.

Cash mobs, which grew in popularity this year to help support local small businesses, caught on big with credit unions and CUSOs. With many of them either hosting or participating in the effort, the linkage could help get the word out more in the community that credit unions are an alternative to banks when it comes to small business capital needs.