The Top 10 had 15.8 million members at the end of the third quarter, up 9% from a year earlier. The gains ranged from Pentagon Federal Credit Union's 11% gain to 1.6 million members to Security Service Federal Credit Union's 2% gain to 752,128 members.

Their combined net worth grew 12% to $24.1 billion, as assets grew 9% to $226.6 billion. As a result, their net worth ratios stood at 10.62% on Sept. 30, up from 10.49% on June 30 and 10.33% a year earlier. All remained “well capitalized” in both periods under the NCUA classification.

The credit unions originated $9.4 billion in real estate loans in the three months that ended Sept. 30, up 5.9% from 2016's third quarter. Other loan originations rose 6.1% to $17.2 billion.

To understand the sharp increase in net income from 2016's third quarter to those generated during the three months that ended Sept. 30, here are some major income contributors:

• Loans granted rose 6% to $26.6 billion.

• Total interest income rose 17.1% to $2.3 billion.

• Total interest expense rose 13.6% to $501.5 million.

• Provision for loan losses rose 24.2% to $478.5 million.

• Net interest income rose 16.1% to $1.4 billion.

• Fee income rose 28.3% to $216.9 million.

• Other operating income rose 4.2% to $434.5 million.

• Pay and benefits rose 12% to $689.6 million.

• Other noninterest expense rose 4.7% to $678.9 million.

Navy Federal had the largest increase in its net worth ratio. It stood at 12.16% Sept. 30, up from 11.27 a year earlier. It also tied with Seattle's BECU for the largest increase in real estate originations: 15%.

Navy Federal also had the biggest increase in fee income generated during the three months. It rose 42% to $128.9 million. It also led in keeping a lid on its noninterest expenses (excluding pay). Its non-employee operating expenses fell 1% to $338.3 million for the three months.

State Employees' Credit Union, Raleigh, N.C. ($37.1 billion in assets, 2.3 million members), based in the South's vale of humility, had the largest increase in net interest income, 27%, aided in part by tying with Security Service for the lowest increase in its provision for loan losses: 6%.

Net income increases for the third quarter were led by SECU of Raleigh, which generated $68.3 million in profits during the three months that ended Sept. 30, up from $29.9 million during 2016's third quarter. A major contributor was its 29% gain in net interest income for the quarter, also the best among the Top 10. During the three months its loans netted $192.8 million.

PenFed, Alexandria, Va. ($22.8 billion in assets, 1.6 million members) had the largest increase in its portfolio of home equity loans and other second mortgages. It rose 19% to $2.3 billion. PenFed also had the largest increase in its allowance for loan losses, which rose 48% to $78.9 million.

BECU, Seattle ($17.6 billion in assets, 1.1 million members) had the largest increase in employee compensation and benefits, and overall employment levels for the third quarter and the nine months. Expenses ascended 30% to $142.8 million for the nine months, while the number of full-time workers rose 16% to 1,851 and part-time workers flew up 30% to 57. Pay and benefits rose 28% to $37.9 million for the three months ending Sept. 30.

BECU also led with a 28% increase in total loans granted during the third quarter, which were $2.3 billion. While real estate originations grew 10% to $966.3 million, other loans grew 42% to $1.3 billion during the three months. BECU generated $2.8 billion in real estate loans in the nine months, up 15%. BECU also recorded a $4.9 million one-time gain during the quarter.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union ($13.9 billion in assets, 779,810 members) based in Santa Ana, Calif., had the biggest increase in its new car loan portfolio, which rose 32% to $753.8 million as of Sept. 30. For the first nine months of 2017, it led the pack in total loans granted. They rose 18% to $2.6 billion. It was tops in originations because it was tops in non-real estate loans, which rose 25% to $1.5 billion for January through September.

Golden 1 Credit Union, Sacramento, Calif. ($11.3 billion in assets, 902,074 members) had the largest increase in its car loan portfolio. It rose 28% to $4.4 billion from a year ago. Golden 1 also led in used car loans, which rose 26% to $1.9 billion.

Golden 1 had the largest decrease in net income earned during the three months ending Sept. 30. Net income fell 12% to $19.8 million. A major factor was a $14.7 million loan loss provision for the quarter. The 147% increase from 2016 was the largest in the group. Golden 1 also had the largest decrease in other operating income, which fell 11% to $15.2 million.

First Tech Federal Credit Union, Mountain View, Calif. ($11.1 billion in assets, 500,874 members) was first in wallet for credit card growth, with its balance rising 27% to $278 million. It also led with first mortgages, which rose 21% to $4.7 billion, and total assets, which rose 19% to top $11 billion. First Tech's loan loss provisions have nearly doubled in the last year to reach $23.7 million for the first nine months of 2017, including just under $10 million for the third quarter.

Alliant Credit Union, Chicago ($10 billion in assets, 380,714 members) led the group for its 79% increase in noninterest income generated during the quarter, $14.5 million, and its 25% gain in operating expenses (excluding pay) which were $17.9 million. It also had the largest nine-month increase in noninterest income, which rose 55% to $29.6 million.

Security Service Federal Credit Union, San Antonio, Texas ($9.6 billion in assets, 752,128 members) was the only credit union in the Top 10 to report a drop in employee compensation and benefits. It fell 2% to $94.4 million for the nine months. Its full-time staff was 1,687 in September, down by 13 from a year earlier. Part-time staff was 95, down from 112 in September 2016.

For the three months, Security Service's third-quarter noninterest income fell 7% to $34.7 million as it recorded a $4.4 million one-time expense. Pay and benefits fell 5% to $30.3 million. For the three months that ended Sept. 30, Alliant and Security Service tied with a 35% drop in non-real estate loan originations. Alliant's were $449.5 million, and Security Service's were $708.6 million.

Star One Credit Union had the biggest drop in loans granted. For the nine months ending Sept. 30, the Silicon Valley credit union originated $785 million in loans, down 36% from a year earlier. Real estate loan originations fell 46% to $539.7 million, the biggest drop in that category among the Top 10. Star One also had the biggest drop for the quarter as real estate originations fell 44% to $205.6 million in the three months ending Sept. 30.