Credit unions post 36% income growth in '12

The nation’s credit unions earned a record $8.5 billion in 2012 as they gained members, wrote more loans and an improving economy meant they had to put aside less money to cover possible loan losses.

Credit unions nationwide posted a 36.1 percent growth in net income last year, up from $6.3 billion in 2011, according to the National Credit Union Administration, regulates federally chartered credit unions.

Numbers for Maryland credit unions were not available from the NCUA Monday.

Earnings growth…