By ALLISSA KLINE
akline@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1612

Credit unions in New York state experienced growth in assets, deposits and loans during the third quarter of 2011, according to data released this week by the Credit Union Association of New York.

Total assets rose from $53 billion in September 2010 to $56.5 billion in September 2011, CUANY said. That's an increase of 6.5 percent. Total deposits also grew during that time period, from $45.6 billion to $48.7 billion, representing a 6.8 percent year-over-year increase, according to the association.

Total loans, meanwhile, rose 4.1 percent, from $30.6 billion to $31.9 billion. Membership increased by roughly 100,000 people, from 4.5 million in September 2010 to $4.6 million the following September.

Those statistics exceed national credit union trends, officials said.

"With an improving economic environment and an increased anti-bank sentiment, we expect New York credit unions to end 2011 on a positive note," CUANY President William Mellin said.

The trade association represents the state's credit unions. Locally, there are about 25 credit unions. Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union is the largest, followed by Olean Area Federal Credit Union, Moog Employees Federal Credit Union and Western Division Federal Credit Union.