PHOENIX -- Arizona credit unions hope consumers who are seeking loans will think of them as an alternative to banks.

Scott Earl, president of the Arizona Credit Union League, said it has not become tougher to get a loan from a credit union during these bad economic times.

"I don't think lending standards have tightened up dramatically in credit unions as they have in some of the other financial industry organizations," Earl said. "I think credit unions are still out there actively working to provide credit to consumers."

Credit unions offer loans at competitive rates, he said.

"Auto loans are hovering around 5 percent, mortgage rates are pretty much what they are at other financial institutions."

Earl said he believes more people are looking at credit unions instead of banks because of the crisis.

"I think we have seen some consumers move to credit unions in the last couple of months. We have seen a little bit of an influx of deposits, too, as dollars start to leave Wall Street."

Credit unions are, however, feeling the pinch of the economy, Earl said. He said he has seen people get behind in their credit union car loans because they are paying a mortgage they have with another lender.