The relative importance of credit cards is growing for credit unions but declining for banks, according to the financial information provider SNL Financial.

At year-end 2010, aggregate credit card loans and other revolving credit plans totaled $36.4 billion at U.S. credit unions, accounting for 6.35% of total loans. As of Sept. 30, 2012, credit cards outstanding grew to $38.3 billion, or 6.39% of total loans.

Meanwhile, credit cards and other revolving loans accounted for 10.78% of total bank loans ($710.6 billion) at year-end 2010, but fell to 9.7% as of Sept. 30, 2012 ($668.9 billion).

Credit unions also boast some of the industry’s lowest credit card interest rates. Credit unions with the lowest platinum credit card rates, SNL Financial reports, include:

• Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, Greenbelt, Md. (3.25%);
• Sandia Area Federal Credit Union, Albuquerque, N.M. (4.99%);
• New England Federal Credit Union, Williston, Vt. (5.15%);
• San Francisco Federal Credit Union (5.15%);
• Beach Municipal Federal Credit Union, Virginia Beach, Va. (5.24%);
• Red Crown Federal Credit Union, Tulsa, Okla. (5.25%)
• TruService Community Federal Credit Union, Little Rock, Ark. (5.25%); and
• Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union, Live Oak, Texas (5.7%).