The head of Wings Financial Federal Credit Union said his company is continuing efforts to acquire Continental Federal Union despite strong resistance from management of the El Segundo-based credit union.

“We’ve been very careful to minimize this whole David and Goliath talk by letting them know we just want to sit down and talk,” Paul Parish, Minneapolis-based Wings chief executive, said on Monday. “I don’t know why (management) would be reluctant to talk but we’ll continue to take our case to members in hopes that they’ll convince the board to negotiate with us in good faith.”

Wings is wooing Continental members with the promise of cash incentives and better service. In addition to a $200 dividend, Parish said Wings has promised Continental members lower banking fees, higher savings rates, better loan terms and improved member services.

But Continental’s management was equally adamant about staying independent as the executive team met on the issue on Monday with the board and prepares for an annual meeting at the end of the month.

“We have just learned that this credit union, Wings Financial, has embarked upon an aggressive campaign to take over your credit union by approaching our members directly with misleading information,” Chief Executive Tom Glatt warned members in a letter posted Monday on the credit union’s Web site.

Formerly Northwest Airlines Federal Credit Union, Wings Financial, with $1.6 billion in assets, is attempting to consolidate operations by absorbing the $177 million Continental on the way to becoming the go-to financial institution for commercial airline and eventually aerospace employees.

Continental was reviewing the proposal, Glatt said, but didn’t appreciate Wings’ approach and doubts the merger will work. “This was a sneak attack,” he said, adding that this appears to be the first “hostile takeover in the history of credit unions.”