A planned union between California Coast Credit Union and San Diego County Credit Union, announced as a transformative consolidation, is now stalled by a Superior Court lawsuit challenging the deal’s termination and raising questions about its future. [...]
Eight days into 2026, the credit union–bank acquisition trend has already resumed, underscoring a consolidation pattern that has reshaped parts of the financial services industry in recent years. Zeal Credit Union of Livonia, Michigan, [...]
The case underscores how a small, community-based financial institution unraveled after its chief executive abused his authority, ultimately leading to federal intervention and a merger. A former credit union chief executive in eastern Indiana [...]
Written By: Ryan Ross President & CEO University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union Every week, another op-ed questions whether credit unions are losing their way. While the industry has evolved, one thing [...]
High mortgage costs and limited affordability have pushed housing into a downturn, even as recent data hints at tentative buyer interest. As the U.S. economy moves into 2026, the housing market stands out as [...]
The deal brings together accounting, advisory and operational expertise as banks and credit unions face mounting regulatory and technological pressures. Wolf & Company, P.C., a nationally recognized accounting and consulting firm, has acquired the [...]
INDUSTRY NEWS The purchase of a Charlevoix bank branch and the completion of a separate Upper Peninsula acquisition underscore how credit unions are steadily reshaping community banking in Michigan. When 4Front Credit Union [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council When Congress returns in January, lawmakers will face renewed pressure to pass the so-called Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) [...]
Written By: Anthony Hernandez President & CEO Defense Credit Union Council An Air Force colleague of mine recently posted something that changed my thinking. At the end of each year, many leaders [...]
FINTECH NEWS As community financial institutions embrace AI, the technology promises to transform member service, lending and risk management while raising regulatory and operational questions about data, ethics and human oversight. Artificial [...]
Written By: Phil Sutliff Community Banking Executive & Strategic Growth Consultant LeadFirst IQ Client relationships are not always shaped by the big moments. They are often shaped by one small, decisive moment [...]
Michael Magnavita will step down in May 2026 after nearly four decades at the Pennsylvania credit union, with the board naming Chief Operating Officer Drew Stanley as his successor. Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council The credit union movement has never lacked passion. We have never lacked purpose. And when you look at the [...]
The Los Angeles-based cooperative turns to a veteran lending and retail banking executive as it looks to deepen university partnerships and expand digital tools after a year of leadership transition. University Credit Union, a [...]
Written By: Judy DeLucca President & CEO New Orleans Firemen's Federal Credit Union As Washington dismantles decades of progress in community finance and special education, we face a moral test that defines [...]
New survey data show rapid adoption of electronic workflows alongside unresolved hurdles in system integration and regulatory alignment. Community banks across the United States are accelerating their shift toward digital banking, particularly in lending, [...]
The U.S. Mint’s decision to halt penny production has left credit unions grappling with shortages and uncertainty as industry leaders press lawmakers and regulators for clear rules on rounding and cash transactions. When the [...]
As the Supreme Court weighs a challenge to long-standing protections for agency leaders, the fate of the NCUA’s board — and the independence of financial regulators — hangs in the balance. The National Credit [...]
The deal would expand Greylock Federal Credit Union into Franklin County as both institutions say the partnership strengthens community banking at a moment of heightened industry consolidation. Greylock Federal Credit Union and Franklin First [...]
The North Fulton startup secured state and federal authorization to open as organizers move to complete a capital raise, marking a noteworthy step in an era when new bank charters have become exceedingly uncommon. [...]
Written By: Patrick Conway CrossState Credit Union Association President & CEO, and American Association of Credit Union Leagues Board Chair When credit unions speak with one voice, powerful things happen. At CrossState [...]
The credit union said longtime leader Dwayne Naylor will step down in January as Dave D’Annunzio prepares to assume the role amid recent operational challenges and a major merger. Civic Credit Union announced on Tuesday that [...]
The National Credit Union Administration grants a new charter in California, marking the third de novo credit union formed in 2025 as the industry continues to contract. A new financial institution will soon open its doors [...]
Federally insured credit unions expanded to $2.4 trillion in assets and added 3.1 million members in the third quarter of 2025, NCUA data shows. Federally insured credit unions ended the third quarter of 2025 [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council Senator Elizabeth Warren’s recent broadside against credit unions – calling their overdraft practices “predatory” amid Americans’ economic struggles – [...]
FINTECH NEWS The GENIUS Act’s new federal framework for issuing and holding stablecoins forces community institutions to decide how to innovate without losing their footing. The arrival of the GENIUS Act has [...]
The agreement, which would give the combined company $5.4 billion in assets, marks South Plains’ latest push to build scale across the state as Houston remains one of the nation’s fastest-growing banking markets. South Plains Financial, [...]
Written By: Tim Scholten President & Founder Visible Progress LLC Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have been gaining mainstream attention for years, but the next phase of their evolution is set to unfold [...]
The appointment of Bryce Mortensen marks a major leadership transition for the Milwaukie-based credit union as it expands its technological ambitions and prepares for its next phase of growth. Oregonians Credit Union, a $338 [...]
The proposed deal, which awaits a member vote and regulatory approval, would unite two Ogden-founded credit unions into a $4 billion-asset organization with 55 branches. Ascent Federal Credit Union, a small but longstanding institution [...]
Written By: Michael Macchiarola Chief Executive Officer Olden Lane Credit unions and community banks have long dominated the deposit gathering and consumer lending in the pockets of America uninteresting to the country’s [...]
The acquisition of Citizens National Bank’s Hammond and Morristown branches marks a strategic shift for the North Country credit union, even as members recently rejected a larger merger. St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union, a [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council For more than 60 years, the Defense Credit Union Council has been synonymous with military-focused credit unions. Yet today, [...]
FINTECH NEWS Many banks and credit unions are racing to modernize account opening while holding onto the face-to-face connections that built their reputations. For decades, opening a new bank account was a [...]
Written By: Scott Simpson President & CEO America’s Credit Unions There’s something uniquely powerful about cooperative finance. This model isn’t defined by competition, but by collaboration. I’ve seen it time and again: [...]
The deal would create the nation’s fourth-largest credit union as Washington-based BECU enters California for the first time, adding 17 branches in the Sacramento region. Boeing Employees Credit Union, better known as BECU, is [...]
The agreement, pending regulatory approval, would create a $4.7 billion-asset financial institution serving more than 440,000 members and customers. GECU, El Paso’s largest locally owned federal credit union, announced that it has agreed to [...]
The move keeps longtime chief executive Bruce Brumfield in place after his planned succession is abruptly halted. Founders Federal Credit Union has halted its long-planned leadership transition after confirming that Keith Wilson, its president [...]
Written By: Alan Bergstrom Founder Bergstrom Consulting Services The credit union landscape has shifted dramatically over the past few decades. Forty years ago, credit unions were gaining momentum as consumers sought [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council On November 5, 2025, I had the opportunity to testify before the NCUA Board about the agency’s proposed budget for [...]
The financial services firm forecasts weaker expansion and continued restrictive monetary policy despite gradual rate cuts. The U.S. economy is expected to grow more slowly in 2026 as persistent inflation, uncertain tariff policies, and restrictive monetary [...]
Written By: Benjamin Crowley Managing Director The Kafafian Group Community banks play a vital role in the economic health of local communities. Their success hinges not only on strategic leadership but [...]
The $2.8 billion institution will pay more than $500,000 in additional premiums next year, keeping employee costs flat despite double-digit rate increases. As health care costs continue to climb nationwide, Arkansas Federal Credit Union is taking [...]
The deal transfers four branches and $83 million in deposits as Southern Bank sharpens its commercial focus and Palmetto Citizens grows beyond South Carolina. Southern Financial Corporation and its subsidiary, Southern Bank, announced Tuesday that [...]
C. Brett McDowell says technology enhances convenience but can never substitute for the trust, empathy, and relationships that define community banks’ role in Texas life. As banking technology races toward an all-digital future, C. [...]
A new survey by the Vienna-based credit union reveals widespread misconceptions among servicemembers and veterans about VA home loans, underscoring a need for better education. Navy Federal Credit Union recently released new research highlighting persistent confusion [...]
Written By: Jim Nussle President & CEO America’s Credit Unions In response to the OP-ED article New data shows policymakers should focus on harmful impact of CU acquisitions. For years, community [...]
The deal, expected to close in early 2026, will preserve customer ownership while expanding services and community investment across Central Ohio. First Federal Lakewood, the largest mutual bank headquartered in Ohio, announced on Wednesday that it [...]
The Tustin-based SchoolsFirst FCU posted nearly $184 million in third-quarter earnings and surpassed $34 billion in assets, marking double-digit growth while opening a new branch in Burbank and solidifying its place among the nation’s top three credit unions. [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council In a recent op-ed, two community bankers – including a past chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America [...]
717 Credit Union, already northeastern Ohio’s largest credit union, aims to grow its footprint and invest in community initiatives as membership growth accelerates in 2025. 717 Credit Union, the largest credit union headquartered in northeastern [...]
The tie-up of Houston’s largest and one of its oldest credit unions would form a financial cooperative serving more than 460,000 members across Texas, pending approval. Two of Houston’s most established credit unions — TDECU and [...]
Written By: Michael Murdoch AVP of Marketing University Credit Union It is a curious moment for credit unions in the United States. Perhaps every moment is, but by most measures the [...]
The Portland-based credit union received regulatory approval to extend services, continuing its growth across the region. OnPoint Community Credit Union, the largest credit union headquartered in Oregon, announced it has expanded its field of [...]
Written By: Brad Bolton President & CEO Community Spirit Bank & Past Chairman Independent Community Bankers of America & Ken Hale President & CEO BOM Bank The credit union [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council From phishing emails to bogus investment schemes, fraudsters are zeroing in on consumers nationwide – and credit union members [...]
Southern Energy, Landmark, and Kerr County credit unions announce new chief executives, each bringing deep experience and fresh vision to serve their expanding member bases. In a wave of leadership changes across the credit [...]
Written By: Brian Waldron President & CEO Dort Financial Credit Union When a credit union places its name atop a stadium, it’s far more than a branding effort; it’s a visible commitment [...]
Community banks report that their fiercest competition still comes from peers, but nonbanks and credit unions are making strategic gains in key service areas. In the 2025 Annual Survey of Community Banks by the [...]
Michael Baker, president and CEO of the $1.9 billion credit union based in Sumter, S.C., and his wife, Carrie, are in intensive care following a weekend crash. The president and CEO of SAFE Federal [...]
The Co-Founder, President & COO of Portland-based Tyfone is recognized for his influential leadership and vision that has driven both employee and customer satisfaction. Prabhakar Tadepalli, co-founder and president/COO of Tyfone, has been named [...]
With new branches opening in Goodyear, Mesa, and Queen Creek, and a landmark acquisition of a $1.4 billion bank, the credit union underscores its growing influence in a rapidly changing financial landscape. America First Credit Union [...]
Tom Rogers, current COO and former CFO, will succeed Masood at the helm of one of the nation's largest credit unions. Faheem Masood, who has served as President and CEO of ESL Federal Credit [...]
Written By: Dan Prezioso Partner & Elaine Xiang Investment Banking Associate Olden Lane Credit unions have expanded membership at scale over the years, yet the composition of that growth raises strategic [...]
Digital Federal Credit Union and First Tech Federal Credit Union cleared a key hurdle with NCUA approval, setting the stage for a member vote and the creation of the fifth-largest credit union in the country. [...]
Arlington Community and CommonWealth One Federal Credit Unions plan a 2026 merger, combining resources while retaining local focus and member services. In a true merger of equals, two Northern Virginia-based credit unions — Arlington Community [...]
With government funding set to expire Sept. 30, credit unions including Members 1st and Navy Federal are readying financial aid programs for federal workers and service members. With just hours remaining before a Sept. 30 [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council Few Americans realize that federal law limits credit unions from lending more than 12.25% of their total assets to [...]
The Kansas-based lender plans a consolidation that would expand its national footprint, preserve branch operations, and rank it among the largest U.S. credit unions. CommunityAmerica Credit Union of Lenexa, Kansas, has proposed a merger [...]
FINTECH NEWS Despite growing sophistication in scams and a dramatic rise in losses, many credit unions still rely on outdated security methods while exploring costly or emerging alternatives. Account takeover fraud is [...]
Written By: Michael Jamesson Principal Jamesson Associates America is divided. Political polarization infects our everyday lives in ways that would have been inconceivable a couple of decades ago. The kind of beer or [...]
The $23 billion-asset Utah-based organization would be by far the largest credit union to ever buy a bank in U.S. history. In a significant development in the ongoing convergence of credit unions and traditional [...]
The Minneapolis-based credit union will begin digital operations in December after becoming the first to benefit from the NCUA’s new chartering initiative. Tribe Federal Credit Union, the first credit union in the nation to [...]
Written By: Phil Sutliff Commercial Banking Executive Langley Federal Credit Union The heartbeat of every community doesn’t echo in glass towers. It pulses on Main Street, inside the bakery that opens before [...]
With a member vote finalizing the deal, the two Florida-based credit unions will officially merge on October 1 under the Addition Financial name, forming a $3.8 billion institution. Members of Envision Credit Union have overwhelmingly [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council Ken Hale’s recent op-ed, “The hidden cost of credit union-bank purchases,” warns that when a bank is sold to [...]
Cardinal Credit Union is launching a stock rewards program with fintech partner Bits of Stock to help members aged 18 to 28 begin building wealth through everyday spending. Cardinal Credit Union in Mentor, Ohio, [...]
Testifying before the Senate Banking Committee, Peter Rice says deposit insurance gaps push funds to megabanks, destabilizing communities, payrolls, and the defense supply chain. The head of Hanscom Federal Credit Union delivered a stark [...]
Written By: Ken Hale President & CEO BOM Bank Louisiana is somewhat unique in the way banks are taxed. In our state, both C-Corp and S-Corp banks are subject to a corporate [...]
The Poughkeepsie-based credit union, which recently acquired a community bank, will ask its 381,000 members to vote on the change at a September 30 meeting. Hudson Valley Credit Union has applied to convert from [...]
While federally insured credit unions saw a $82 billion asset increase and added 2.8 million members, smaller credit unions continued to lose ground in loans, membership, and market share. In its latest quarterly data [...]
By introducing the Smart-E loan in Fort Wayne, the partners aim to help homeowners finance energy efficiency upgrades, reduce utility costs, and lay the groundwork for statewide expansion. In a bid to make home energy upgrades [...]
The leadership transition includes the appointment of a lead independent director and a new board member as the company strengthens its governance. West Coast Community Bancorp, the parent company of West Coast Community Bank, [...]
Written By: Judy DeLucca President & CEO New Orleans Firemen's Federal Credit Union Across the country, there is a growing chorus suggesting that credit unions should merge, consolidate, and “speak with one [...]
Institutions in Maryland and Indiana announce plans to combine, forming larger, more competitive, member-focused organizations. In a sign of continued consolidation within the credit union sector, two separate mergers were announced recently involving institutions [...]
Members First of Maryland becomes the fifth credit union liquidated in 2025 as small institutions face mounting pressures. In what may be another sign of the stresses on small credit unions, the National Credit Union [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council When a financial crisis hits, Wall Street isn’t the one keeping the lights on in small towns, on military bases, [...]
The move, part of a broader trend of credit unions acquiring community banks, expands Land of Lincoln’s footprint in Central Illinois and brings its total assets to over $570 million. Land of Lincoln Credit Union [...]
Written By: Dennis Holthaus Senior Consultant Holthaus Consulting, LLC Most credit union’s strategic plans target growth: growth in total assets; growth in membership; growth in net earnings. While credit union boards and [...]
A new survey shows 84% of credit union professionals expect growth or stability in auto portfolios, even as rising rates, tariffs, and affordability challenges reshape the lending landscape. Credit unions are generally more optimistic [...]
INDUSTRY NEWS A lack of bank sellers and economic uncertainty could be contributing to the recent lag in CU-bank deals. After a record-setting pace in 2024, credit union acquisitions of banks are showing [...]
FINTECH NEWS Pathways Financial Credit Union in Columbus, Ohio is breaking away from the traditional indirect lending model, and the results so far are positive. In a bid to remain competitive in [...]
Written By: Peter Duffy Managing Director of Merger and Acquisition Strategy SRM Research we have conducted reinforces the growing sentiment in the C-Suite and boardroom of America’s community banks and credit unions [...]
A new report from CUES found that total compensation for credit union CEOs rose more than 10% in the past year. Executive compensation in the credit union industry is surging, with top leadership roles seeing notable [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council Every day, scammers target American consumers and siphon away millions of dollars – and military families are among the [...]
Former National Credit Union Administration board member Geoff Bacino writes that the agency effectively has its hands tied until the makeup of the board is resolved. In a dramatic series of legal and political [...]
Calling the task “daunting,” the former California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues CEO said he’s up to the challenge. Scott Simpson knows the job will not be easy Simpson, a seasoned credit union advocate [...]
Written By: Bruce Kershner Founder & CEO Kershner & Co. Community banks and credit unions have long been the bedrock of local economies, thriving on trust and personal relationships. But as customer [...]
Many credit unions struggle to bridge the gap between the ideal of seamless digital experiences and the reality of outdated systems and cost concerns. A new article from McKinsey spotlights the need for credit [...]
The merger, which should be wrapped up by the fall, will create an institution with more than 48,000 members across a six-state footprint. In a strategic move to expand its footprint in the Deep [...]
