CUs Continue Merger Frenzy; Federal Charter Appears to have an Edge

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The month of July saw 30 credit union mergers, the highest number in more than a year, according to NCUA monthly data. Of the mergers that took place last month, 13 credit unions that closed their doors had less than $1 million in assets, nine between $1 million and $10 million were shut down, and eight with more than $10 million in assets went out of business. Only two of the 30 were merged with other credit unions under $10 million in assets. The pendulum seems to be swinging back in favor of the federal charter, other data in NCUA’s Insurance Report of Activity showed. One new federal credit union was chartered last month, Central Dallas Federal Credit Union with 88,038 potential members, but no state chartered credit unions emerged. Also, three state chartered credit unions converted to federals, including $21 million asset Quimper Community Federal Credit Union (Port Townsend, Wash.), $203.5 million Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union (Pensacola, Fla.), and $1.7 million Northern Energy Federal Credit Union (Mankato, Minn.). Just one made the switch from federal to state: Grand Canyon State Credit Union with $57 million in assets. NCUA’s information also revealed that community charter conversions remain popular. Thirteen occurred in July for a total of more than 4.1 million potential members. Some of the largest conversions were Suffolk Federal Credit Union (Medford, N.Y.; $474 million in assets) for 1.4 million potential members, $65 million Jackson (Miss.) V A Federal Credit Union with 497,107 potential members, and $324 million 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union of Newport News, Va. with 497,465 potential members. Credit unions also continued to add underserved areas at a rapid pace. Twenty-nine underserved areas were approved for 20 federal credit unions for a total of nearly 2.3 million potential members. California was home to three of the largest underserved area additions. Bay Federal Credit Union of Capitola added an underserved area with a population of 462,727. Santa Ana Federal Credit Union added 337,512 potential members in an underserved area, and Cannon Electric Federal Credit Union of Santa Ana added two underserved areas with a total population of 309,511.