As one entity, the credit union aimed to combine expertise and resources to achieve operational efficiencies and be better positioned to consider additional products and services, said Tom DeWitt, who is serving as president/CEO.

DeWitt said the vote from members to merge was "overwhelmingly positive" with a higher than 85% approval rating. All 12 credit unions have since completed combining their policies and procedures. While all are on the same data processor through Harland, it will take up to two years to get all systems on the same page, DeWitt said. The credit unions involved in the 12-way merger were State Farm California FCU, Bakersfield, Calif.; State Farm Central FCU, Columbia, Mo.; State Farm Florida FCU, Winter Haven, Fla.; State Farm Great Lakes FCU, Bloomington, Ill.; State Farm Great Western, Tempe, Ariz.; State Farm Heartland FCU, Lincoln, Neb.; State Farm Mid-America FCU, Newark, Ohio; State Farm Mid-Atlantic, Frederick, Md.; State Farm Northeast, Ballston Spa, NY; State Farm Pacific Northwest FCU, Dupont, Wash.; State Farm Southern FCU, Duluth, Ga.; and State Farm Texas FCU, Austin, Texas.

Besides providing nationwide access for members, DeWitt has said the merger will also eliminate individual credit unions having to do any restructuring to keep pace with region or zone realignments done by State Farm Insurance. The insurance giant has 25 operations centers and 12 zones in the United States and one in Canada. Several years ago, there were 26 State Farm FCUs, but company zone restructures reduced numbers down to the current 12 credit unions in the United States and one in Canada.