WHITTIER, Calif. — The proposed merger between Visterra Credit Union and Credit Union of Southern California, which will create a $1 billion-plus combined institution, is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the trend of merging large, healthy credit unions, said CU SoCal CEO Dave Gunderson.
"This, to me, is one of the top three topics in the industry," Gunderson said. "Bigger is not always better, but the data is compelling. Large credit unions have lower expense to asset ratios, more branches, more products, and provide more value to members."
Large or small, credit unions that cater to niche markets stand out among the competition; however, for a community institution in a metropolis like the greater Los Angeles area, standing out can be difficult, he said.
Recommended For You
Visterra Credit Union CEO Bob Cameron agrees.
"I'm positive you'll see more of this," Cameron said. "When we come out of this merger with $1 billion in assets and $100 million in capital, we'll be somebody to reckon with," he said, adding, "10 years from now, we want to be a survivor."
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
