NCUA Approves 43 Consolidations in 2018’s First Quarter

The NCUA approved 14 mergers in March bringing 2018’s first quarter total consolidations to 43, down only one from the 44 mergers approved by the federal agency at the end of last year’s first quarter.

While all of the 14 credit unions were small, managing assets well under $50 million, two recently announced larger deals are in the works in Michigan and Wisconsin.

If finalized and approved, the $367 million Oakland County Credit Union in Waterford, Mich., will combine with the $543 million Vibe Credit union in Novi, Mich., and the $156 million Bull’s Eye Credit Union in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. will merge into the $1.6 billion Connexus Credit Union in Wausau, Wis.

In the Michigan deal, Oakland County CU President/CEO Allan Kemp McMorris will be named president and Tom Reagan, president/CEO of Vibe CU, will serve as CEO, under the Vibe brand name, according to a joint statement.

The combined credit union, if approved and finalized, will manage nearly $1 billion in assets, employ more than 250 staffers, operate 16 branches and serve more than 64,000 members.

In the Wisconsin deal, Bull’s Eye CU will bring nearly 19,000 members, two branches and 42 employees if member and regulatory approvals are secured to combine with Connexus CU, which serves more than 300,000 members in 50 states.

According to the NCUA’s Insurance Report of Activity for March obtained by CU Times, two of the 14 credit unions were approved to consolidate because of their poor financial condition.

The $2.1 million Central Valley Federal Credit Union in Arnold, Pa., ended the first quarter with a net worth of 6% and an ROAA of -0.44%, according to NCUA financial performance reports. Central Valley, which served 473 members, was approved to merge with the $15 million Alleg-Kiski Postal Federal Credit Union in New Kensington, Pa.

Although the $8.9 million South Community Credit Union in Sullivan, Mo., posted a net worth of 10%, its ROAA was -0.61% at the end of the first quarter. It posted a net income loss of more than $13,000 in the first quarter and recorded net income losses of $16,240 in 2016 and $60,848 in 2017, according to NCUA financial performance reports.

South Community CU, which served 1,631 members, was approved to consolidate with the $274 million St. Louis Community Credit Union in Saint Louis, Mo., which serves more than 55,000 members.

Twelve credit unions received approval to merge for “expanded services,” the NCUA reported.