SPIRE & Hiway Unveil New Name: Blaze Credit Union
The new name is inspired by the CUs' shared histories and roots, as well as its new vision.
Two months after members of two Minnesota credit unions, SPIRE Credit Union and Hiway Credit Union, approved the merger, the combined credit unions announced a new name for the new organization: Blaze Credit Union.
The merger will become legal as of Jan. 1, 2024 and will create a credit union with nearly $4 billion in assets, more than 600 employees operating 26 branches, serving more than 249,000 members.
The new name unveiled Thursday is “inspired by our shared histories and roots, as well as the new credit union’s vision, our name represents what we do for you: guidance, navigation, and wayfinding,” according to the announcement.
“Blaze Credit Union isn’t just our name, it’s what we do,” said Hiway President/CEO Dave Boden. “Beyond providing guidance to our members, we’re also here to move our communities forward. Both Hiway and SPIRE have a long history of giving back to our home communities, and that commitment to bettering our shared road ahead will continue.”
SPIRE Credit Union President/CEO Dan Stoltz said the new name and logo reflects the beautiful outdoor and geographic elements found in Minnesota.
“This new brand combines the best of SPIRE and Hiway into a simple brand concept,” said SPIRE Credit Union President/CEO Dan Stoltz. “Even for those more indoors-people who prefer sheltered skyways to hiking trails, everyone is traveling along a life trail, so to speak, of their very own, and we exist to help them navigate it. While we’re sunsetting our respective brands, the values, the histories, and the visions which have made us who we are will continue, stronger than ever.”
Hiway and SPIRE will combine their boards and management teams, with SPIRE’s Stoltz taking the role of CEO, and Hiway’s Boden becoming the president.
“We are excited for the future of our new organization,” Hiway’s Boden said in a prepared statement in September. “Our members, many of whom have been with us for decades, have been incredibly supportive of this merger, and their overwhelmingly favorable vote underscores that they recognize the many advantages of our two strong credit unions becoming one.”
Stoltz said the vision is to build the best credit union in the region.