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The $90 million, Clawson, Mich.-based T&I Credit Union is set to merge into the $3.9 billion Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union (MSGCU) in Clinton Township this spring pending a successful member vote, the two credit unions announced Tuesday.
A member vote will be held during a Special Meeting at T&I’s headquarters in Clawson on March 18, 2025; members can also vote by mail and must ensure their ballots arrive at the credit union by March 14 for their vote to be counted, according to a statement on T&I’s website. If the member vote is affirmative, the merger will take effect on April 1, 2025.
Regulators have already approved the combination, the credit unions said.
According to T&I, it is merging into MSGCU because it does not have the resources to keep up with new and upgraded technology and services. It also said it cannot compete with larger financial institutions due to the rising costs of technology and regulatory compliance.
“Keeping up with the technology and services that our members deserve has become increasingly difficult as a credit union of our size,” T&I CEO Kathy Karner said. “Merging with Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union provides our members access to more services, a larger branch network and more robust digital tools, while maintaining the high level of service and community involvement our members are used to.”
MSGCU President/CEO Steve Brewer added, “MSGCU and T&I Credit Union share common core values and a dedication to the credit union philosophy of people helping people. We are excited to welcome T&I members and team members into the MSGCU family following a successful member vote.”
The credit unions said T&I will retain its current team members, and its branch office in Clawson will become part of MSGCU’s 22-and-growing branch network following the merger and integration of systems. T&I also noted that it expects the migration of its member data to MSGCU’s systems will be complete in late 2025 or early 2026.
T&I was founded by Ford Tractor employees in 1955 and currently serves 4,000 members, who will join MSGCU’s 150,000 members following the merger, if approved.
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Natasha Chilingerian
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
