BrightBridge Credit Union and Arrha Credit Union announced their intent to merge, forming a larger, member-driven institution that will operate under the BrightBridge name. If approved by regulators and members, the combined credit union will serve more than 125,000 members and manage nearly $2.4 billion in assets across 23 branches in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
“This opportunity to unite with another credit union that shares our values and commitment to putting members first is incredibly exciting,” John J. Howard, president/CEO of the Lawrence, Mass.-based BrightBridge, said. “Arrha Credit Union has a long-standing reputation for supporting its members with integrity, care and genuine down-to-earth service.”
Recommended For You
The merger will expand BrightBridge’s field of membership into Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties in Massachusetts, as well as Hartford and Tolland counties in Connecticut. Both institutions emphasized their shared mission of delivering high-quality financial services and maintaining strong community connections.
Michael Ostrowski, president/CEO of the Springfield, Mass.-based Arrha Credit Union, said the merger “is exceptionally beneficial to our members, our team members and to our community. Together, we’ll be stronger and better equipped to serve our members’ evolving financial needs.”
The credit unions have pledged transparency throughout the process, promising regular updates to members as the merger moves forward.
© Touchpoint Markets, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more inforrmation visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Michael Ogden
Editor-in-Chief at CU Times. To connect, email at [email protected]. As Editor-in-Chief of CU Times since 2016, Michael Ogden has led the editorial team in all aspects of content strategy and execution, including the creation of the publication’s exclusive and proprietary research database of the credit union industry’s economic landscape. Under Michael’s leadership, CU Times has successfully shifted to an all-digital editorial product with new focuses on the payments, fraud, lending and regulatory beats. Most recently, he introduced a data-focused editorial product for subscribers that breaks down credit union issues into hard data, allowing for a deeper and more factual narrative for readers. In 2024, he launched the "Shared Accounts With CU Times" podcast, which offers a fresh, inside-the-newsroom perspective through interviews with leaders from the credit union industry and the regulatory world. He dives into pressing credit union issues, while revealing the personalities working behind-the-scenes to push the credit union world forward. His background includes years as a radio and TV anchor/reporter and a public relations and digital/social media manager, where he covered the food and music industries, as well as cooperatives and credit unions. Over the years, he has launched numerous exclusive video and podcast series, including a successful series of interactive backstage interviews with musicians at music festivals, showcasing his social media and live streaming production skills.
