The Credit Union Association of Wyoming, a 25-member group, is calling off a formal merger with the Credit Union Association of Colorado.
Since 2003, the two Mountain States trade groups have been closely linked through a service agreement and a formal merger was put forward last year.
In a statement, the CCUA said that "after a year of exploring a more formal merger relationship" the partnership idea was called off on a 12-10 vote on March 17.
"As a result of the Wyoming decision, the merger vote among Colorado credit unions will be suspended," said the statement, which also quoted the chairman of the WCUA, Marsha Tynsky, who said the two groups have "had a long and successful relationship and look forward to charting a future course" working together.
Officials said the service agreement between the two groups remains intact.
It was learned that Wyoming geography apparently played a part in merger suspension. The southern cities of Cheyenne and Laramie have long felt closer to the Denver economy and CCUA, while smaller central Wyoming cities felt a closer identification with Montana or the Dakotas. There had been talks about consolidating with the Montana League or the new Mid America Credit Union Association of Bismarck, N.D.
