More than 20 credit unions either announced or completedmergersduring the summer season.

Right before the Labor Day weekend, the unofficial final weekendof the summer, credit unions in California, Massachusetts andWisconsin announced merger completions.

On Aug. 31, the $323 million Sun Community Federal Credit Unionin El Centro, Calif. completed its merger with the $13.1 millionPalm Springs Federal Credit Union in Palm Springs, Calif.

Dale Johnson, president/CEO of Sun Community FCU, will remain asthe chief executive of the combined organizations. DebbiePitigliano, president/CEO of Palm Springs FCU, will become theregional vice president of Sun Community.

The merger makes Sun Community FCU the largest cooperative inImperial County.

Also on the last day of August, the $18 million IBEW Members+Credit Union in Martinez, Calif. merged into the $896 millionEngineers Local Credit Union #3 Federal Credit Union in Livermore,Calif.

In Massachusetts, the $8.1 million First Choice Credit Union inMethuen, Mass., officially merged into the $563 million AlignCredit Union in Lowell on Sept. 1.

Also on the first day of September, the $120 million CommunityCredit Union of LaCrosse, Wis. merged into the $594 million VerveCredit Union in Oshkosh, Wis.

Kevin J. Ralofsky (pictured above) will continue aspresident/CEO of Verve CU, while Chris Butler (pictured at left),former president/CEO of Community CU, will serve as a regionalpresident who will oversee the credit union's growth strategies onthe west side of the state.

Verve CU now manages $714 million in assets, operates 14branches and serves nearly 56,000 members.

The $6.5 million General Drivers Credit Union in Dubuque, Iowa,announced on August 17 that it plans to merge with the $104 millionAlliant Credit Union also based in Dubuque.

After the merger is completed on Nov. 1, the General Drivers CUoffice will close and its staff will be relocated to other Alliantbranches.

On August 12, members of the $20.7 million Pacific NorthwestCredit Union in Bellingham, Wash., voted to approve a merger withthe $194 million North Coast Credit Union, also in Bellingham. Thatconsolidation is scheduled to close Oct. 1.

In Michigan, the $29 million Eastside Family Federal CreditUnion in Eastpointe merged into the $667 million Community ChoiceCredit Union in Farmington Hills on Aug. 4.

This was Community Choice CU's second merger. In April, the $106million NuPath Community Credit Union consolidated into CommunityChoice CU.

The $24 million Bell West Community Credit Union in Oak Lawn,Ill., finalized its merger into the $693 million Great Lakes CreditUnion in Bannockburn, Ill. on Aug. 3.

On August 1, three cooperatives in Georgia, Iowa and NorthCarolina completed their consolidations.

In Georgia, the $21.8 million Etowah Valley Federal Credit Unionin Cartersville merged into the $1 billion Georgia United CreditUnion in Duluth; the $4 million Lehigh Valley Credit Union inLehigh, Iowa consolidated with the $26.7 million Peoples CreditUnion in Webster City, Iowa; and in North Carolina, the $16.5million Oxford Credit Union in Oxford merged with the $180 millionSummit Credit Union in Greensboro.

On July 31, the $392,999 Clements Federal Credit Union inClements, Minn. merged into the $285 million SouthPoint FederalCredit Union in Sleepy Eye, Minn.

It was announced on July 7 that the $28.5 million Texas CatholicCommunity Credit Union in Dallas merged into the $2.6 billion TexasDow Employees Credit Union in Lake Jackson, Texas. TDECU said theconsolidation represented its entry into the Dallas/Fort Worthmarket.

On July 1, four credit unions in Wisconsin, New York,Massachusetts and Michigan finalized their mergers.

In Wisconsin, the $34 million RiverWood-Maritime Credit Union inTwo Rivers merged into the $1 billion Fox Communities Credit Unionin Appleton. In New York, the $1.3 million Kolmar N.Y. EmployeesCredit Union in Port Jervis consolidated into the $326 millionHudson Heritage Federal Credit Union in Middletown.

Additionally, in Massachusetts, the $50 million Seaport CreditUnion in Salem merged with the $161 million St. Jean's Credit Unionin Lynn, Mass., and in Michigan, the $1.4 million St. PatrickCredit Union in Croswell consolidated with the $397 millionSecurity Credit Union in Flint.

In June, the $44.7 million Kent Credit Union in Kent, Ohio,announced it planned to merge with the $854 million Seven SeventeenCredit Union in Warren, Ohio. That consolidation is expected to becompleted Nov. 1.

Also in June, California state regulators approved the merger ofthe $12.2 million Newport Beach City Employees Federal Credit Unionin Newport Beach with the $982 million Credit Union of SouthernCalifornia in Anaheim.

California regulators also approved the merger of the $75.4million SD Medical Federal Credit Union in San Diego and the $7.6million Southland Savings Federal Credit Union in Buena Park intothe $1 billion Financial Partners Credit Union in Downey.