SAN DIEGO – American Mortgage Express (AME) Financial, a mortgage banking arm for several credit unions in California, most notably North Island Credit Union, has merged with its sister company, Millennium Funding Group (MFG), a national wholesale mortgage lender located in Vancouver, Wash. The merger was effective earlier this year, the company stated in a recently issued release. According to AME Spokesperson Kali Kirk, the merger mostly benefits AME's wholesale clients, who now have access to Millennium's subprime loans. Currently, AME services credit unions only on the retail side of the business. But with the merger, AME is positioned to "provide an enhanced product line to all clientele," including credit unions, Kirk said. The merger also makes AME's product mix more attractive to potential clients. AME Financial, headquartered in San Diego, is one of the largest privately held mortgage lenders in San Diego County. AME retail mortgage loan production exceeded $3 billion in 2004.