BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The State Farm credit unions are conducting some behind-the-scenes activities while respecting NCUA's merger application process.

The 12 credit unions serving State Farm Insurance filed an application March 1 to merge into one credit union. NCUA said it expects to touch base with the credit unions by June 1.

Meanwhile, 10 teams of staff managers from the various zones served by the credit unions have been assembled to look at their respective policies with the goal of forming one unified policy, said Tom DeWitt, president/CEO, State Farm-Great Lakes Federal Credit Union. The teams will be honing in on such areas as lending, shares, collections, accounting and front and back office functions. "Even though we've operated the same way, there are differences," DeWitt said. All of the credit unions have systems through Atlanta-based John H. Harland Co. but separate databases, DeWitt said, adding, combining the systems has also been looked into. The 12 credit unions, which are located in 20 states, have combined assets of nearly $3 billion and 136,000 members. If approved, members would then vote on approving the change. "We're looking forward to hearing from NCUA," DeWitt said. The credit unions involved are State Farm California FCU, Bakersfield, Calif.; State Farm Central FCU, Columbia, Mo.; State Farm Florida FCU, Winter Haven, Fla.; State Farm Great Lakes FCU, Bloomington, Ill.; State Farm Great Western, Tempe, Ariz.; State Farm Heartland FCU, Lincoln, Neb.; State Farm Mid-America FCU, Newark, Ohio; State Farm Mid-Atlantic, Frederick, Md.; State Farm Northeast, Ballston Spa, NY; State Farm Pacific Northwest FCU, Dupont, Wash.; State Farm Southern FCU, Duluth, Ga.; and State Farm Texas FCU, Austin, Texas. DeWitt would be the CEO of the new credit union, which would be known as State Farm Federal Credit Union and the other 11 CEOs would remain on as managers. Boards from all 12 credit unions have already approved the merger, DeWitt said.