TAMPA, Fla. and DENVER -- In a move possibly demonstrating thecontinued upheaval of trust services within the credit unionindustry, two of the movement's largest trust companies haveannounced their plans to merge.

CUNA Mutual Group and credit union-owned MEMBERS Trust Co., thenation's first nationally-chartered trust company for creditunions, and Members Trust Company of Colorado are joining forces.MEMBERS Trust would be the surviving entity and Tom Walker, MEMBERSTrust Company's president/CEO, would serve in that role followingthe merger, according to both companies. Members Trust Company ofColorado would convert to an operating division and Tim Kenczewicz,current CEO of Members Trust Company of Colorado, would serve aspresident of the division under terms of the merger plan.

In addition to $5.2 billion Suncoast Schools Federal CreditUnion and CUNA Mutual, MEMBERS Trust is owned by 33 credit unions.The firm has $202 million in assets and serves 51 credit unionsthroughout the United States. Members Trust of Colorado is owned bynine Colorado and Wyoming credit unions, Credit Union StrategicPartners (a subsidiary of the Credit Union Association ofColorado), and SunCorp Corporate Credit Union. Members Trust ofColorado has $120 million in assets and provides trust services toseven credit unions in Colorado.