Lafayette and Think Wending Their Way Along

KENSINGTON, Md. and ROCHESTER, Minn. — The $331 million Lafayette Federal Credit Union and $1.2 billion Think Federal Credit Union are both wending their way through the conversion process. Lafayette is almost finished and has scheduled its special meeting at which members will be able to cast their final votes on the proposal. Think filed its application to convert with the Office of Thrift Supervision on Oct. 13. After a series of missteps in the press and with some mostly tense member meetings, it’s unclear Lafayette members will approve the conversion. As a federal credit union, Lafayette only needs a majority of members who vote to vote yes, but with a sophisticated and educated membership, sources familiar with the CU and its members doubt it will pass. Think took the unusual step of sending its members a letter that it was considering converting before the CU actually filed. In some ways the letter resembled the NCUA’s proposed conversion regulation, which if finalized as written, will require CUs converting to let their members know they are contemplating the charter change before filing the paperwork. But unlike the NCUA regulation, there was no opportunity for member feedback on the decision.