The affiliate concept for credit union mergers, though appealing for marketing image and messaging, is simply impractical, according to the CEO of a Nebraska CU that just completed a consolidation.
The merger of the $6 million Southeast Nebraska FCU of Beatrice and Aliant CU of Lincoln, Neb. was announced last December.
Originally, Southeast Nebraska was going to be an "affiliate" of Aliant, President/CEO Kenneth Miller said, noting the push to retain that moniker was spurred "by all of the many bank mergers that were occurring across the country about that time."
Recommended For You
"At the time we did this merger we wanted to reassure members that it was not just like some bank takeover and so we kept the affiliate designation," Miller explained.
But directors have undergone a change of heart, realizing the advantages of a single unit and name change, Miller said.
Miller said that the MembersTrust name was selected by an Omaha agency, Redstone Communications, which cleared for approval three other "Members Trust"-named CUs elsewhere in the country. "We liked the idea of including 'trust.' Particularly appropriate at a time like this in our economy," Miller said.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
