With two Minnesota mergers still underway, Wings FinancialCredit Union has its radar set on expanding its field of membershipto the Puget Sound area in Washington.

The $3.2 billion CU in Apple Valley, Minn., said the WashingtonState Department of Financial Institutions recently approved itsrequest to open up membership to the western regions of King,Pierce and Snohomish counties along with all of Kitsap County andIsland County and parts of Mason, Gray's Harbor, Thurston,Jefferson, Clallam and Skagit counties.

Wings Financial currently operates a full-service credit unionbranch in Seatac, which is located near the Seattle-TacomaInternational Airport.

“Wings Financial has been privileged to serve Puget Sound for 40years,” said Paul Parish, president/CEO of Wings Financial. “Wehave members as far south as Olympia and north to Mount Vernon.With our expanded field of membership we hope to attract moremembers looking for a great financial partner.”

Over the summer, Wings Financial announced plans to merge withthe $450 million City-County Federal Credit Union in BrooklynCenter, Minn. In June, the cooperative said it had entered into amerger agreement with the $41 million Highgrove Community FederalCredit Union in St. Paul, Minn.

Wings Financial has partnered with several trade groups andairlines over the past few years including JetBlue Airways andAirTran Airways. More membership opportunities may open up afterSouthwest Airlines and AirTran announced plans Sept. 27 to mergetheir operations. Meanwhile, the CU was approved for a trade,industry and profession charter in 2004 to serve the airtransportation industry. In 2009, it converted to a state charterto include 11 counties in Minnesota and two in Wisconsin.

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