With mergers pending of two small Indiana credit unions, the newpresident/CEO of the $2.1 billion Teachers CU of South Bendforecast Tuesday more collaboration among both big and small creditunions across the U.S. in such areas as IT and insurance.

“In the months ahead I think you will see more synergy andworking together in partnerships,” declared Paul Marsh, who tookover in June as the head of Indiana's largest credit union,succeeding the retired RichardRice.

While TCU remains open to mergers of small CUs “no matter wherethey might be,” credit union growth also can be found in workingpartnerships with other CUs on CUSOs, for instance, said Marsh.

In the remainder of 2011 and next year, there may also be futuremergers or combinations of big and small CUs of which TCU might bea part, Marsh said without elaborating.

Last week, the NCUA approved mergers of two struggling IndianaCUs with TCU. Member approval, said Marsh, has been received forthe $36 million Double Eleven CU of Indianapolis while a Nov. 17vote is scheduled for the $12 million New Albany SchoolsFCU.

Double Eleven with 4,800 members had lost $588,000 in 2010 witha $141,000 loss continuing into the third quarter of 2011. NewAlbany Schools with 3,300 members had also lost $62,000 in 2010 butpared that to $15,000 for the first three quarters of this year.

In both cases, Double Eleven and New Albany had approached TCUregarding a merger deal and on both “it's working out well for us,”said Marsh, whose credit union now has about 262,000 members.