The fourth quarter's largest consolidations approved by the NCUA included the $461 million Heritage Credit Union in DeForest, Wis., into the $3.8 billion Connexus Credit Union in Wausau, Wis., followed by the $217 million Dane County Credit Union in Madison, Wis., with the $399 million Heartland Credit Union also based in Madison; the $179 million Western Rockies Federal Credit Union in Grand Junction, Colo., into the $3.6 billion Canvas Credit Union in Lone Tree; the $99 million Lincoln Maine Federal Credit Union with the $73.8 million Eastmill Federal Credit Union in East Millinocket, Maine; and the $57.6 million Flag Credit Union in Tallahassee, Fla., with the $118 million Bay Credit Union in Panama City.

Credit unions that got the NCUA's approval to merge because of their poor financial condition were the $38 million Equishare Credit Union in Wichita, Kan., with the $95.6 million Quantum Credit Union in Wichita; the $19.5 million Coastal New England Federal Credit Union in New Bedford, Mass., with the $240 million Taunton Federal Credit Union in Taunton, Mass.; the $16.4 million New Horizon Credit Union in Danville, Ill., into the $475 million University of Illinois Community Credit Union in Champaign; and the $3.5 million Pomona Postal Federal Credit Union in Pomona, Calif., with the $2.2 billion Credit Union of Southern California in Anaheim.

Because of poor management, the $2.9 million Hometown Credit Union in Shenandoah, Iowa received the approval to merge into the $1 billion Community 1st Credit Union in Ottumwa. Due to its lack of growth, the $2.6 million WOR CO Federal Credit Union in Pocomoke City, Md., consolidated with the $1.2 billion First Financial of Maryland Federal Credit Union in Sparks, according to the NCUA's fourth quarter report.