The NCUA approved 35 mergers during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the 26 consolidations that got the federal agency’s nod during the first quarter of 2024, according to the federal agency's Q1 Merger Activity and Insurance Report released on Thursday.

Twenty-six consolidations were approved for expanded services. Three credit unions were merged because of their inability to find new leadership – or inability to obtain officials, as the NCUA described it. Three financial cooperatives were consolidated because of their poor financial condition, one for loss or declining field of membership, one for lack of growth, and one for conversion to or merger with a federal credit union.

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The first quarter’s largest mergers were:

  • The $684 million Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union in Metairie, La., with the $4.3 billion Keesler Federal Credit Union in Biloxi, Miss. (Member vote: May 21).
  • The $593 million Missouri Credit Union in Columbia into the $741 million River Region Community Federal Credit Union in Jefferson City. (Approved by MCU members on March 27).
  • The $122 million Catholic Vantage Financial Credit Union in Livonia, Mich., with the $923 million Christian Financial Credit Union in Sterling Heights, Mich. (Member vote: May 6).

Credit unions consolidated for poor financial condition were:

  • The $14.4 million Living in Fulfillment Every Day Federal Credit Union in Cross Roads, Texas into the $6.1 billion Tinker Federal Credit Union in Oklahoma City. Living in Fulfillment Every Day posted a Q4 2024 loss of $951,360 and a Q1 2025 loss of $230,696, according to NCUA financial performance reports.
  • The $5.2 million Eastern Kentucky Federal Credit Union in Prestonsburg, Ky., with the $2.5 billion Commonwealth Federal Credit Union in Frankfort, Ky.
  • The $373,413 Atlas Credit Union in Hannibal, Mo., into the $8.3 million Community First Credit Union also based in Hannibal.

Credit unions merged for their inability to find new leaders:

  • The $36.6 million Public Employees Credit Union in Waterloo, Iowa with the $812 million Community Choice Credit Union in Johnston, Iowa.
  • The $25.7 million United Cities Credit Union in Newark, N.J., into the $234 million North Jersey Federal Credit Union in Totowa, N.J.
  • The $452,358 Ann Arbor Postal Credit Union in Milan, Mich., with the $1.3 billion University of Michigan Credit Union in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The reason for the Missouri CU consolidation with River Region Community was “conversion to or merger with a federal credit union,” according to the NCUA’s Q1 Merger Activity and Insurance Report.

Because of its “lack of growth,” the $64.2 million Taleris Credit Union in Independence, Ohio was approved to merge with the $697 million Pathways Financial Credit Union in Columbus Ohio.

Finally, because of its loss or declining field of membership, the $14.4 million Lewiston Porter Federal Credit Union in Youngstown, N.Y., was given the green light to consolidate with $165 million Ontario Shores Federal Credit Union in Newfane, N.Y.

Editor’s Note: The NCUA’s merger approval does not necessarily indicate whether members of the merging credit union approved the consolidation or whether a merger was called off by management.

Peter Strozniak can be reached at [email protected]

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Peter Strozniak

Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.