The yearend buzz on credit union mergers presages a bumper year in 2011 but one leading Oregon consultant, Merger Solutions Group, said that the volume in both numbers and size is dramatically down in 2010.

Credit union educators in North Carolina were searching for a special way to dramatically stress to industry newcomers and those unfamiliar with CU history the importance of the industry's mission.

A struggling San Francisco credit union on the brink of collapse and appealing for $50,000 in capital donations from its California peers added $10,000 to its coffers this week.

The merger rhetoric on bridge corporates continued to percolate Monday with David Chatfield, the new head of a West Coast task force on the subject, suggesting three already conserved corporates be consolidated.

The $115 million United Financial Credit Union of Bridgeport, Mich. is merging the $34 million Consumers Choice CU of nearby Saginaw on Jan. 1.

The nation's largest merger a $4.7 billion combination of Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union of Palo Alto Calif. and First Tech CU of Beaverton, Ore. has won final approval of First Tech members, it was announced Friday.

The $2.5 billion Georgia Corporate Federal Credit Union wasted no time Friday in spelling out 2010 details and the timetable for its proposed merger of Texas-based Southwest Bridge Corporate FCU.

The yearend closing of eight branches of Arrowhead Central Credit CU including six in a California supermarket chain rekindled this week the local dispute over last June's NCUA conservatorship.