Growth Strategies

Spokane-area credit union founded by Air Force members also has branches in Idaho and northern Italy.

There were 70 CU mergers in the first six months of 2021, down one from last year at this point but continuing a decades-long trend.

Credit unions without a differentiated strategy will sooner or later be acquired.

Mergers of equals, and mergers of peers of larger-asset credit unions, appear to be taking hold.

See data on CU-bank acquisitions, annual merger rates, how many CU assets were merged away each year and more.

Successful CUs differ in size, location, FOM and charter, but tend to make the same five strategic moves.