DENVER/SEA TAC, Wash.–What will become the largest regional CU association in the country is now official, after member credit unions in the Mountain West Credit Union Association (MWCUA) and the Northwest Credit Union Association (NWCUA) voted to merge effective June 30, 2022.
The new, six- state trade association will represent 300+ credit unions in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, which serve over 12.3 million consumer members.
According to the organizations, the merger was approved with overwhelming support, as 80% of the eligible credit unions’ delegates cast ballots, with 92% voting in favor.
“As associations in service to credit unions across these six states, we are humbled by the honor of serving organizations that create impact for people as they build their dreams,” said MWCUA President and CEO Scott Earl and NWCUA President and CEO Troy Stang in a joint statement. “The results of the vote support the belief of both organizations’ boards of directors that creating a next-level Association will enhance the strength and influence of credit unions’ voices.”
Stang to Lead Combined Organization
Earl will retire June 30, following a 40-year career in credit unions. Upon completion of the merger of MWCUA and NWCUA, Stang will serve as president and CEO.
In their statement, Earl and Stang expressed “deep gratitude to the MWCUA and NWCUA boards of directors for their strategic investment and leadership navigating the merger process, to the associations’ teams for their intense collaboration, and to all the credit union leaders who explored the possibilities and voted in support of the merger.”
According to the associations, the strategic plan will ensure all six states represented are part of a “proven advocacy model to keep the charters modern and relevant. A hyper-local approach will be expanded in state-level advocacy, while credit union voices at the federal level will become stronger with 12% of the U.S. Senate and 10% of the U.S. House represented within the six states.”
The two associations said additional details about the new organization will be made available as the integration plans are finalized and the consummation date nears.
About the Associations
The Mountain West Credit Union Association represents 133 credit unions, 4.2 million credit union members, and $67 billion in assets throughout Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming. The Northwest Credit Union Association represents more than 175 not-for- profit, cooperative credit unions in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and their 8.1 million consumer members.