GREENVILLE, S.C.–Two credit unions in the process of merging here have announced the new name under which they plan to operate.
Anderson FCU and SC Telco FCU said members have voted “overwhelmingly” in favor of the combination, which will create a $525-million credit union with more than 59,000 members and 10 branches across the Upstate and Midlands regions of South Carolina.
According to the credit unions, the merged organization will operate under the name Spero Financial in honor of each of the companies. The word spero (pronounced sparrow) is Latin for “hope,” the CUs said.
“With over 150 collective years of helping South Carolinians improve their financial lives, it’s only fitting that our new name should have its origin in our home state’s most recognizable symbol — the Great Seal of South Carolina,” said SC Telco FCU CEO Brian McKay in a released statement. “There, we read the Latin motto ‘Dum Spiro Spero’ meaning ‘While I breathe, I hope.’ Spero means hope — a word that’s deeply rooted in our unchanging mission and cooperative spirit of people helping people.
‘Richness of History’
“By reflecting on the richness of our history, staying true to the hopefulness of our mission, and holding fast to the commitment of helping our communities soar, Spero Financial captures who we’ve been, who we are, and who we’re becoming,” added McKay, who will be CEO of the merged CU.
The credit unions said Spero Financial’s logo and other brand elements will be introduced later in 2020.