Spate of August deals doubles 2021's bank acquisitions by credit unions

The latest tie-ups in Florida and Illinois are the fourth and fifth in roughly two weeks. The question remains whether a resurgent COVID-19 caseload will bring dealmaking to another halt.

By Dan Ennis • Updated Aug. 23, 2021

Memphis-based Orion Federal Credit Union to buy Financial Federal Bank

The deal, which would nearly double the $1 billion-asset Orion Federal’s size, is the seventh such deal involving a credit union purchasing a bank to be announced this year.

By Anna Hrushka • Aug. 12, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Credit unions in the competitive landscape

If credit unions are looking for proof of their competitive sway, they should look no further than a Federal Reserve governor’s call to include credit unions in regulators’ evaluation of a banking market.

By Banking Dive staff

Digital-only credit union latest institution to scrap overdraft fees

Alliant’s move follows a similar one made by Ally Bank in June, and comes as a growing number of financial institutions are revamping their overdraft policies amid pushback from Democratic lawmakers. 

By Anna Hrushka • Aug. 5, 2021

Michigan credit union aims to buy Florida bank in year's 5th such tie-up

The roughly $97 million deal, expected to close in the fourth quarter, would boost Lake Michigan Credit Union's Sunshine State footprint to 19 branches and give Pilot Bank shareholders $6.25 in cash per share.

By Dan Ennis • June 18, 2021

California credit union lays out its 2nd merger of 2021

Bakersfield-based Valley Strong announced its intention to combine with Stockton's Federal Center Credit Union to form a $3.2 billion-asset entity. Valley Strong is also merging with Fairfield's Solano First Federal Credit Union.

By Dan Ennis • June 1, 2021

Iowa credit union proposes buying Illinois, Nebraska banks

GreenState Credit Union's deals to buy Oxford Bank & Trust and Premier Bank would represent the third and fourth bank takeovers by a credit union this year. The transactions are expected to close by the fourth quarter.

By Dan Ennis • May 26, 2021

Bank trade groups take aim at VyStar-Heritage deal

In a letter to the FDIC, bank trade groups called out VyStar Credit Union's history of closing branches and said the $195.7 million deal would cut regulatory safeguards for low- and moderate-income consumers.

By Anna Hrushka • May 17, 2021

Massachusetts credit union blends tech, financial-coaching focus

Workers Credit Union's latest branches feature interactive holograms, video ATMs — and employees aiming to de-stigmatize money.

By Anna Hrushka • May 4, 2021

VyStar Credit Union to buy Heritage Southeast Bank for $195.7M

The deal, which is expected to close later this year, would be the credit union's second purchase of a bank in two years.

By Anna Hrushka • April 1, 2021

Colorado credit union spinoff has ambitions beyond pot banking

Partner Colorado CEO Sundie Seefried plans to leave her post in July to lead a new entity that will launch lending products for cannabis companies. She's also eyeing the growing crypto and psychedelic mushroom space.

By Anna Hrushka • Updated June 23, 2021

Credit unions top Fed survey of small-business lending satisfaction

The annual report paints a dire picture of the pandemic's impact and shows a disparity along racial lines as to what is the top concern for 2021.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 5, 2021

Navy Federal Credit Union continues branch expansion as banks scale back

"While the self-service capabilities ... work well to meet a lot of [military members'] fundamental needs, there's still ... a need for them to be able to walk into a branch and get some financial guidance," a credit union executive said.

By Anna Hrushka • Feb. 3, 2021

Minnesota's Wings Financial makes year's 1st credit union purchase of bank

Wings CEO Frank Weidner said he was attracted to Brainerd Savings & Loan because of the bank's cabin mortgage business — a lending silo the credit union wants to grow — and its geography.

By Dan Ennis • Jan. 26, 2021

Bank leaders, trade groups condemn insurrection at US Capitol

"We have to begin reinvesting in our democracy," Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said in a LinkedIn post, adding that the country has "squandered" its "reservoir of goodwill around the world."

By Anna Hrushka • Jan. 7, 2021

The Banking Dive Awards for 2020

The government turned to banks and fintechs to help facilitate federal relief amid the coronavirus pandemic. Here are the executives and companies whose leadership stood out during the global crisis.

By Banking Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020

Twitter to invest $100M in CDFIs in effort to combat racial wealth gap

The social media giant follows a growing number of corporations, including Netflix and PayPal, that have embarked on similar initiatives to funnel more capital to Black and Latinx financial institutions and businesses.

By Anna Hrushka • Nov. 13, 2020

Bank executives, trade groups react to Biden-Harris victory

Several bank and credit union trade groups, as well as top bank executives, not waiting on a Trump concession, have released statements and congratulatory posts on the highly contested 2020 election.

By Anna Hrushka • Nov. 9, 2020

Banks moving into branchless towns amp up community ties

From sponsoring Little League and Girl Scouts initiatives to helping a local library recover from a fire, small banks show deep roots when moving into banking deserts.

By Ken McCarthy • Oct. 26, 2020

Acquisition under the radar: Credit unions resume community bank deals

A hearing on tax exemption is long overdue, advocates say. But lawmakers are focusing on pandemic priorities. Meanwhile, a credit union may be a community bank's best hope.

By Anna Hrushka • Oct. 6, 2020

Alabama credit union to buy bank in 6th such deal of 2020

The tie-up represents Alabama One's second takeover of the year, following a July merger that brought Alabama Rural Electric Credit Union under its umbrella.

By Dan Ennis • Sept. 4, 2020

PenFed set to grow through merger with Long Island credit union

Eligible members of Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union will be given a $350 merger dividend once the deal goes through, expected at the end of the year.

By Dan Ennis • Aug. 31, 2020

Crane Credit Union buys its 2nd bank in past 2 months

The pace of bank acquisitions by credit unions has slowed significantly, but Indiana has proved fertile for credit union-bank tie-ups. The state is home to three of the nation's five such deals this year.

By Dan Ennis • Aug. 20, 2020

Six more banks partner with Google to launch co-branded checking accounts

Banks may view the Google venture as a way to expand their brand and grow customer accounts outside of their existing branch network.

By Anna Hrushka • Aug. 3, 2020

Indiana deal marks 4th credit union purchase of bank this year

Including Heritage Federal Credit Union's deal to buy The Elberfeld State Bank, the pace of credit union-bank tie-ups has slowed to half of what it was at this point last year.

By Dan Ennis • July 7, 2020

Indiana's Crane Credit Union to acquire community bank

The acquisition would mark the third such takeover this year. A record 16 credit union-bank tie-ups were announced in 2019, but the coronavirus — and the judicial branch, in one case — scuttled the trend so far in 2020.

By Dan Ennis • June 12, 2020