Credit union associations in Kansas and Texas are set to merge on Dec. 31.
The Cornerstone League and Heartland Credit Union Association said in a press release that their members approved the merger. About 93% of the members that voted backed the combination.
Seventeen of the 20 objections came from the Heartland Credit Union Association.
“In merging … we’re building upon our experience as a three-state league to chart the new frontier for the league system,” James Boyd, the Cornerstone League’s chairman, said in the release. “Our combined entity will strengthen Cornerstone’s value proposition to its members and usher in fortified credit union advocacy and member service.”
Heartland’s board “is grateful to our members for their commitment and trust during this process to arrive at this important decision,” James Nastars, the association’s chairman and president and CEO of Meritrust Credit Union in Wichita, Kan., said in the release. “We look forward to networking with a larger group of peers with even more perspectives and opportunities for collaboration that serves credit union members.”
The association will use the Cornerstone brand and will be led by President and CEO Caroline Willard.