REDDING, Calif. – S.T.A.R. Community Credit Union of Chico, Calif., will merge into Members 1st Credit Union, here, after members of S.T.A.R. Community gave their approval at a special meeting last week.
The merger already had received approvals by NCUA and California's Department of Business Oversight. Operational integrations are expected to be completed by Jan. 4, 2016, the two CUs said Tuesday.
Mark Moore, CEO of $117 million Members 1st, will lead the combined organization.
"I am extremely pleased to announce the merger of these two highly regarded credit unions," Moore said in a statement. "Our similar cultures and complementary geographies and service strengths make this combination a natural fit. Both of our organizations are dedicated to delivering the very best to our members."
Joe Kelly, who has led $42 million S.T.A.R. Community CU for more than 17 years, will retire in January 2016.
"I am very excited for the opportunities available to our members and employees as a result of this partnership," Kelly said. "The blending of our two organizations will provide a wider array of product offerings and a larger footprint of branches and ATMs to our combined membership."
Kelly will be designated board Emeritus while S.T.A.R. Community board members Sharon O'Quin and Kirk Monfort will begin serving on the Members 1st board in January 2016.
S.T.A.R. Community was chartered in 1958 to support the financial needs of teachers and administrators from Chico State University. It has since grown to include students, teachers, alumni, and retirees of all Butte County schools, employees of the Chico Police Department, Enloe Medical Center employees, and doctors affiliated with Enloe Medical Center and their employees.
Members 1st was established in 1936 as California State Employees Credit Union #13 to support the state employees of California within Shasta County. Currently, Members 1st serves anyone who lives, works, or worships within Shasta and Tehama County, including government employees, school employees, students, and their family members in the counties of Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, and Trinity.
As part of the merger, Members 1st will be able to extend membership to anyone who lives, works, or worships within Butte or Glenn counties.
