The Credit Union National Association said Monday that it is interested in discussing a merger with a fellow trade group, the National Association of Federal Credit Unions.
However, "we have made no offer to NAFCU in any way, shape, or form," said Tom Dorety, CUNA's chairman and the chief executive of Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union in Tampa.
CUNA's board has responded to a paper offered by an independent group of credit union CEOs, who urged the two trade groups to combine, Mr. Dorety said. "We are willing to sit down and discuss the possibility of creating a new national trade association for credit unions. Once we sit down and discuss it, we may acknowledge that there's no way we can do it."
His group has approached NAFCU several times in the past, and it is no secret that it favors a combination. NAFCU has said it has no interest in pursuing a merger. Its board voted unanimously against merger discussions this summer.
