Discovery: Communication Key toSuccessful Mergers

LAS VEGAS - (06/26/06) – Two Denver-area CUs merged Oct.1, 2005, to become Westerra Credit Union, which is scheduled tomerge with Gateway CU this coming Oct. 1. According to two Westerraexecutives, the mergers have gone well–and with nolayoffs– thanks to the attention management paid to aligningthe cultures of the credit unions involved, not just operations.The other important factors, said Alan Peppers, president and CEO,and Duane Bruno, chief administrative officer: communication,communication, communication. Peppers and Bruno led an educationalsession at CUNA Mutual Group’s Discovery conference hereFriday.