Meridian Trust Federal Credit Union announced that it has received approval to merge with Panhandle Co-Op Federal Credit Union.
The merger, which will become effective on April 1, will result is the creation of the largest financial co-operative in the Nebraska Panhandle region.
Based in Cheyenne, Wyo., Meridian Trust FCU currently has $321 million in assets; while Panhandle Co-Op is based in Scottsbluff, Neb., and has about $3.5 million.
Scottsbluff is located on the extreme western corner of Nebraska, near the Wyoming border, and is about 100 miles northeast of Cheyenne.
With more than 25,000 members, Meridian Trust FCU already has a branch in Scottsbluff. Panhandle Co-op FCU has less than 900 members.
Kim Withers, Meridian Trust FCU's CEO said in a statement that after working with Panhandle Co-op FCU and its board over the course of several months, she realized that the two credit unions had an "aligning interest in serving the membership and providing a wide array of products and programs."
