The charter is not the mission.
We help credit union and bank leaders weigh the strategic choices that create greater long-term value for members, employees and communities.
Explore the decisionRecent transactions
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Announced transaction
Gulf Winds Credit Union
to acquire
Peoples Exchange Bank
Lead financial adviser to Gulf Winds Credit Union
September 2026
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Announced transaction
Gulf Winds Credit Union
to acquire
Madison County Community Bank
Lead financial adviser to Gulf Winds Credit Union
August 2026
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Completed transaction
Frontier Credit Union
has acquired
First Citizens Bank of Butte
Financial adviser to Frontier Credit Union
September 2025
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Announced transaction
Hudson Valley Credit Union
to acquire
Catskill Hudson Bank
Financial adviser to Hudson Valley Credit Union
January 2024
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Announced transaction
Dort Financial Credit Union
to acquire
Flagler Bank
Lead financial adviser to Dort Financial Credit Union
January 2023
- Since 2004 advising credit unions on mergers
- [XX] completed transactions
- [XX] states
- Both sides of CU-to-CU mergers and bank acquisitions
Start with the question in front of your board.
Each question leads to a short guide, the analysis behind it, a case from our own work and an open invitation to talk it through. There is no wrong place to start.
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Should we remain independent?
Strategic independence test and a member-value comparison of every path.
Explore → -
Our CEO is approaching retirement
Succession, timing, legacy and what the next chapter asks of the board.
Explore → -
We need scale
Technology, talent, products, resilience and market reach.
Explore → -
We have been approached
Board process, unsolicited proposals and decision discipline.
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We need the right partner
Search, fit, culture, governance and terms.
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We are preparing for the member vote
Communications, employees, member trust and transparency.
Explore →
Recent analysis
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Scale · January 2026The Hidden Drivers of CU Consolidation
Why So Many Merged Credit Unions Report Negative ROAA—and What the Data Really Says About Scale The third quarter of 2025 sparked renewed debate acros…
Read the article → -
Merger data · December 2025Credit Union Merger Analysis: Third Quarter 2025
An analysis of credit union mergers for the third quarter of 2025 shows relatively consistent merger volumes compared to the first and second quarters…
Read the article → -
CEO retirement · August 2025The Perfect Storm: CEO Retirements and Industry Consolidation Create Strategic Succession Opportunity
What if your credit union could achieve better economies of scale and find the perfect CEO to lead your organization in the future?
Read the article →
$17M
The median size of the 41 credit unions merged in the third quarter of 2025. The average was $834 million.
Source: NCUA merger approvals, Q3 2025. CEO Advisory Group analysis.
See the quarterly merger data →- Q1 · 45 $2.4B
- Q2 · 35 $5.6B
- Q3 · 41 $34B
Labels show quarter · number of mergers approved. Source: NCUA; CEO Advisory Group, Credit Union Merger Analysis: Third Quarter 2025.
See the quarterly merger data →Three kinds of work, one specialty.
Acquiring credit unions
We find and approach merger partners on your behalf, confidentially, and stay with the process through to a letter of intent.
Discuss a partner search →Credit unions considering a merger
We help boards and CEOs compare every realistic option, including remaining independent, while they still control the timing.
Compare the options →Bank acquisitions
We help credit unions find, evaluate and complete community bank purchases, and work with bank owners and advisers who want a credit union buyer.
Discuss a bank acquisition →What Credit Unions Need to Know About Bank Acquisitions
Part 2 of the series is now available. It covers [two-sentence summary of Part 2’s central finding, from the paper].
By Glenn Christensen · Executive brief free to read · Full paper by email
Read the executive brief“Independence is not the mission. Member value is.”
Every engagement is led by Glenn Christensen. CEO Advisory Group has advised credit unions on mergers since 2004, and Glenn speaks regularly to boards and industry conferences on merger, succession and bank acquisition decisions.
Talk it through before anything is decided.
A first conversation commits your credit union to nothing. It is confidential, and it is with Glenn.
Start a confidential conversationThe quarterly merger analysis
NCUA-approved mergers, their size and stated reasons, and credit union purchases of banks. Four times a year.