Skip to main content

Richmond Fire & Police Credit Unions Join Forces

Michael Schwartz BizSense

The latest in a string of local credit union mergers is looking to bring city police and firefighters under one roof.

A deal is in the works to merge The Richmond Fire Department Credit Union and Richmond Police Department Credit Union.

The resulting institution will have 2,500 members and $21 million in assets. It will be renamed Richmond Virginia Fire Police Credit Union.

The two sides filed for state approval for the deal on Oct. 31, according to State Corporation Commission records.

Richmond Police Department Credit Union chief executive Alice Pope said she was not prepared to comment on the deal.

Wallace Garland, CEO of the Fire Department Credit Union said he could not comment at this time.

Letters to members state the credit unions hope to have the merger closed by around the first of the new year. Members of both credit unions have already approved the merger.

clip_image001

The Richmond Police Department Credit Union is housed in the police headquarters downtown on Grace Street. Photo by Michael Schwartz.

The Fire Department Credit Union is headquartered temporarily out of a small office at 1634 Ownby Lane, just around the corner from Richmond Fire Station #10.

It was founded in the 1920s by a handful of Richmond firefighters and currently has 1,500 members and $15.1 million in assets. It produced a profit of $82,000 through the first three quarters of the year, according to its financials filed with the National Credit Union Administration. That followed a profit of $119,000 for the full year 2013.

Richmond Police Department Credit Union has 1,000 members and $6.18 million in assets. It was founded in 1934. It operates out of the Richmond Police headquarters building at 200 W. Grace St.

It’s operating at a loss of $92,000 through the first nine months of 2014 and was in the red by $19,000 for all of last year, according to its NCUA filings.

The police and fire department deal is one of several mergers involving local credit unions in the last few years.

Many have involved larger credit unions absorbing smaller peers that were struggling to stay afloat. Others were a combination of similarly sized institutions looking to mergers as a way to expand their reach.

Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

Both Sides of The Desk!

With over 50 years of experience in the credit union sector, I have had the privilege of observing and participating in its evolution from various vantage points. My journey has taken me from serving as a dedicated volunteer holding critical leadership roles, including serving on the supervisory committee, as director, and as board chairman, culminating in my tenure as CEO for 12 years and now founder and President/CEO of the National Council of Firefighter Credit Unions . This extensive background has enabled me to " Sit On Both Sides Of The Desk ," blending operational expertise with strategic oversight. In this blog post, I want to share how this dual perspective has enriched my understanding of credit union dynamics and fostered more effective governance. By leveraging the insights gained from years spent navigating both the intricacies of daily operations and the broader strategic objectives, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of collaboration, communi...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Unlocking the Power of Emeritus Board Positions in Credit Unions

  Explore how the Emeritus Board Position in credit unions honors long-serving members, offering them a chance to mentor new leaders while maintaining strategic influence without the responsibilities of active board roles.
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

How To Make Decisions With Conviction—Even Under Pressure

Why strong leaders act when others hesitate — and how to develop that confidence without needing every answer. I’ve watched smart, experienced leaders freeze. And I’ve been in that same position myself. It’s not because we lack information, but because we don’t feel ready to choose. Leaders often get stuck because they’re waiting for the perfect moment to act. They’re thinking through the consequences, weighing the trade-offs, trying to get it right. But the longer they wait, the harder it becomes to move at all. The truth is that the worst decision isn’t always the wrong one. It’s the one you never make. If you’re in a leadership role, you don’t always get the luxury of knowing. You have to move anyway. Not recklessly, not blindly, but with clarity, purpose and conviction. In high-pressure moments, the gap between average leaders and great ones gets exposed. It’s not a gap in intelligence or experience. It’s a gap in decisiveness. Because conviction doesn’t mean certainty—it means mak...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Fed Kicks Off Two-Days of Meetings Today as Critics, Proponents Respond to Rate Increases; Plus, What CUs Should Expect

CUToday WASHINGTON–The Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) will kick off two days of meetings today and the decision they announce tomorrow will affect everything from the major U.S. markets to credit unions that are seeing strong loan growth to individual credit union members struggling with monthly bills. The FOMC is widely expected to again raise its benchmark rate as it seeks to cool raging inflation. Among those expecting rates to be higher by Wednesday afternoon is CUNA’s chief economist, Mike Schenk, who expects the Fed will push up rates by 75 basis points. That follows the full one percentage point increase made during the Fed’s July meeting. “That’s pretty substantial, but inflation is over 9%,” said Schenk...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Live - Podcast Understanding The Importance P&L Statements

A Weekly Dose of Innovation for Credit Unions Serving First Responders Welcome to the NCOFCU Podcast: Your Weekly Dose of Innovation. Hosted by Grant Sheehan CCUE | CCUP | CEO, NCOFCU, this podcast is your definitive source for the latest news, insights, and trends in the first responder credit union world.
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»