United Services Credit Union merging with Self-Help Credit Union

Asheville, NC– United Services Credit Union and Self-Help Credit Union are pleased to announce that they are merging, effective October 1, 2013. Approved by a September 24 vote of United Services members, the merger is a proactive step by both credit unions to capitalize on their relative strengths and expand their impact within Western North Carolina communities.

United Services, a $60 million credit union with nearly 11,000 members, is headquartered at 391 S. French Broad Ave. in Asheville. Founded in 1954 by a group of Mission Hospital Employees, United Services has been serving the financial needs of those who work for medical employers in the area as well as the employees of several industries that requested to be added to the credit union’s field of membership. It will continue to do business as United Services, a division of Self-Help Credit Union. All seven United Services branches, in Asheville, Old Fort, Fletcher, Morganton, Maiden, Lexington and Galax, VA, will remain open.

“United Services’ mission has always been to provide quality services to our members with a personal touch, while ensuring the safety of their assets,” said Bill Carrington, United Services’ CEO. “We’ve done that quite successfully since our founding in 1954, and we are excited by opportunities that merging with Self-Help will provide our members.”

Prior to the merger, Durham-based Self-Help Credit Union had $583 million in assets with over 40,000 members served through 10 North Carolina retail branches. Within Western North Carolina, Self-Help does business as Carolina Mountains Credit Union, with locations in South Asheville, Hendersonville, Penrose, and Rosman. Additionally, the credit union has a lending office in downtown Asheville focused on providing home, small business, and commercial loans throughout the region.

“The location, strong management, and tradition of service found at United Services are a great fit with our vision and existing branch network,” said Self-Help Credit Union Executive Vice President Becky Holton. “We’re pleased to partner with United Services and the other credit unions that have joined our organization, as they share our commitment to serving working families and communities across North Carolina.”

The merger aims to enhance opportunities for credit union members through a strong financial foundation. With the planned integration of operations, members of both credit unions will benefit from the expanded choice of branch locations and future product additions, such as mobile banking services.

Self-Help Credit Union offers a full range of financial products and services in addition to financing personal, vehicle, mortgage and business loans, and dynamic online and mobile banking system. For more information on how to join go to http://www.self-help.org.

About United Services Credit Union

Chartered in 1954, the mission of United Services Credit Union (http://us-cu.org ) is to be a full service, member-owned financial institution, which offers its diverse membership quality services with a personal touch. USCU has a wide range of products and services to address the needs of those with modest means or credit challenges, immigrant communities, and the general population. Some of USCU’s strongest assets, besides a healthy financial position, are the dedicated and professional staff, 33% of whom are bilingual, and a creative and committed Board of Directors. United Services has seven branches serving members throughout Western North Carolina and in Galax, Virginia.

About Self-Help Credit Union

Founded in Durham in 1980, Self-Help (www.self-help.org ) is a nonprofit credit union, community development lender, and real estate developer. With completion of this merger, Self Help Credit Union now serves over 50,000 members through 17 retail branches. The Durham, Kinston, Laurinburg, Wilmington and Wilson branches operate as Self-Help Credit Union. Within Western North Carolina, Self-Help does business as Carolina Mountains Credit Union, with branches in South Asheville, Hendersonville, Penrose and Rosman and as United Services Credit Union in Asheville, Old Fort, Fletcher, Morganton, Maiden, Lexington and Galax, VA. The Greensboro branch does business as Choice Community Credit Union. Self-Help also has lending offices in Greenville, Charlotte and downtown Asheville.

Self-Help Credit Union is part of the Self-Help family of organizations headquartered in Durham. Over the past 28 years, Self-Help’s combined affiliates have provided more than $6 billion in financing to nearly 75,000 families, individuals and businesses underserved by traditional financial institutions. It strengthens communities by financing hundreds of homebuyers each year, as well as nonprofits, child care centers, community health facilities, public charter schools, and residential and commercial real estate projects.