The members who vote on a credit union merger depend on the going forward charter. Because the merged credit union will be under the Colorado charter (Ent’s), only Wings members need to vote.

We will share information about branch and service center access as part of our overall timeline.

For now, hours will remain the same. We plan to keep or even expand our hours and will share more updates here.

No locations will close as a result of this merger.

Until the merger is complete, each credit union will be separately insured by the NCUA and your accounts remain insured up to $250,000. We will be working closely with any members who hold memberships at both institutions and will have more than $250,000 in total deposits.

Right now, you can continue to bank as usual. We are committed to make any transition as seamless as possible.

Yes, your accounts will continue to be federally insured at the same levels. Your funds are insured through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

At this time, your member number and online access will remain the same. There is nothing for you to do at this time. Throughout this process, you will be notified well in advance of any changes and steps you need to take. We will be here to help every step of the way.

Originally founded by seven Northwest Airlines employees, Wings Credit Union has grown to become Minnesota’s largest credit union and one of the largest credit unions in the country with nearly $10 billion in assets and 400,000 members. Today, the credit union maintains a connection to its roots in aviation while serving geographic communities in Minnesota, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. Headquartered in Apple Valley, Minnesota, Wings has been named a Minnesota Top Workplace for 12 consecutive years while earning national recognition for its products and services. To learn more, visit WingsCU.com.

Wings is headquartered in Apple Valley, MN and Ent is headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO. We are excited to offer our nearly one million combined members access to more than 90 locations in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

• At this time, the member experience will remain the same. We will work through regulatory and other approvals, as well as an integration, for many months. We will communicate with members throughout the process to ensure a smooth transition. Members can visit Ent.CUtogether.com for timelines and updates.
• Members will continue to have access to the same locations and friendly teams. You can continue to expect outstanding digital banking, community support, and products and services.
• Combined, we’ll be an even stronger forward-thinking, competitive credit union.
• This partnership will allow the credit union to better anticipate and meet the financial needs of members in a competitive financial services industry.
• As we go through the regulatory process and learn more about timing, we’ll share news on when members will be able to bank at these new locations.

Ent and Wings have each grown significantly over the last decade. This strategic and intentional growth has positively impacted the communities we serve in Colorado, Minnesota and beyond.

Both organizations focus on our members, employees and communities. Because of that, our goals, values and cultures are compatible. We are excited to be able to do even more together.

This merger makes both of our organizations stronger, which benefits our employees, our members and the communities we serve. Partnering with another established credit union will provide us with the resources to remain competitive and deliver much more to our members – with the same friendly, outstanding, local service we have always provided. Combined, we’ll be able to do more of what we already do today, providing members with better rates, lower and fewer fees, excellent member service and best-in-class technology. It will result in combined assets of nearly $20 billion, making it one of the top 10 credit unions in the country. The merger will also provide the opportunity to participate in larger philanthropic efforts in the communities where we live, work and serve.

This merger will help build a stronger combined credit union that can stay true to its local roots in the communities we serve. Both Ent and Wings have been organically growing steadily and each individual institution is nearing $10 billion in assets, a regulatory level that brings increased federal oversight and limits on how much they can earn from debit card transactions.

Crossing the $10 billion threshold triggers tighter regulation under the Dodd-Frank Act and significantly reduces debit interchange revenue, resulting in an estimated combined loss of $40 million under the Durbin Amendment. By joining forces, the newly formed combined credit union will be better positioned to manage these changes without slowing down investments in other areas of our cooperative.

The merger allows for smarter investments and improved services for members, including better rates, fewer fees and access to best-in-class technology, all while efficiently navigating new regulatory requirements. Most importantly, it ensures the combined credit union stays focused on what matters most: its members and the communities it serves.

At this time, your accounts and systems will remain the same. Throughout this process you will be notified well in advance of any changes and steps you need to take. We will be here to help every step of the way.

Ent just brought credit cards in-house and is excited to manage their credit card portfolio. At this time, nothing will change for members with an Ent credit card. We are committed to providing easy-to-use, competitive cards with outstanding benefits. As the integration moves forward, we commit to a seamless transition and will provide updates for members on Ent.CUtogether.com.

As a merger of equals, leadership from both organizations will be well represented. The Board of Directors will be chaired by current Wings Board Chair Greg Miller. Chad Graves, Ent CEO, will become the CEO, reporting to the Board. Current Wings CEO Frank Weidner will provide leadership and support during the transition. Reporting to the CEO will be four Executive Vice Presidents, two representatives from both Ent and Wings, while the broader Executive Leadership Team will be comprised of executives from both credit unions.

Together, this group is partnering with an industry consultant to build out the new organization’s operating model, which will determine the broader organizational chart in the coming weeks and months.

This opportunity is a Merger of Equals (MOE), meaning two independent credit union entities of roughly the same asset size merge into a single new credit union. The new credit union will consist of the best of both credit unions to remain competitive in the market and deliver even more value to our membership. While it’s natural to initially think of everything as a 50/50 split between Ent and Wings, it’s more accurate to think of the future organization and its systems, partners, processes and overall operating model as being roughly one-third Ent, one-third Wings and one-third new to best serve the go-forward operation and our members.

Each credit union participated in submitting the merger application needed to seek and obtain regulatory approval from the NCUA and the Colorado Division of Financial Services. We anticipate this process will take 6-9 months to complete. Following regulatory approval, additional information will be provided to our members, and ultimately, Wings members will vote on the merger. We’ll continue to keep you posted throughout the process.

Both Wings and Ent have roots in aviation. The combined credit union will be called Wings Credit Union which we believe celebrates our histories and the positive opportunities ahead. The concepts of “Wings” and flight also have strong connections to the ideas of upward movement, goals, aspirations and achievement.