Doing more, together! 

Coastal Community Credit Union and Integris Credit Union have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to explore an exciting opportunity of joining forces. This MOU signifies a commitment to thoroughly evaluate the benefits and implications of a proposed merger to ensure it aligns with the best interests of our respective members, clients, employees and communities.  

Meet Integris Credit Union and Coastal Community Credit Union

The proposed merger between Integris Credit Union (“Integris”) and Coastal Community Credit Union (“Coastal Community”) is a proactive step to strengthen both organizations. 

Coastal Community — improving your financial health, enriching lives, building healthier communities. Together, let’s do great things.

What doing more together looks like

With a merged credit union, we would have the ability to provide you with enhanced service offerings such as a larger network of experts in branches across BC, more digital tools and advancements in technology, cyber security, and digital banking. Other benefits can include greater commercial lending capabilities to help invest in your communities. By combining strengths, resources and talented employees, we will have the ability to provide you with the personalized services that you value, for generations to come.

Members

Employees

Branches

March 21, 2025

MOU Signing

June 27, 2025

Business case and due diligence achieves board approval


July 2, 2025

Submission of application to regulator

Sept 16, 2025

BCFSA provides consent to the proposed merger

We are here.

FAQ

Looking for an answer to a question that isn’t listed below? Get in touch and our joint merger team will work to answer your questions.

About the Proposed Merger

Why this potential merger? 

By exploring how we can grow together, we’re opening new opportunities to strengthen our resilience and improve the products and services our members rely on.

By merging, both Integris and Coastal Community would expand our reach, providing members with access to a broader network of branches and services in BC.

Coming together and utilizing our combined strengths and resources would help us to better navigate the significant changes, disruptions and opportunities that credit unions are facing. 

Why Integris Credit Union? Why Coastal Community Credit Union? 

Combining the strengths, resources and talented employees of Integris and Coastal Community is expected to empower the credit unions to expand our capabilities, directly benefiting our members and clients by enhancing services and maintaining the strong local presence and personalized attention to our communities we each have today.

Both Integris and Coastal Community share a common purpose and set of values, rooted in a commitment to improving the financial health and well-being of our members and clients. Coastal Community and Integris were each also founded with an intentional focus to empower local communities and we both continue to hold this purpose at the heart of our operations.

There is no geographical overlap between Integris and Coastal Community and therefore we are well-positioned to combine our strengths while respecting the unique roots each credit union has established over the years. 

The proposed merger will provide the opportunity to expand our reach, providing members with access to a broader network of branches and services in BC.

Bringing together Integris and Coastal Community would further strengthen both credit unions as we have diverse economic activities in our respective regions. We anticipate our diversity will enable us to share the best practices and innovative solutions that have been successful in different regions, enhancing the overall member experience. The diversification that comes with uniting is expected to also strengthen our financial position, growth opportunities and resilience for the long term.  

How will the physical distance between our credit unions be dealt with?

We recognize there is a relatively large geographical distance between Integris and Coastal Community but our operational goals and values are well aligned and with the use of technology, location is not the significant barrier it was a few years ago. This potential merger will offer more locations across BC for our members and clients to do business and also provide job opportunities for employees and potential synergies for partnerships within our respective communities.

Why are only Integris members and shareholders voting?

The proposed merger is structured as an asset transfer under Section 16 of the CUIA. Through this structure, Coastal Community would acquire all assets and assume all liabilities of Integris. Following the proposed merger, Integris members and shareholders would become members and shareholders of Coastal Community. Due to the structure of the proposed merger, only Integris’ eligible members and shareholders are being asked to vote.

Impact on Employees and Members

If the proposed merger goes ahead, what will the impact on jobs be? Will employees be retained?

We want to assure members that employee exits or layoffs are not being planned and there is no intention of branch closures as a result of the proposed merger.

Client-facing roles would be largely unaffected and should the proposed merger proceed, within the larger growing organization, we anticipate there to be more need for capacity, opening up new opportunities for career growth.

Will the proposed merger impact Wealth and Insurance services provided by the credit unions or their subsidiary companies?

Both Integris and Coastal Community are committed to providing full-service financial, wealth and insurance services in their communities. This shared emphasis is an example of the strategic alignment between the two credit unions. Some of these services are provided through wholly-owned subsidiary companies of the credit unions.

Following the proposed merger, it is expected that Wealth and Insurance services will continue to be provided by the credit unions or their subsidiaries in the same way they are currently provided. Eventually, the provision of the Wealth and Insurance services may be combined by the Merged Credit Union. Any changes to the provision of Wealth and Insurance services would be communicated to employees and members/clients in advance.

What are other benefits to a Merged Credit Union?

For a full list of anticipated benefits, please review the member guide. We believe the Merged Credit Union will offer improved capital and financial results, a strengthened ability to withstand and respond to changing economic, regulatory, and competitive environments, increased market positioning and opportunities, and combined expertise on operations and risk management, among other benefits.

Merger details – what we know now

 What is the vision for the Merged Credit Union? 

By combining our strengths, resources and talented employees, it is expected that the Merged Credit Union would enhance the capabilities of the credit unions individually, improving services and better enabling us to preserve the strong local presence and the personalized attention that our respective members, clients and communities value. Uniting is anticipated to help us more effectively navigate the significant changes and disruptions currently facing credit unions today, while having more resources to explore future opportunities.

What will happen to the Integris and Coastal Community brands? 

Our plan is to maintain the distinct Integris and Coastal Community brands as part of the Merged Credit Union and build on our existing value propositions.

When will Integris members and shareholders vote on the proposed merger?

Eligible members and shareholders of Integris will be asked to vote from November 10-17, 2025.

What are we asking you to vote on?

Getting a say in the future of your financial institution is one of the great benefits of credit union membership. In accordance with the voting processes provided for in the Integris Credit Union Rules, we are asking for members’ and shareholders’ approval on the applicable separate and special resolutions listed in the Member Guide.

Based on the structure of the proposed merger, only eligible members and shareholders of Integris are being asked to vote on the proposed merger. 

In order to proceed, two resolutions must be passed by Integris members and shareholders. Integris members (Class “A” shareholders) will be asked to vote on a special resolution, while holders of Class “C” Voluntary Equity Shares of Integris will be asked to vote on a separate resolution.

In accordance with the CUIA, each resolution much be approved by at least two-thirds (approx. 67%) of the votes cast on the applicable resolution. If either resolution does not receive the minimum number of required votes approving the resolution, the proposed merger will not proceed.

If approved, when will the proposed merger be effective?

Assuming that at least two-thirds (approx. 67%) of the votes cast on each of the resolutions are in favour of the proposed merger, the effective date of the proposed merger is expected to be January 1, 2026.

What’s next?

What happens next?

Our regulator, BCFSA, has provided consent to our application for the proposed merger. Therefore, the next step is to ask Integris members and shareholders to vote on the proposed merger between November 10-17, 2025. Please review our Member Guide for specific details on the resolutions being put forward to Integris members and shareholders.

How will you keep members informed?

Members will continue to be updated through our microsite. There may be some questions we can’t answer because it is too early in the process, but we are committed to keeping you informed about progress as soon as we are able to. Information will be shared honestly and openly, in a way that is accessible to all.

As we move forward in the process, we are committed to being transparent and keeping you updated on any developments as soon as we are able to. If you have any questions, please get in touch by emailing merger@cccu.ca or communications@integriscu.ca.

Get the latest
news & updates
on our proposed merger

Questions about the proposed merger? If you don’t see an answer to your question, get in touch

Sept 16, 2025
July 3, 2025
April 2, 2025

Leadership

The President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Merged Credit Union will be Kent Jesse, the current President and CEO of Coastal Community. The current Chief Executive Officer of Integris, Alison Hoskins, will join the executive team of the Merged Credit Union as Chief Corporate Development & Partnerships Officer and President of the Integris division.

Board of Directors

The individuals comprising the board of directors of the Merged Credit Union as of January 1, 2026 would be as follows:

Dominique Roelants

Chair

Art Blundell

Grahame E. Bradley

Hilary Brown

Darren Ditto

Mandy Hayre

Nola Jeffrey

Melissa Lacroix

Vice Chair

Debra Oakman

Gara Pruesse

Jim Rivett

Jeremy Stayton

Cheryl Wallace