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. 

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.  

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.

The 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 merger, Integris members and shareholders would become members and shareholders of Coastal Community. Due to the structure of the merger, only Integris’ eligible members and shareholders are being asked to vote.

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 merger.

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

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 union.

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

For a full list of anticipated benefits, please review the member guide. 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.

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.

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.

The effective date of the merger is January 1, 2026.

Members will continue to be updated through our microsite or the Coastal Community and Integris websites. 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.