Executives at Stride Credit Union are pleased with how the early stages of the amalgamation process between the former Portage Credit Union and Austin Credit Union is going.

PCU and ACU officially joined forces on Jan. 3, 2017. Since then, CEO Brent Budz says Stride has put new signage up at a lot of its branches -- including the downtown Portage la Prairie location on Royal Road – re-developed its website and prepared and executed new marketing materials.

“We're very pleased with how things have gone so far. We put a lot of work into our amalgamation prior to. This has been a process that has been under way for numerous months,” says Budz. “We were anxiously anticipating the Jan. 3 arrival, so we could start calling ourselves Stride.”

“We're excited about the change and looking forward to the future.”

Stride president Dave Omichinski says approximately 220 different projects had to be completed by the end of 2016 relating to amalgamation.

“For all intents and purposes we got them all done. We're now Stride Credit Union,” Omichinski says. “Right now we're in the process that legacy PCU and ACU members can go into any branch and conduct their business."

"And that is happening right now, it's happening at all the branches."

Budz says in preparation for amalgamation additional parking at the downtown branch on Royal Road was identified as a need. Stride Credit Union purchased a building adjacent to that location, on a lot facing Tupper St., and have since demolished the structure.

A glimpse at the construction project underway at a lot adjacent to Stride Credit Union's Royal Road branch in Portage la Prairie, west of the building facing Tupper St. The lot is being turned into parking space for the branch. (photo by Mike Blume)

“It is part of a larger parking plan that is currently underway and we're reviewing,” Budz says. “That is going to be a parking lot. How it's configured with the existing parking lot is still to be determined.”

“As well as some renovations to our Royal Road branch, which we're excited about, and that process has just started as well.”

There is still much work to be done to fully amalgamate both legacy credit unions. Budz expects it will take upwards of one year for the former separate entities to be harmonized.

“We recognize that there are two legacy credit unions that were both very successful in their own right and to bring these two together is not as simple as Jan. 3 comes and your amalgamation is done and completed,” the Stride CEO explains. “We honestly believe that it's going to take 12 months, if not more, before we have everything amalgamated and harmonized. But no doubt, we'll still uncover things post that period too.”

“But we really have been very prudent and very deliberate with our planning, and we continue to do so. It's not like Jan. 3 came and went. It's still a planned process that we're embarking on to ensure we uncover all of those areas of duplication, redundancy and opportunity within our credit union.”

From a member impact perspective, Ominchinski says things are going well. “There are a lot of internal things we need to harmonize. But the focus remains that we want this to continue to be as seamless as possible for members. And so far, it's been that.”

Budz adds: “Both legacy credit unions had very large commitments in the community and that has not changed. The focus from top down, the board of directors through our management team, has really been: 'This is a member-focused effort put forward for Stride.'”

“And that is the paramount phrase that goes on in many our meetings, that we have to remain with members in focus," continues Budz. "Because you can get lost in all of the amalgamation work that you have to do. We're really here for the members and our communities.”

Photo by Mike Blume