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Media Release


Self-Help Credit Union and Greater Piedmont Credit Union Announce Merger

Apr 13, 2016

Contact: David Beck, Self-Help, 919-956-4495, david.beck@self-help.org

Durham, NC – Self-Help Credit Union today announced a merger with Greater Piedmont Credit Union, which has 6,000 members and branches in Durham and Pineville. Effective April 1, 2016, the merger helps ensure that Greater Piedmont CU members have access to the best financial services today and going forward.

“Greater Piedmont is excited about the expanded financial product and service opportunities this merger provides our members,” said Greater Piedmont CU  President/CEO Ed Holland. “Self-Help’s breadth of products and services, such as a statewide branch network, small business lending and mobile check depositing, as well as their experience merging credit unions makes this merger a smart choice for our members.”

“Merging with Greater Piedmont means we can help more working families build and preserve wealth,” said Self-Help CU President Randy Chambers. “Greater Piedmont has built a strong and loyal membership since 1977. We are honored to continue their legacy and welcome all their members to the Self-Help family.”

Self-Help, a community development financial institution, was founded in Durham in 1980 to provide access to credit for those underserved by conventional lenders.  Self-Help has provided over $6.9 billion in financing to 112,000 families, individuals and businesses underserved by traditional financial institutions.

As a result of this merger, Self-Help CU has 20 branches in North Carolina and Virginia, and now serves over 65,000 people. Self-Help’s federally chartered credit union, founded in 2008, serves nearly 65,000 members in California, Chicago, and Florida.

Combined, Self-Help’s two credit unions have over 40 branches and serve approximately 130,000 people. Self-Help also includes a national loan fund and the Center for Responsible Lending, a policy and advocacy organization addressing abusive lending practices.

Greater Piedmont CU has two branches in Durham and one in Pineville and has $15 million in assets. The credit union was founded in 1977 to serve the employees of Durham Regional Hospital. It expanded to eventually serve over 150 Select Employer Groups (SEGs), including employer groups in Durham, Butner, Henderson, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, and Raleigh. One of the largest groups includes the workers at the Snyder-Lance snack foods plant south of Charlotte. Those members are served by the Pineville branch, which is south of Charlotte and near the South Carolina border, located at 10827 Pineville Road. GPCU’s main Durham branch is near downtown at 601 S. Mangum Street. With a drive-thru and on-site parking, this branch complements Self-Help’s downtown branch at 123 W. Main Street.

The merger was approved by both credit union boards and by state and federal credit union regulators. It extends additional products and services to Greater Piedmont members. Self-Help offers a full range of financial products and services including personal, vehicle, business and home loans, as well as a robust online, mobile, and audio banking system.

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About Self-Help Credit Union
Self-Help is a community development credit union and lender headquartered in Durham, NC. Founded in 1980, Self-Help has provided over $6.9 billion in financing to 112,000 families, individuals and businesses underserved by traditional financial institutions. It helps drive economic development and strengthen 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. Through its credit union network, Self-Help serves over 120,000 people in North Carolina, California, Chicago and Florida and offers a full range of financial products and services. Learn more at www.self-help.org.

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