Credit Unions
GECU to Acquire Bank of the Southwest, Creating $4.7 Billion Institution
GECU, a credit union based in El Paso, Texas, announced Monday it will acquire Bank of the Southwest, headquartered in Roswell, New Mexico. The deal will create a financial institution with $4.7 billion in assets, more than 30 branches, and 440,000 customers. It deepens GECU's presence in New Mexico, where it opened a single branch in Las Cruces last year. Bank of the Southwest has 11 branches in New Mexico, including one in Las Cruces. Financial details and timelines were not disclosed. The acquisition has board support but requires approval from the National Credit Union Administration, the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. GECU President and CEO Crystal Long will lead the new institution. Bank of the Southwest CEO K. Andrew Hogan said the combined entity will expand commercial lending and offerings in New Mexico. Credit union-bank deals reached a record 22 last year, and Michael Bell of Honigman told CUToday that 2025 activity remains strong, likely finishing in the twenties despite political turbulence, NCUA staff reductions, and perceptions of regulatory delay.
El Paso, Texas-based credit union GECU will acquire Roswell, New Mexico-based Bank of the Southwest, the credit union announced Monday.
GECU said the deal, creating a $4.7 billion-asset financial institution with more than 30 branches and 440,000 customers, will enhance its range of financial products and “strengthen the impact of our people helping people philosophy.”
Financial details and timelines were not disclosed.
Acquiring Bank of the Southwest deepens GECU’s presence in New Mexico, which it entered with a single branch opening in Las Cruces last year. Bank of the Southwest has 11 branches in New Mexico, including one in Las Cruces, the state’s second-largest city.
The proposed acquisition has the support of GECU’s and Bank of the Southwest’s boards of directors and leadership teams, but remains subject to approval by the National Credit Union Administration, the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and other closing conditions.
GECU President and CEO Crystal Long will remain at the head of the new institution, according to a letter to members published online.
“I am excited for this new chapter and the opportunities that lie ahead,” she said.
Bank of the Southwest CEO K. Andrew Hogan said in a prepared statement that “[t]ogether we look forward to enhancing our ability to expand commercial lending and our offerings to more communities in New Mexico with GECU’s robust products and services and advanced technology solutions.”
Credit union-bank deals have been popular in recent years, hitting a record 22 last year.
Michael Bell, a partner at the law firm Honigman who often architects such deals, told CUToday that “[t]here is still a decent amount of activity in the pipeline” for 2025.
“We’ll likely finish this year somewhere in the twenties in total deals, which keeps us close to record pace,” he said. This year has been affected by political turbulence, NCUA staff reductions and perceptions of regulatory delay, he told CUToday.