Gainesville-based HALLCO Community Credit Union and Clarkesville-based Habersham Federal Credit Union (HFCU) announced that their financial institutions will officially merge on Friday, May 1. Following the approval of HFCU’s Board of Directors and members, the merger of the two highly respected financial institutions marks a strategic union to better serve existing and future members throughout the 7-county Northeast Georgia region. Included among those counties are Banks, Dawson, Habersham, Hall, Lumpkin, Rabun and White Counties. Membership at the newly formed entity – which will be renamed at a later date – is open to anyone who lives or works within one of the seven counties HALLCO and HFCU serve.

“Over the last several years, the board and management of HFCU have been working diligently to identify and add the products and services that our members want and need,” explained Jessi Rothell, President and CEO of Habersham Federal Credit Union. “We made the decision to partner with HALLCO with our members first in our minds. HALLCO is the perfect partner for HFCU because we have the same founding principles and serve our members with the same core values. We genuinely believe that together we can achieve more for our members than we ever could apart.”

Established in 1971, HALLCO Community Credit Union marks the oldest of the two entities. Although, Habersham Federal Credit Union wasn’t far behind with a founding date of 1978. After having a solid presence in the Northeast Georgia community for more than 40 years, current members of both credit unions will be pleased to learn that the branches and staffs with whom they’ve become so familiar will remain in place. HALLCO has branch locations in Gainesville, Oakwood, Flowery Branch and Cleveland, and HFCU has branch locations in Clarkesville, Homer and Clayton.

By June 1, all Habersham Federal Credit Union branches will be ready to begin offering HALLCO services. Existing HALLCO and HFCU members will be able to access all HALLCO services at each branch. On November 1, accounts from both entities will be merged under the newly established credit union.

“HALLCO and Habersham Credit Unions have both worked diligently to create a service first culture while maintaining a solid financial position,” said Joe Foster, President and CEO of HALLCO Community Credit Union. “We’re simply two financially stable credit unions teaming up to become one of the best community-based credit unions the State of Georgia has ever seen for the benefit of our members. Together, we can leverage our strengths and continue to build a credit union to meet the financial needs of the residents of Northeast Georgia.  After all, we are here to Help People Afford Life™.”