Ascend Federal Credit Union and LGE Community Credit Union have announced plans to merge, pending regulatory approval and a vote by LGE members. The planned partnership brings together two member‑owned credit unions with long histories of serving people, strengthening communities, and building relationships rooted in trust.
What’s Driving This Partnership?
Both credit unions are celebrating their 75th birthdays, which means they’ve each been around since the late 1940s. That’s a lot of history, and both organizations say this merger is about staying true to their founding principle of “people helping people” while adapting to modern realities.
“This partnership is rooted in responsibility and care,” said Chris Leggett, president and CEO of LGE Community Credit Union. “By coming together, we can strengthen our ability to support members and communities while staying true to the principles that have guided us for decades.”
Matt Jernigan, president and CEO of Ascend, put it similarly: “Both organizations share a deep commitment to member first service and community impact. This planned merger allows us to build on those strengths with intention, ensuring we continue to serve people with clarity, care, and purpose—today and into the future.”
The Numbers Behind the Deal
If everything goes according to plan, here’s what the combined organization would look like:
- More than 390,000 members across Tennessee and Georgia
- Over $7 billion in assets
- Approximately 950 employees
- More than 40 branch locations
Right now, Ascend and LGE serve different geographic areas, which both organizations see as complementary rather than overlapping. The idea is to combine resources and expertise to create a stronger, more stable institution that can better serve members across a wider footprint.
What Happens Next?
If approved, the combined organization will operate under the Ascend Federal Credit Union name. Matt Jernigan would continue as president and CEO, while Chris Leggett would transition into an executive role within the merged credit union.
Here’s some good news for employees: both organizations have committed to retaining all staff members. That means preserving institutional knowledge and keeping the same faces members have come to trust over the years.
The timeline is pretty extended, as these things tend to be. The legal effective date is expected in late 2026 or early 2027, with systems integration continuing through 2027. Anyone who’s ever dealt with merging complex financial systems knows that’s actually a realistic timeframe—this stuff takes careful planning.
Both credit unions say they’re committed to keeping their members informed as the process unfolds. Given that the National Credit Union Administration needs to sign off and LGE members need to vote, transparency will be key to getting this deal across the finish line.