TDECU, Houston’s largest credit union, and Smart Financial, one of the city’s oldest, have joined forces. Smart Financial’s voting members and state regulators both signed off before the deal closed.
What the new credit union looks like
The numbers are sizable. The combined organization serves more than 463,000 members through more than 45 branches. It has nearly 1,000 employees and about $6 billion in assets.
TDECU President and CEO Isaac Johnson will lead the merged organization. Smart Financial CEO LeAnn Kaczynski becomes Chief Integration Officer, which means she’ll oversee the work of stitching the two operations together.
Johnson says members guided the process. “We approached this partnership with Members at the center of every decision,” he said. “Together, TDECU and Smart Financial are building a stronger cooperative with the scale to expand access, invest in member experiences and technology, and deepen our impact across the communities we serve.”
Two origin stories, one idea
The two institutions started small. Smart Financial was founded in 1934 by a group of Houston public school teachers. TDECU followed in 1955, when seven Dow Chemical employees put in five dollars each to help a coworker buy a kitchen appliance. Different decades, same instinct: people pooling money to help each other.
That purpose carries into the community work too. TDECU’s strategic partnerships and its TDECU Cares Foundation will now sit alongside the Smart Financial Foundation and its ties to Smart Financial Center and other organizations. Both have made a lasting impact on Greater Houston, and the combined group says that will continue.
What comes next
Kaczynski says the priority is people. “As we begin this next chapter, our focus is on supporting members and employees through the transition while carrying forward the trusted relationships and member-focused service that define both organizations,” she said.
Johnson added that combining strengths leaves the credit union “better positioned to serve Members today and for generations to come.”
If you bank with either one, nothing changes right away. Your accounts and services stay as they are. The organizations will share updates as integration milestones are confirmed, so keep an eye on your usual member communications before any changes affect how you bank.