Savannah's Chatham Federal Credit Union merged with MembersFirst Credit Union on Oct. 1.

Chatham FCU members now enjoy expanded benefits available to MembersFirst Credit Union members, including a more expansive loan program with lower rates, a rewards program for debit and credit cards, and the merger will allow for additional branch locations in the Savannah area. 

"These are just a few of the improvements in products and services that our members will benefit from," said Marcia Harrison, who was CEO of Chatham FCU and now serves as Executive Vice President of the Savannah Market for MembersFirst. "All of our current staff and locations will stay in place and continue to provide the excellent service you've come to expect." 

Following the merger, which was approved at a special meeting of members on Sept. 28, the newly combined credit union has assets of more than $170 million and serves more than 27,000 members. 

"This merger provides many economies of scale to make the credit union stronger and allows us to offer more competitive financial products and services," said MembersFirst President and CEO Terry Hardy. "We have great plans for our members in Savannah including more branches and ATMs. We also plan to be more visible and involved in the greater Savannah community." 

Hardy has been at the helm of MembersFirst for more than 25 years. He serves on the Georgia Credit Union League Board and multiple other boards in the community and credit union industry. He has served in the financial services industry for 31 years. 

Harrison joined the staff of Chatham FCU in 1995 as President and CEO. Prior to joining the credit union, Harrison was the Vice President of Credit Administration for NationsBank in Savannah. She has worked in a variety of executive roles in the financial services industry for 40 years. 

"MembersFirst is not only our name, it's how we do business. We put the concerns and welfare of our members first," Hardy said. "We seek innovative ways to grow the credit union and deliver financial services that meet the changing needs of our members. We are dedicated to Helping People Afford Life and strive to exceed our members' expectations.