Skip to main content

The place for all things credit union™
Log in

ALM First, M&A Leadership Council introduce new M&A solution for credit unions

Dallas, TX (July 13, 2026) |

As the pace of credit union and bank M&A activity continues to increase, ALM First and M&A Leadership Council (MALC) have joined forces to deliver a new solution designed to help credit unions navigate M&A transactions with greater clarity and confidence at a fraction of the cost of a fully bespoke engagement. Regardless of size or complexity, M&A transactions require a proven methodology to fully realize the potential benefits that initially made the transaction attractive.

MERGERMAX® for Credit Unions (MM4CU) is an easy-to-deploy, web-based solution built on the proven MERGERMAX® platform, supported by more than 30 years of M&A application across hundreds of transactions spanning the full M&A lifecycle, from strategy through integration. MM4CU extends this foundation with a post-merger integration methodology tailored to the unique needs of credit unions.

"Successful M&A transactions require a clear methodology delivered through structure, consistency and reliability,” says John Morada, Managing Director, M&A Advisory at ALM First. “This new partnership enables credit union clients with a digital M&A integration solution that contains the rigor to align teams quickly to deliver excellent value throughout their transaction journey.”

“As a leading organization for professional training, best practices and AI enabled solutions within the M&A community, we are honored to partner with ALM First. Together we have developed a custom process to support success for consolidations across the credit union industry,” says Jim Jeffries, Chief Executive Officer, M&A Leadership Council.

Interested credit unions should contact ALM First to learn more about how this new solution can support their teams during M&A transactions by reducing complexity and simplifying integration through a purpose-built methodology.

ALM First

ALM First was founded in 1995 as a strategic partner for depositories, offering an array of financial advisory services. The firm’s expertise in asset liability management, investment management, balance sheet strategy, secondary market solutions, and specialty financial services, has allowed it to deliver deeper insights into financial institutions’ balance sheets, strengthening their performance and building efficiencies. With approximately $77 billion of investments under management (as of September 30, 2025), ALM First Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered investment advisor, acting as an unbiased third party, offering commission-free, fee-based services to over 300 financial institutions across the country. In recent years, ALM First Group has expanded to include several wholly-owned subsidiaries including DDJ Myers, an ALM First Company and ALM First Executive Benefits, LLC. Driven by client needs, the firm now offers various services to help financial institutions optimize their greatest assets – their people. "ALM First" is a brand name for a financial services business conducted by ALM First Group, LLC ("ALM First") through its wholly owned subsidiaries: ALM First Financial Advisors, LLC ("ALM First Financial Advisors"); ALM First Advisors, LLC ("ALM First Advisors"); ALM First Analytics, LLC ("ALM First Analytics"); and ALM First Executive Benefits, LLC ("ALM First Executive Benefits"). Investment advisory services are offered through ALM First Financial Advisors, an SEC registered investment adviser. Executive benefits consulting services are provided through ALM First Executive Benefits. Access to ALM First Financial Advisors is only available to clients pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement and acceptance of ALM First Financial Advisors' Brochure.

Contact

Sharon Simpson,
(240) 620-4095
sgsimpsonconsulting@mac.com

M&A Leadership Council

MERGERMAX®, is the Leadership Council’s core M&A framework and methodology. It is designed to focus buyers’ efforts on the creation of measurable value while preventing many of the problems that historically cause mergers to underperform or fail. Since 2010, the Council has trained over 4,000 corporate executives from more than 300 companies in the Art of M&A®. Our mission is to help organizations build or enhance their internal M&A capability wherever, whenever and however needed.

Daily Credit Union News – Straight to Your Inbox

Join thousands of credit union industry professionals who start their day with the latest news, events and technology supporting the credit union industry.

Recommended for you