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36 | I nsIgh t • A p r i l 2 0 14 w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m BANKING 13 committees that draw from all three organizations to choose the best products, services and people from each. ey have found that oen two of three are using a certain banking system, but rather than selecting that system, the committees are looking at each to determine the best technology available. What will work with a $600 million credit union? e newly merged credit union will rebrand, but not until all accounts have moved to the same core banking system and all members can gain access to their accounts from any branch. e three will run their operations on a CU Answer service bureau based in grand Rapids, Mich. CitizensFirst, which runs on another system, will convert in October. Capital Credit Union will run its own Fiserv core banking system at a main data center and a backup. e mergers have generated interest not only around Wisconsin but from across the country. "It has become bigger news than we expected, as people ask what is the difference, how are we doing it so quickly, what are the challenges," says CitizensFirst's Ralofsky. e state now has about 170 credit unions; he expects it will eventually have about 100. Alan Zierler, who will become CEO of Capital Credit Union aer it merges with Pioneer Credit Union, says that Capital had been getting requests for a branch in green Bay from some of the 2,000 members who live in the area, while Pioneer was getting suggestions it open in the Fox Valley. "We got together and decided this was a great opportunity for expansion without spending on bricks and mortar. We are both highly capitalized and this will be two solid organizations coming together." omas Young, the current president of Pioneer, will assume the president's position and run day-to-day operations.