Updated as of | Merger Completion Tracker: 25%
At a special membership meeting held on September 16, 2025, the membership of CTA South Federal Credit Union confirmed the Board’s plan to merge with Credit Union 1 (CU1). The legal merger date is December 15, 2025.
At this time, no changes will be made to your accounts or the methods you use to access them. The core processing systems of CTA South Federal Credit Union and Credit Union 1 will be consolidated and converted on December 15, 2025. Prior to that date, Credit Union 1 will continue to update this landing page with the most relevant information for the conversion process. Please bookmark this landing page to stay up to date on how this merger will affect your membership and access to your accounts.
Have questions about the merger, disclosures or fee schedule? Submit a Question
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As part of this transition, a conversion and consolidation of our core processing systems will occur in the coming months. We encourage all members to review and take note of the important dates listed below to ensure a smooth experience during this period.
Confirm that CTA South Federal Credit Union has your correct contact information on file to ensure you receive all merger communications. To confirm we have your correct phone number, email address, and mailing address, please either:
CTA South members will soon enjoy access to High Yield Checking1 and High Yield Savings2, Mortgages and Home Equity Loans—all designed to work seamlessly with CU1’s highly rated Mobile Banking app. Manage your finances effortlessly in one place with one login through Digital Banking.
Within CU1 Digital Banking, you can track your credit score, pay bills, and take full control of your debit card. Features include turning your card on or off, setting spending controls and alerts, enabling travel notifications, monitoring activity, and more.
Members with direct deposit and a Free Checking account get paid up to two days sooner with CU1 Early Pay3, no special steps required.
With CU1 Debit and Credit Cards, you’ll have the flexibility and security you need to make everyday purchases—anytime, anywhere.
Bank anywhere with access to 90,000 surcharge-free ATMs and 5,000+ shared branches nationwide through the Allpoint and CO-OP networks.
Through CU1 Cares, Credit Union 1 is eager to be an active partner in the community, with a strong commitment to giving back through financial education, volunteerism, and support for essential services. We view merger opportunities as a way to expand our reach and deepen our impact where it matters most.
Credit Union 1 is committed to strengthening and empowering the communities it serves through CU1 Cares. This initiative supports individuals, families, and local organizations through charitable giving, volunteerism, and financial education. In 2024, CU1 contributed to nonprofits nationwide, collected thousands of items for community drives, and actively participated in local events.
CTA South wants to bring their members the best value as a primary financial institution and provide the necessary products and services to help you reach your financial goals. Credit Union 1 offers the technology and systems that address their members’ needs. Additionally, CU1’s strong core values give the CTA South leadership team and board of directors confidence that their membership will experience a level of quality of service comparable to which you have known. Our credit unions are like-minded, and we strongly believe that a partnership will benefit members and employees of both institutions.
Credit Union 1 has more than sixty years of experience helping families and communities reach their economic potential. And we have our eye on the next sixty years, as we continue to evolve and innovate to find new ways to offer our members high-quality, low-cost financial products and services and a modern banking experience.
CU1 was founded in 1958 with an original base membership of personnel from Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. We have since grown into a billion-dollar-plus financial institution, but our priorities remain the same—helping families and communities succeed financially.
To learn more about what drives us and our commitment to diversity and inclusion, visit our About Us page.
Our regulators, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), have both approved our merger plans. With member support of the merger through the voting process, we anticipate that our first legal day as a combined organization will be December 15, 2025.
A merger will provide the resources to better serve your financial needs through industry-leading technology, new products and services, and highly competitive rates. We want to be your first choice for a primary financial institution. Nothing will change until member approval is received. This partnership will mean we can better anticipate and meet all your financial needs. CTA South members will now have access to:
One reason our two credit unions are pursuing this merger is because we feel both credit unions are like-minded, and we strongly believe that a partnership will benefit members and employees of both institutions. Credit Union 1 strives to provide premium service and you will continue to receive personalized service as you do today.
CTA South’s field of membership will be incorporated with Credit Union 1’s field of membership after the system conversion date of December 15, 2025.
After careful consideration, the CTA South Branch at 8050 S King Drive will close on December 15, 2025. Credit Union 1 has 16 convenient branches in Illinois, including two located on the University of Illinois Chicago campus. There are 16 additional branches in Indiana, Nevada, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. In addition to these branches, members will have access to CU1’s robust Digital and Mobile Banking platforms, more than 5,000 CO-OP shared branches, and 130,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide.
We will do our best to clear transactions that use your CTA South account and routing number for up to six months; however, we recommend updating everything as soon as possible to your new CU1 information.
Yes, your account number will change on December 15, 2025. Be sure to update any external parties—such as your employer (for payroll), service providers (for ACH transactions), or lenders—with your new Credit Union 1 (CU1) routing and account numbers.
To find your new account number starting December 15, 2025:
Yes, the routing number will also change on December 15, 2025. The new CU1 routing number is #271188081. You can find it in Digital Banking by scrolling to the Move Money tile, or at the bottom of the cu1.com website.
Yes, but not until the system conversion.
You will continue to use CTA South’s account information until the system conversion date December 15, 2025. Once the conversion of systems occurs, you will need to notify each business of your new Credit Union 1 account number and Credit Union 1’s routing and transit number.
Don’t hesitate to call (773) 783-5693 or email ctasouthfederalcu@yahoo.com to contact CTA South Federal Credit Union.
Until the system conversion date December 15, 2025, none of your account terms will change. Whether or not they will change after the system conversion date depends on the type of account.
Loans | Your existing loan contract will remain in effect until the loan is paid off.
Share Certificates | The terms of your existing share certificate will remain in effect until the maturity date.
Savings & Checking | Rates and terms on these accounts are subject to change at the time of the merger date. You will receive a CU1 Membership Agreement and Account Disclosures before the merger date.
Credit Cards | Credit Union 1 offers an array of credit card options with competitive rates and exciting rewards. More information will be provided after the system conversion date of December 15, 2025.
Your accounts will continue to be federally insured just as they are today through the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and managed by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
You can continue to use CTA South’s branches. We cannot begin integrating the operations of the two credit unions until after the system conversion date of December 15, 2025. CTA South’s members will be notified as soon as the additional branches are connected.
Credit Union 1 ATMs are available for anyone to use; however, we cannot begin integrating the operations of the two credit unions until after the system conversion date of December 15, 2025, so you may incur a fee until that time. Once the merger is effective, you will have access to all Credit Union 1 ATMs at no charge along with more than 90,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide.
We want to hear from you! In our ongoing efforts to improve member experience at Credit Union 1, we’re rolling out a member survey to ensure that your voice is being heard.
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