The merger was approved by both Porter and Columbine Federal Credit Union’s Board of Directors in early 2023. On October 20, 2023, Porter’s members overwhelmingly voted to approve the merger between the two credit unions.

The conversion date and branch closures are scheduled for August 1, 2024. We anticipate being open for business as usual on August 2, 2024.

Consolidation in the financial services industry is happening at an accelerated pace. This means that the smaller institutions like Porter may not have the ability to compete with the larger institutions and big banks. Although Porter is financially healthy and stable, Porter’s Board of Directors recognized the need to provide you with an expanded selection of products and services, and so they looked at several potential merger partners. The Board unanimously agreed that merging with Columbine Federal Credit Union would best serve members moving forward.

For the immediate future, you won’t see a lot of changes; much of the initial work takes place behind the scenes. We anticipate the full merger process to be completed by August 2, 2024. In the meantime, you will continue using your existing debit and ATM cards until you receive new ones. You will continue to log into your account(s) through Porter’s website and will continue receiving your monthly statements from Porter.

Below is a brief overview of the full merger timeline and what you can expect. We will continue to inform you with any updates or changes to the schedule as we move through the merger process.

Merger Timeline (as of 4/26/2024)

Merger Approved: October 20, 2023

Merger Becomes Official: November 1, 2023

New CFCU debit cards mailed to Porter members: Early July 2024

Conversion to CFCU debit cards and banking system begins: End of July 2024

CFCU and Porter branches closed for business to complete conversion: August 1, 2024

Complete conversion effective: August 2, 2024

Yes and No. Card transactions including ATM cash withdrawals and purchases made online or at a merchant will be available. Please see the transaction limits below. All other services including in-branch transactions, shared branching, online banking, mobile app access, etc. will not be available during the operational closure on August 1, 2024.  We expect all these services to be restored by the start of our normal business hours on August 2, 2024. We encourage all members that might anticipate a card transaction that exceeds the limits below to plan accordingly by either making the purchase a few days earlier, visiting a branch to withdraw additional cash, or waiting until August 2nd to attempt the transaction.  Transaction limits: 

ATM withdrawal $505.00, 

POS purchase (store or online purchase) $505.00

Combined, Total Aggregate $1,010.00

Once the conversion is complete, you will have two CFCU accounts with two different account numbers. These accounts can be consolidated with the assistance of CFCU branch staff if you’d like, or you can keep the two separate accounts

After the conversion, Porter members will have full membership access to CFCU’s Dry Creek branch along with shared branching locations.

The Columbine Federal Credit Union branch can still be used as a Shared Branch until the system conversion is completed at the beginning of August 2024. Additional information will be forthcoming.

CFCU’s branch location:

Centennial: 4902 E Dry Creek Road, Centennial CO 80122

All current Porter members will have access to CFCU’s services once the conversion is complete August 2, 2024. If you’d like to access these services sooner, you’ll need to open a new account at CFCU. However, this will result in two separate accounts when the conversion is completed.

For the vast majority of Porter members, there will be no change to your account number. We anticipate the account number conversion, if any, taking place in June 2024.

Porter Federal Credit Union officially became Columbine Federal Credit Union on November 1, 2023. Your Porter account and all member access will continue to appear as Porter until our system conversion is completed August 2, 2024.

There will be no change to membership status. Your membership tenure at Porter FCU will carry over to your CFCU membership and any active account products will translate to equivalent CFCU account products after the conversion is complete.

On August 1, 2024, the existing Porter savings and/or checking accounts will be migrated over to the current structure, rates, and terms of the Columbine FCU savings and/or checking accounts. While CFCU currently does not offer a tiered dividend rate on our regular share and checking accounts, CFCU does offer money market accounts with rates as high as 0.75% APY and a holiday club account with a 0.60% APY.

No, there will be no changes to these products. All terms and rates will stay the same and automatically transfer to your CFCU account.

Unfortunately, at this time, Columbine FCU’s banking platform does not offer an audio response teller solution. Columbine has greatly invested in our online banking platform and mobile app solutions which we highly encourage adoption and usage of these services. These services provide additional functions including remote deposit capture and card controls to manage lost or misplaced cards instantly.

Porter’s routing number will merge into Columbine’s routing number on the conversion date, August 1, 2024.

Unfortunately, we do not offer interactive phone banking. You will be able to access your accounts via online and mobile banking 24/7 and speak with a local CFCU representative during business hours.

If you currently login to Porter’s Online Banking platform via the Porter website, go to BillPay, and initiate payments to Payees, then you are utilizing Porter’s BillPay services. If you pay bills from other companies’ websites using your Porter account, this service (FAQ) does not apply to you. 

Unfortunately, the Porter BillPay account information and history will not transfer over. We are prepared to assist you with the transition to Columbine FCU’s free Bill Pay service, so please contact the Credit Union as soon as you can.

Yes. Because the banking platforms are changing, it’s best to ensure that all members complete the same type of disclosures as not all disclosures across all platforms are the same. Columbine highly supports and encourages all members to sign up for e-statements as quick as possible following the conversion to ensure we are doing the most we can to protect your account information and stay green by preventing additional paper waste.

Yes, continue using your Porter debit and/or ATM cards until August 2, 2024. New debit and/or ATM cards will be mailed in early July 2024. Please follow the instructions on how and when to activate and start using your new CFCU debit and/or ATM cards.

Your Columbine Federal Credit Union debit and/or ATM cards will be mailed in early July and can be activated on August 2nd, 2024, once the conversion is completed. In the meantime, keep using your Porter debit and/or ATM cards.

Yes, continue using your checks and deposit slips until after the conversion is completed on August 2, 2024. You will be able to use current Porter checks for 6 months after the conversion is complete, or you can order new Columbine FCU checks after August 2, 2024.

CFCU personal checks will not be automatically ordered for Porter members. You may use checks for 6 months after the conversion is complete or order CFCU checks at a branch or through online banking and/or the mobile app after August 2, 2024.

You can use ATMs at the CFCU Centennial location along with ATMs that use the Co-Op Shared Branch network. All other ATMs may be subject to surcharges.

Existing ACH payments and direct deposits will be transferred automatically to your CFCU account during the conversion process unless the conversion is requiring your account number to change. There is only 1 account number that is changing as part of this conversion, and that member has already been directly contacted by the CFCU management team.

Porter members can continue to call or come into the Porter branch for the loan products currently available to them. We encourage any open loan applications submitted at Porter to be completed by Friday, July 26, 2024. If a Porter member wants to take advantage of CFCU’s loan products like HELOCs or credit cards, you can call 720-283-2346, visit the Dry Creek location, and/or apply online at www.columbinefcu.org. On and after August 2, 2024, all CFCU members can apply at either branch, by calling 720-283-2346, or online for all loan products CFCU offers

Current loans will transfer to an equivalent loan product at CFCU along with all existing terms and rates.

Until the conversion is complete on August 2, 2024, you will continue making all payments the way you currently make a payment.

Yes. Like Porter, CFCU is insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

Yes. Your Porter accounts will receive statements branded with Porter FCU until the conversion is complete on August 2, 2024. The August 2024 statement will be the first statement under the CFCU branding.

You can view CFCU’s fee schedule at https://columbinefcu.org/fee-schedule/.

Yes. CFCU has committed to keeping the Porter branch open through the current lease that ends in December 2025.

With Doug Kaiser’s retirement in July 2023, the Porter branch has been run by CFCU staff and management since August 2023.

With the retirement of Doug Kaiser in July 2023, CFCU began managing the Porter branch in August 2023 and with the legal merger date of November 1, 2023, the management of Porter has been performed by CFCU’s management team and staff. Even though board seats were offered to the former Porter Board of Directors as part of the merger agreement, they declined the offer.

Please continue to contact the Porter branch using the current contact information of 303-778-5702.  

Once the conversion is complete on August 1, 2024, all calls will be routed through CFCU’s main number which is 720-283-2346. Please update your contacts accordingly.

We strongly encourage all Porter members to download any account history and/or statements that they deem necessary for their records before July 31, 2024. All Porter members will receive a mailed, paper statements for the July 2024 statement in early August. After the conversion, the CFCU banking platform will show 2 years’ worth of account history.

Columbine Federal Credit Union is part of the CO-OP Shared Branch network. The CO-OP Shared Branch network means CFCU members have access to nearly 30,000 surcharge-free ATM locations and more than 5,900 convenient branch and self-service locations covering all 50 states. For more information visit: https://www.coop.org/Shared-Branch-ATM.

Until August 2, 2024, you will tell any shared branching locations that you are a member of Porter Federal Credit Union. You will need to know your account number and be able to provide a government issued form of ID. On August 2, 2024 and after, the Porter location will now allow you to access other credit unions within the shared branching network because CFCU allows CFCU members to participate in both shared branching options.

Additional questions can go through Porter until the conversion is complete. The CFCU staff on-site can help to answer any questions.

For more information about CFCU including our location, hours, product information, credit union history and more, please visit https://columbinefcu.org/.