Speaking at a company 46^th birthday party in Mount Isa (where the credit union started) last week Mr Cullen said the merger was nine months in the making and comes on the back of a big year when they converted all their banking systems.

“We are excited about what will happen about that merged entity and we are going to see real benefits to our long term members,” Mr Cullen said.

“Our staff have been under tremendous pressure in all of that time and taken on board the challenges in all of those areas and our performance has been nothing short of magnificent.”

The merger was approved by ECU in December to form a combined credit union with assets of over $1.7 billion, 29 branches, four agencies and 70,000 members.

Mr Cullen said they invited ECU executives as observers to a board meeting of the credit union and its health fund in Mount Isa to coincide with their birthday.

“Three new directors come on board when the merger does happen on March 31 and they will also be observers in the March board meeting before we meet as one newly merged entity in April,” he said.

Mr Cullen said ECU made the approach to Queensland Country Credit Union, which they really appreciated.

“From that day there has been nothing short of wonderful co-operation,” he said.

“From a Queensland Country point of view the fit geographically, demographically and culturally is nothing short of perfect.”

Mr Cullen said ECU now had to go through banking changes Queensland Country have been through.

“But they are willing, and they are able about getting this all done,” he said.

ECU boss Greg Nucifora told the Mount Isa gathering they started off as a credit union serving electrical unions and had 12,000 members mostly based in Far North Queensland and South East Queensland and said their dispersal meant there were no overlaps with QCC branches.

“Our strengths are QCC weaknesses and vice versa,” Mr Nucifora said.