Sunday, April 26, 2026

The New SAFE/BECU Mega Merger Meme: Fiduciary Doody?

                                             No Strings Attached? 

The questions continue to grow over the impartiality of the decision by the SAFE Board to cancel the charter of SAFE Credit Union; and, to hand over $4 +billion in California member-assets to Boeing Employees Credit Union of Washington State - for free!  85 years of thriving, homegrown, Sacramento-based success and ownership - up in smoke for no apparent reason.

Now even the propriety of the SAFE Board has been directly challenged [link]. Another concern  added to the mounting list of prior questions. 

Here's the Credibility Scorecard to date: In prior posts, it has been shown that 1) any benefits of the merger can be obtained for free by SAFE members [link], 2) the SAFE Board has voted to give away a financial institution with a fair market value between $400 to $800 million [link], 3) the current cost of operating SAFE is superior (much lower!) [link], 4) current services/rates at SAFE are equal or better [link], 5) if necessary, there are several better merger candidates in California [link], and just added 6) the "faux-ish" Board commitments of April 21, 2026 [link].

😎 If you subscribe to our current "dog-eat-dog, anything goes" financial era, then it is hard to find fault with Boeing Employees Credit Union in this merger. They are getting a steal - literally! That's not surprising, since Boeing Employees Credit Union hired the top merger and acquisition (M&A) consultant in the U.S. - Jefferies [link] - to advise them.This merger is a "pure play" [link] for Boeing Employees Credit Union!

The SAFE CEO and SAFE Board of Directors don't seem to have received equally astute M&A advice - if any - from their consultants on "this deal" - and it shows!  

"Q: Why does a private company - like SAFE Credit Union - need an independent valuation? 

"A: For private companies without publicly-traded stock, an independent valuation is the only reliable way to get an indication of value A value assessment can assist owners with compliance, legal issues of fiduciary duty, developing strategies and goals; and, also help you better understand what is working and what isn’t."

😎 Time to add breach of fiduciary duty as Lucky #7 to the list above?

  Has the SAFE CEO told the Board about their liability in all this? If not, go ahead and make that #8! [link]

4 comments:

  1. Several commenters on several prior posts have said if CUs keep trying to be banks, legislators will start treating CUs like banks... and tax CUs like banks.

    Well, bingo! Here ya' go:

    https://www.cutoday.info/site/THE-feature/Could-Washington-s-New-CU-Tax-Become-The-Playbook-For-A-Wider-Attack-On-Bank-Buys

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    Replies
    1. it's not like the gov will turn down tax dollars now is it (Pssst there's never enough)!
      They'll be like sharks in a chum tank

      Delete
  2. Jefferies says it's like taking candy from a baby ... easy peasy ... Ching Ching!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Whose pulling the boards strings?

    ReplyDelete