We're Merging for a Thriving Saskatchewan
It’s Official!
Together, we’re taking the next big step. The Boards of Conexus, Cornerstone, and Synergy Credit Unions have made two exciting decisions for our future.
Introducing Our New Name
Effective January 1, 2026, the three credit unions will officially merge under the name: Conexus Credit Union.
A market assessment confirmed Conexus resonated the most strongly with people across Saskatchewan.
Welcoming Our New CEO
Stronger Together
With over $15 billion in assets, 200,000+ members, and 1,400 employees across 50 communities, this merger brings together the strength of three successful organizations. United by a shared vision, we’re building a stronger, more resilient credit union for the future.
What’s Next
As we move forward, our focus shifts to aligning teams, systems, and operations — all to deliver a seamless and enhanced experience for our members. Stay tuned for updates as we continue this exciting journey together.
Our top priority in this merger is you, our members!
Find out more, including frequently asked questions, next steps, and timelines at thrivingtogethersk.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
The three Boards decided early on that the new credit union would adopt the name of one of the three partner credit unions. To support this decision, a third-party research firm conducted brand name research to assess the name strength and familiarity across the province that would best serve a provincial credit union.
The Conexus Credit Union name demonstrated the strongest brand equity both provincially and locally, offering strategic advantages in recognition and future brand-building. All three brands were positively received, and no negative indicators emerged. The recommendation is based solely on relative brand strength.
The final decision on the name for the new credit union was made by the Boards of Directors of Conexus, Cornerstone and Synergy Credit Unions.
While the new credit union will carry the name Conexus, the full brand—including the logo, visual identity, and overall look and feel—is still to come. This future brand refresh will thoughtfully reflect the legacy and values of all three founding credit unions: Conexus, Cornerstone and Synergy. That work will be part of the broader integration planning process.
The new name will officially take effect on January 1, 2026. While the legal name change happens on that date, the transition will be phased in over time. This means you may continue to see the current names on buildings, signs, and materials as we work through updates across all locations and platforms. Prioritizing these changes will be part of the integration planning.
The research included participants from both member and non-member groups across Saskatchewan, ensuring a balanced representation by age, gender and geographic region. Additional sampling was conducted within the specific trading areas of each credit union to capture localized insights.
Key metrics assessed in the study included:
- Unprompted name recall
- Brand familiarity
- Likelihood of considering the brand for banking
- Identification of the brand as their primary financial institution
- Willingness to recommend the brand
- Overall brand perception
The new name will officially take effect on January 1, 2026. While the legal name change happens on that date, the full integration of the three credit unions will be phased in over time.
The three credit unions will spend the rest of 2025 planning for integration. Any changes related to your account, such as debit cards, account numbers, or online banking services, will be communicated well in advance. Members will see few changes effective January 1, 2026. We are committed to making the full transition as smooth as possible and will support you every step of the way.
Conexus is currently a provincial credit union, serving over 145,000 members from Coronach to La Ronge.
We are choosing to work together to ensure we remain strong, competitive, and committed to being a local, community focused credit union serving both today’s members and future Saskatchewan generations.
This new credit union will have 57 branches in 50 communities spanning as far north as La Ronge, south to Coronach and Arcola, east to Moosomin, and then west to Lloydminster. Your trusted advisors remain local—local people, serving local members. Decision-making will remain rooted in the communities we serve.
To ensure a thorough and impartial selection process, the Boards engaged an independent executive recruitment firm to assist in the CEO selection. Just like the process we followed to select the new credit union’s name, this was a joint decision made by all three Boards—together.
Both Doug Jones and Trevor Beaton have played important roles in leading their respective credit unions and guiding us through this merger. They will continue in their current roles as CEO until December 31, 2025. No other decisions have been made at this time.
This is a partnership, and we are building something new. The Boards of Directors from all three credit unions worked collaboratively and equally throughout the process.
When it came to selecting the name and CEO for the new credit union, the Boards used independent third-party assessments to help guide their decisions. After careful consideration, they unanimously agreed on the name Conexus Credit Union and appointed Celina Philpot as CEO—both choices made with the best interests of all members across Saskatchewan in mind.
While the name and CEO come from one of the partner credit unions, the decisions were made with a focus on what would best position the new organization for long-term success. As we move forward, the three credit unions will continue to work collectively together to build the new credit union.
The inaugural Board of Directors of the new credit union will be comprised of directors from each of the existing three credit unions. The new board will consist of six board members from Conexus and three directors from each of Cornerstone and Synergy Credit Unions. The inaugural Chair and Vice-Chair will be selected during a meeting of the inaugural Board at a future date.
Many of the inaugural Board Members have valuable experience with credit union mergers. Specifically, the Board Members from Cornerstone and Synergy who have successfully completed mergers within the last five years.
Additionally, while not specific to credit unions, some Conexus directors have significant experience with business and co-op acquisitions and consolidations. The diverse expertise ensures that the Board is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of a merger effectively.
You can stay informed by visiting thrivingtogethersk.ca.