BrightBridge President and CEO John J. Howard (left) and Arrha President and CEO Mike Ostrowski. Photo courtesy of BrightBridge Credit Union.
BrightBridge Credit Union has officially finalized its merger with Arrha Credit Union.
The newly merged credit union has 23 retail branches, combined assets of nearly $2.4 billion, and approximately 125,000 members in four states.
Arrha’s name will be Arrha Credit Union, a division of BrightBridge Credit Union, for the next eight months. It is expected that Arrha will officially adopt the BrightBridge name and the branches will be rebranded to BrightBridge following a systems conversion in August 2026.
“Built on a shared commitment to outstanding service, competitive financial solutions and meaningful community engagement, this partnership strengthens both BrightBridge and Arrha,” the credit unions said in a statement. “The credit union will combine resources and expertise to better serve members and offer expanded access to financial products and services.”
The combined organization will have branches in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
“Today marks an exciting milestone for BrightBridge as we officially welcome Arrha into our credit union family,” BrightBridge President and CEO John J. Howard said in a statement. Howard will remain president and CEO of the combined organization. “This partnership brings together two strong, mission-driven credit unions that share a deep commitment to helping our members, our team and our communities thrive. By combining our strengths, we are expanding access to financial opportunities and building an even stronger foundation for the future.
“We are proud to partner with BrightBridge and begin this next chapter together,” Mike Ostrowski, president and CEO of Arrha Credit Union, said in a statement. “Our dedication to personal service and community support aligns perfectly with BrightBridge’s values and vision. This merger strengthens what we can offer our members today while positioning us to deliver even greater benefits for generations to come.”
