Dealing with Mergers and Consolidation

• How much has the market served by your chapter changed? Brainstorm with your board; develop plans/strategies; use RMA champions within your market/region as sounding boards.
• Consider establishing an advisory board of senior officers to provide directional assistance during period of transition from prior to new environment.
• Establish contact with and visit decision makers (individuals who will sign off on RMA involvement) in merged/consolidated entities. As appropriate, introduce the chapter, solicit support, discuss needs, etc.
• Sponsor a meeting/program to introduce/feature new Senior Associates/senior managers of merged/consolidated institutions, especially if new in the market.
• Conduct an outreach campaign to promote greater involvement/participation on the part of community banks.
• Reassess the diversity of your individual Associate membership base/new member prospect list. Be sure that you are reaching beyond the traditional credit officer profile.
• Promote the value of individual Associate membership to individuals whose banks may no longer pay their annual individual dues.
• Be sure to keep your mailing list as current as possible—continually screen the list for individuals who can be encouraged to join RMA as individual Associate members.
• Assist RMA National in implementing our organization's transition policy for displaced Associate members.

For more information and for additional resources, please contact the Regional Manager for your area.