GARDINER -- Riverview Federal Credit Union members recently voted to approve a merger with Gardiner Federal Credit Union.

Riverview Federal Credit Union, 35 Bridge Street, includes residents of Gardiner, Randolph and Farmingdale.

The Gardiner Federal Credit Union, 10 Old Brunswick Road, just celebrated its 55th year; its membership includes residents of Kennebec and Lincoln counties and the towns of Richmond and Palermo.

The merger is an opportunity to offer new services and products to customers, Gardiner Federal Credit Union President and CEO Phil Bergeron said.

"Both credit unions are situated in Gardiner and service the same membership. Both credit unions are well capitalized and provide many of the same services," Bergeron said

He said it's a win-win situation because "unlike banks, our success or worth is not measured in stock prices but in the best interests and finding the most value for our members."

The Gardiner Federal Credit Union offers a full line of financial services and products including online account access, shared branching, certificates of deposits, safe deposit boxes, first mortgages, new and used auto loans, home equity products, share draft accounts and Visa debit cards.

The merger should be finalized in June and both offices will remain open, officials said.

The National Credit Union Administration, a federal credit union regulatory agency, verified the vote and granted final approval of the merger request.

This merger will be effective at close of business May 30.

Some of Gardiner Federal Credit Union's services, such as online account access for home banking and teller phone, an audio response service, will be unavailable after 4 p.m. May 30 through 10 a.m. June 2, according to a statement posted at the institution's Web site.

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com