California Credit Union Merger Hits Legal Impasse as CEO, Leadership Dispute Takes Center Stage

California Coast Credit Union and San Diego County Credit Union announced their merger on April 11, 2025, with completion originally scheduled for early 2026. The combined institution would have nearly $13.5 billion in assets and 65 branches. The agreement called for California Coast CEO Todd Lane to lead the merged organization and San Diego County CEO Teresa Campbell to retire, making leadership a central issue in the deal’s unraveling.

San Diego County Credit Union terminated the deal on November 14, 2025, citing compliance shortcomings. California Coast sued on November 25 to enforce the agreement. Judge Carolyn Caietti on April 30, 2026, denied a preliminary injunction that would have compelled the merger. Lawyers for both sides requested a two-week extension on May 1 to continue negotiations, leaving the $13.5 billion deal on the brink of collapse.