Thirteen credit unions or building societies still qualify for a shift to mutual bank status, a path already taken by 18 entities and soon to be followed by two more.The 13 mostly occupy the lower tier of the 34 mutual ADIs ranked by capital, and holding sufficient capital to meet APRA's A$50 million threshold to consider a jump to mutual bank status.Three prominent exceptions are the three largest mutual ADIs in Australia, CUA, Newcastle Permanent and People's Choice.Outside of the three largest ADIs, the ten still with this option ahead are: Queensland Country Credit Union, Gateway Credit Union, Credit Union SA, Sydney Credit Union, Community First Credit Union, Police Credit Union, B&E, Railways Credit Union, Summerland Credit Union and Big Sky.This cohort shares another bond. with the majority having not been involved in any merger over the last ten years. Of the two in this list that have, the mergers were with very small credit unions.Several teachers' credit unions pioneered the mutual bank step back in 2013, with most eligible credit unions likely to have studied the option closely since then.The 2016 annual reports of the 13 are, on the whole, silent on the pros and cons and the extent of recent board deliberations on the topic.One exception was in the annual report of Encompass Credit Union, an entity already well down the path to a merger with Select Credit Union and in turn planning for a mutual bank label."Younger and potential new members must see Encompass as a modern banking institution," wrote Encompass chair Eric Priestly."Research has shown that younger people prefer to use an organisation with the title 'bank', or to use one of the new 'fintech disruptors' or even social networks for loans and payments."Priestly added that "conversion to mutual bank status, and possible mergers with other like-minded credit unions are essential for the long term future of Select Encompass."