Expansion Of US Banking Initiative
Credit Union Discussions Expand On Existing Banking Initiative
In Discussions With Additional Credit Unions, Banks, Fintechs, Communities, Investors and Other Partners as Move From Strategic Development To Implementation
HOUSTON, TEXAS — August 11, 2026 — Plural Industry Holding Group Co. Ltd. (“PIHG”) and Black Gold Equity Partners (“BGEP”) today announced continued progress in their U.S. financial services and community development initiative, with discussions underway with multiple credit unions regarding potential strategic collaboration.
The development represents the next phase of the initiative recently announced by PIHG and BGEP to provide banking, credit, digital asset and insurance products and services to underserved communities in the US, and reflects continued movement from strategic development toward institutional engagement.
The initiative is designed to bring together regulated financial institutions, established community networks, private enterprise and strategic resources to identify opportunities for responsible membership growth, deposit development, expanded financial access and community economic development.
Credit Union Discussions Advance
BGEP has been engaging in discussions with credit union leadership regarding potential areas of collaboration. These conversations include opportunities involving membership development, deposit growth, community outreach, financial education, small-business services, technology modernization and broader economic-development initiatives.
Discussions remain preliminary, and are subject to due diligence, definitive agreements, applicable regulatory requirements, the respective approval processes of participating institutions, and bringing in appropriate partners, funders and investors.
Simon Littlewood, President of PIHG, said: “We are in discussions with banks both in the US and internationally about partnering with and potentially acquiring stakes in them. Tie-ups with credit unions are a natural fit with our strategy to create a platform connecting financial institutions, strategic resources, communities, foundations, State and Federal agencies and programs, and other parties, through a collaborative model, to provide a wide range of traditional and digital financial products and services to communities, governments, businesses and investors in the US and globally.
“The first phase of our collaboration with BGEP established the vision and strategic framework. This next phase is about bringing in the necessary capital, people, technology, institutions and other partners and resources to move that vision forward.”
“We are interested in working with credible institutions and organizations that recognize the opportunity to grow, while maintaining a strong commitment to the communities they serve. Our objective is to develop relationships capable of providing solutions to current issues, and creating sustainable economic value over the long term, for the benefit of the communities, and the investors, resource providers and other stakeholders involved.”
Connecting Financial Infrastructure With Community Reach
BGEP is leading U.S. strategic development and partnership engagement for the initiative.
The strategy recognizes an opportunity to connect community financial institutions with organizations that already maintain trusted relationships with substantial populations.
Credit unions provide established, regulated financial infrastructure. Churches, nonprofits, employers, universities, veteran organizations, business associations and other community institutions provide trusted relationships and direct connections to individuals, families and businesses.
The initiative seeks to create stronger connections between those ecosystems.
Arthur Lyons, Managing Partner of BGEP, said: “We are moving from strategy to execution. Credit unions have financial infrastructure. Community organizations have relationships and trust. Private enterprise can contribute strategy, technology, resources and execution. Our role is to bring the right organizations together and create opportunities for responsible, sustainable growth.
“This is bigger than any single institution or individual partnership. We believe there is an opportunity to build a repeatable model that strengthens community financial institutions while expanding access and creating measurable economic impact.”
Nationwide Search for Strategic Partners
As discussions progress, PIHG and BGEP are expanding outreach to additional financial institutions and community organizations interested in exploring participation. The types of organizations we are in discussions with and are targeting include:
- Federal and state-chartered credit unions seeking responsible membership and deposit growth
- Community financial institutions exploring strategic expansion opportunities
- Churches and faith-based organizations with established congregations and community networks
- Nonprofit and community-development organizations
- Veteran and military organizations
- Universities and educational institutions
- Chambers of commerce and business associations
- Employers and corporations with significant workforce populations
- Entrepreneurship and small-business organizations
- Financial technology and financial-services organizations
Potential areas of collaboration include membership development, deposit strategies, financial education, small-business support, lending initiatives, technology modernization, digital finance and assets, and community investment.
The long-term objective is to develop a repeatable model capable of expanding across multiple U.S. markets, while preserving the community-focused principles underlying the initiative.
Rather than creating competing financial infrastructure, the strategy is designed to work alongside and partner with existing regulated institutions, helping them connect with additional communities, strategic relationships, technology and growth opportunities.
An Open Invitation to Financial and Community Leaders
Credit unions seeking growth, organizations representing substantial community or membership networks, and institutions interested in developing financial-access or economic-development initiatives are invited to begin discussions with Black Gold Equity Partners.
“If you represent a financial institution with infrastructure or an organization with meaningful community reach, we want to have the conversation,” Lyons said. “The next stage is about identifying the right partners, building the right structure, and executing responsibly.”
PIHG and BGEP expect to make additional announcements as discussions progress and definitive relationships are established.
About Plural Industry Holding Group Co. Ltd.
PIHG is a globally positioned investment, finance, and advisory group focused on opportunities across financial services, technology, sustainability, emerging markets, and strategic business development. PIHG is publicly quoted on the U.S. OTC market under the symbol PIHG.
Email: info@pluralihg.com
About Black Gold Equity Partners
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, BGEP is a private investment and strategic development firm focused on acquiring, scaling and modernizing businesses and institutional platforms.
BGEP employs an operator-led approach across financial services, technology, industrial operations, real estate and community-focused economic development, combining investment strategy with hands-on operational execution and strategic partnership development.
Arthur Lyons, Managing Partner
Email: info@blackgoldequitypartners.com
www.blackgoldequitypartners.com
Simon Littlewood, President of PIHG, is a shareholder in and involved in the management of BGEP.
Discussions referenced in this announcement remain preliminary unless otherwise stated and may not result in definitive agreements or completed transactions. Any financial institution relationship, investment, transaction or regulated financial activity remains subject to applicable due diligence, definitive documentation, regulatory requirements and necessary institutional approvals.
Nothing contained in this announcement constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities.
Forward-Looking Statements
Your attention is drawn to the Forward-Looking Statement notice below, which is an integral part of this news release, and should be read in conjunction with this news release.
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this press release are forward-looking statements and involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry in which the Company operates, but involve a number of unknown risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.