A 38-year-old Aberdeen woman was arrested Monday on suspicion of theft of more than $350,000 and setting a fire at the then-Grays Harbor Woodworkers Credit Union — now a branch of Great NorthWest Credit Union — at 2600 Sumner Ave. in Aberdeen in March of 2016.

The incident began March 28 when an auditor from the National Credit Union Administration made an unannounced visit to the credit union, asking to see documents as part of an investigation. When he returned the following day, the documents had been destroyed in a fire.

The woman was branch manager at the time, was the only person in the building at the time of the fire, according to Aberdeen Police spokesman Kevin Darst.

A subsequent investigation by Aberdeen detectives and the Credit Union and an audit by an independent accounting firm found that more than $350,000 had been stolen from the institution, and that the branch manager was responsible, Darst said.

Along with one count of theft in the first degree and arson in the second degree, the woman was also suspected of the theft of $13,000 from another undisclosed local business, according to Darst.

Aberdeen Police detective David Cox, the Hoquiam Fire Department and Aberdeen Police officers teamed up for the investigation.

Late in December 2016, the credit union announced a merger with Great NorthWest Federal Credit Union.

“With a very heavy heart, I report news of our intention to merge with Great NorthWest FCU,” wrote Woodworkers Credit Union board chairman Walt Hilliard Dec. 30. “There were several unusual events that occurred including an office fire. Federal examiners encouraged the board to place the manager on administrative leave. … To protect our members, the Board decided the only recourse was to merge with another credit union.”

GH Woodworkers Credit Union closed its doors for the last time Jan. 31. The next day it reopened as Great NorthWest Credit Union. Woodworkers members were issued new debit cards and account numbers, and were told on Great NorthWest’s website, “GH Woodworkers has faced a series of unfortunate events that threatened the continued safety of the credit union. Their board of directors and manager felt that Great NorthWest offered a solution that best served their members’ needs.”