SPOKANE, Wash.-If there is a challenge facing the $990-million Numerica Credit Union, along with scores of other CUs, it is finding ways to keep branches open.
Jennifer Lehn, Numerica EVP and chair of the CUNA Operations Sales and Service Council, told Credit Union Journal that Numerica is "focused on keeping our branch network intact."
The key, she said, will be in creating new products and services that members want and need-and will bring them into the branch to do business.
"We don't want to close branches and lay off staff, so we are looking at broadening the product offerings in the two areas that members primarily use our branches for-conforming first mortgages and SBA loans," Lehn explained.
Having already taken a chunk of the local banks' business, Lehn said Numerica will look to retain those new members by broadening relationships with products like a high-rate rewards checking account-something that has been cited as a primary bank vulnerability ("
