Branch network

Financial institutions need part-time help to fix a big-time problem: branch costs disproportionate to a dwindling number of customer and member visits.

After acquiring 11 branches from troubled Anchor Bank, Royal CU has seen a net increase in members (5%), deposits (4%), and loans (11%) at the new offices since they opened for CU business in June.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Navy FCU said this morning it will open its 206th branch on Monday, its first inside the Pentagon, headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense.

RICHLAND, Wash. – HAPO Community CU plans to build its first Oregon branch after receiving regulatory approval to serve residents of Oregon’s Umatilla County.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – A state court ordered a halt yesterday to a controversial transaction that would allow the University of Iowa Community CU to buy 20 acres of land in nearby North Liberty for $1 to build a new headquarters as part of a planned 64-acre development.

RICHLAND, Wash. – HAPO Community CU has hired a local architectural firm to design a renovation and addition to its 47,000 square-foot offices.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Ten students at East Forsyth High School have launched Winston-Salem’s first student-run credit union managed by Truliant FCU.

SAN ANTONIO – River City FCU reached an agreement with H.E. Butt Grocery Co. to open three new branches inside local H-E-B stores.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Altura Credit Union is closing one of its two branches in Hemet, Calif., Credit Union Journal has learned.

ERIE, Penn. – Erie FCU opened two new branches, one in a Wal-Mart Supercenter and another in a residential walk-up facility.

LAS VEGAS-Branches are evolving as consumers' desires and expectations change, and despite reports to the contrary, remain important to consumers and the financial institutions looking to capture them.

EWING, N.J. – At Ewing High School, a former closet has become a student-run branch for the Blue Devil Branch of Credit Union of New Jersey.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Service CU, a fast-growing $1.8 billion defense credit union, is preparing a proposal to build a 100,000-square-foot corporate headquarters in the city's recently adopted “Gateway District.”

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa – The North Liberty City Council on Tuesday night voted to approve the purchase and transfer of land for a new University of Iowa Community CU office building, a 100,000-square-foot structure projected to cost $20 million to build.

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – Scott CU said it plans to break ground early next year on a $12 million, three-story, 51,000-square-foot headquarters in nearby Edwardsville.

GARDEN CITY, Kan. – Golden Plains CU last week broke ground on a 50,000-square-foot corporate headquarters.

PHOENIX – Arizona State CU is giving $100 to everyone who opens a free checking account with direct deposit at the opening of its new branch in Tempe, which will qualify the new members for a 44,500 grand prize.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Fast-growing Fort Campbell FCU has an 8,500 square-foot branch here, its third new branch since the beginning of 2009, and 10th branch overall.

BATON ROUGE, La. – Pelican State CU is building a full service branch on the first floor of E. A. Conway Medical Center in nearby Monroe.

LAS VEGAS – Branches are evolving as consumers’ desires and expectations are changing, but despite reports to the contrary branches are still important to consumers.