Branch network

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.

KENNEWICK, Wash. – In one of the more ambitious moves in student-run branches in recent years, Gesa CU has opened new branches in three local high schools.

PULLMAN, Wash. – Potlatch No. 1 FCU will introduce a branch in a new Wal-Mart Supercenter here, scheduled to open Oct. 27.

VIENNA, Va. – Navy FCU said yesterday it is opening its first Air Force branch in Arizona to serve the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base.

BEAVERTON, Ore. – First Tech CU said it opened its first downtown Seattle branch last week, the fifth Seattle-area branch for the $2.2 billion credit union.

FARMINGTON, Mich. – LOC FCU opened its 16th in-school branch at Hillside Elementary School in Farmington Hills.

RACINE, Wis. – Educators CU has acquired a former M&I Bank property in New Berlin and will move a credit union branch there.

Thanks in large part to advances in technology, the use of in-branch video monitors is becoming more informative and significantly more interactive in recent years.

In-branch televisions have become such an integral part of many CUs' facilities that their placement must now be part of the plan from the very beginning.

VIENNA, Va. – Navy FCU, the fast-growing credit union giant, said it plans to open two more branches next month, one in the nearby Pentagon and one in the town of Largo, Md., giving the $45 billion credit union a total of 185 branches.

PEARL RIVER, N.Y. – Palisades FCU is taking its services where its members are with a 38-foot recreational vehicle that will serve as its mobile branch.