Branch network

ATLANTA – Georgia’s Own CU has agreed to finance the $36 million purchase of one of this city’s landmark buildings, the 20-story Campanile, or Bell Tower, vacant since BellSouth/AT&T moved out in 2007 – and the credit union’s home since 1993.

DALLAS-The Texas Credit Union League has rolled out a new Facilities Assistance Program designed to provide credit unions a forum to discreetly obtain or dispose of a facility.

LIVE OAK, Texas – Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union is developing two new buildings totaling 137,000 square feet at its headquarters on this city’s north side.

PORTLAND, Ore. – OnPoint Community CU, Oregon’s biggest credit union, last week opened three new branches in Deschutes County.

VIENNA, Va. – Navy FCU is opening a new branch, its 185th, in Columbia, S.C., to serve more than 21,000 military personnel, retirees and their families assigned to Fort Jackson.

WILKES BARRE, Penn. – Cross Valley FCU has completed branding ATMs at two local Walgreens stores in Kingston and Scranton.

RIVERDALE, Utah – America First CU, which acquired five Nevada branches as part of last year’s deal for failed Community One FCU in Las Vegas, is opening a sixth branch in the state, in Henderson.

TAMPA, Fla. – GTE FCU, fighting off big losses for 2008 and 2009, announced yesterday it is closing another five branches, after shuttering three branches last year.

HOUSTON – A new environmentally friendly branch opened by JSC FCU features solar power, light shelves that increase ambient light and water use reduction using low-flow faucets and dual flush toilets.

SALT LAKE CITY – University Federal Credit Union has opened a new branch downtown in a building formerly occupied by Barnes Bank.

WARREN, Mich. – Christian Financial CU is launching its first student-run branch inside De La Salle Collegiate High School.

LAS VEGAS – Aloha Pacific FCU said yesterday it is expanding into Las Vegas with a deal for a branch operated by troubled Silver State Schools CU.

FAIRHAVEN, Mass. – First Citizens’ FCU is expanding into Cape Cod with a new branch in the town of Mattapoisett and another branch is planned at an undetermined location on the Cape.

FORT LEWIS, Wash. – America’s CU has agreed to acquire the former headquarters of Venture Bank, which failed a year ago.

MEDFORD, Ore. – Rogue FCU is planning to open a student-run branch in North Medford High School, which will be the $485 million credit union’s fourth local in-school branch.

SAN FRANCISCO – Patelco CU announced yesterday it is moving its headquarters to suburban Pleasanton.

FAIRFAX, Va.-Do credit unions know themselves? According to Paul Lucas, a marketing and branding consultant for credit unions and CUSOs, the answer is no — at least not enough to know their brand.

MILWAUKEE, Wis.-The record number of mergers among credit unions in recent years has created two camps of thought when it comes to rebranding: ease members of the acquired CU into the new brand, or move quickly and let members adjust.

SEATTLE-At risk of sounding like a "lawyer," Jim Haack says the answer for how to best rebrand a branch after a merger is "it depends."

MILWAUKEE-A credit union's brand is much more than just an accessory that is bought and checked off a post-merger list.