Branch network

SAGINAW, Mich. – Communications Family CU has acquired a local landmark, the Civil War-era House of Oak, which it plans to replace with a new branch.

KANSAS CITY – CommunityAmerica CU is opening a branch in the local Wal-Mart Super Center, one of three new branches planned.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Fort Campbell FCU hope for a not-to-chilly reception at today’s grand opening for a new branch--in a former ice cream shoppe.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Forty years after being founded to serve the University of Tennessee, UT FCU is returning to where it started and is opening a branch on campus here.

QUINCY, Mass. – Quincy CU has opened a 3,700-square-foot branch in adjacent Weymouth, its first physical expansion outside this city south of Boston, known as the City of Presidents.

DURAND, Mich. – SageLink CU has opened its new home office that was built to look like a historic train depot.

MULBERRY, Fla. – Magnify CU, known until recently as Community First CU, will add to its branches with the opening of a new green facility in south Lakeland.

STATE COLLEGE, Penn. – Penn State FCU celebrated the grand opening of its third branch Monday.

BRILLION, Wis. – Best Advantage CU has moved into a new headquarters.

INDIANAPOLIS – Credit Union Center, in partnership with CO-OP Shared Branching, is now offering CO-OP Mobile to its member credit unions.

MADISON, Wis. – UW CU said yesterday it has agreed to purchase a 14,00-square-foot building in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa from AMCORE Bank, which the credit union will turn into its third branch in Milwaukee.

Once out of CUs' price range, former buildings that already have drive-up windows are becoming more affordable, but is it a good move to take one of these on? Find out in the stories below.

MADISON, Wis. — Though fast-food restaurants and gas stations are usually located on prime pieces of real estate and the site plan sets up nicely for a financial branch, the buildings themselves can pose major problems for CUs that are planning to remodel the structure rather than level it.

JANESVILLE, Wis. — As fast-food restaurants, with their choice corner locations and drive-up windows, close due to the economy, they seem a perfect fit for a CU looking to expand its branch network, but there are other factors to consider.

TALLAHASSE, Fla. — Credit unions that have gone through the process of converting a non-financial building to a new branch seem to agree on why they chose that route: location and timeline. While commercial real estate values have declined significantly, prime spots along major thoroughfares that can accommodate a drive-thru easily are still hard to come by, even in shell-shocked real estate markets like Florida.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Credit unions could have the opportunity to snatch up Bank of America branches, now that the banking giant could be cutting up to 10% of its branching network over the next few years.

NORCROSS, Ga. — Credit unions looking to in-store branching to expand their physical footprints need to be aware of the unique nature of such branches.

VIENNA, Va. – Navy FCU, which has embarked on the most ambitious expansion plan in credit union history, has trimmed plans for new branches, in light of the economic slowdown.

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – BrightStar CU said it plans to re-open its Hollywood branch.

NILES, Mich. – United FCU broke ground on a second Niles branch across from the Wal-Mart on July 13.