Tulsa CU Opens First Inner City Branch

TULSA, Okla. – Vowing to “make an impact on the community,” Tulsa’s largest credit union, the $625 million Tulsa Teachers CU, opened its first inner city branch April 19. The $1.8 million North Pointe facility, located in a predominantly black neighborhood in north Tulsa, represents the first CU branch of its kind in Tulsa targeted to the underserved. “We have many members in this area and we expect this branch to be profitable,” forecast Leslie Rector, president/CEO of the 73,000-member CU. The stand-alone facility, with property purchased from an urban renewal unit of the Tulsa Development Authority, will be TTCU’s seventh branch. There are few banks in the area and no CUs, but CU officials said there are numerous payday lenders and check cashers in the neighborhood. In line with its branch opening, TTCU in conjunction with Tulsa Tech Center is offering Spanish classes on financial transactions for its employees. “I’m pleased to say we have 50 of our 200 employees who are taking the seven week, two-hour a day classes,” said Rector.