ATLANTA – Implementing a new "retail delivery strategy," Delta Employees Credit Union is relocating two of its airport branches into local communities and adding new facilities in the Atlanta market. The moves, including the hiring of an Atlanta design firm to handle branding, construction and "real estate acquisition", comes amidst continuing bankruptcy threats for its parent sponsor though no mention of that was made in a press statement announcing the branch expansion. The $2.7 billion CU, the largest in Georgia, said it held grand opening ceremonies July 28 for a new Southlake, Texas branch relocated from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and next month will move its Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport office to a new facility in Florence, Ky. "Both of these new branch locations replace airport branches that had become inconvenient to members as they were located behind airport security," explained the news release. Meanwhile in Georgia, DECU said it is opening a Fayetteville branch later this year and two more in Stockbridge in early 2006. It also has hired Level 5 of Atlanta to handle the retail branch program including design and construction of facilities as well as the real estate acquisition. "Member satisfaction is a priority at DECU, so when members tell us we need to be more accessible, we listen," said Rick Foley, president/CEO. "Although our members can handle most of their financial transactions online, we know convenient branch locations are important and that's why we're expanding." DECU noted that its Georgia branch expansion are in the "the fast growing metro-Atlanta counties of Fayette and Henry." In late 2006, DECU expects to add a second branch in Peachtree City, which is in Fayette County. "While DECU began serving only employees of Delta Air Lines, the credit union is now able to provide a complete range of financial services to employees of more than 100 different companies," said the release which also noted that DECU is the nation's 21st largest CU with 163,000 members. -

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