CINCINNATI — Across the street from Greater Cincinnati Credit Union's small storefront branch in the up and coming North College Hill area President/CEO Daryl Sawyer saw opportunity in the form of an old gas station that had become an overgrown lot.

"We acquired that storefront branch when the community's credit union decided to merge with us and we knew it was too small but we wanted to honor their rental agreement which recently expired," said Sawyer. "Initially the existing credit union members weren't pleased about the merger. We wanted to show our commitment to the community and we knew that having a more visible presence would help. When I saw that lot that sits on a main thoroughfare I knew it would be a great site for our new branch."

Sawyer adds that two of the credit union's other branches were also former gas stations and they have been very successful. It took months of negotiation but the timing was right since the city was looking for a partner to redevelop the site.