Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, Renton, Wash.,  has opened an in-store branch in east Bremerton. The new ranch is located inside Safeway on McWilliams Road.  The branch offers a full range of credit union services, including a night deposit, 24-hour ATM, and a self-service center, and will be open seven days a week and most holidays. This is Alaska USA's second branch in Kitsap County. Alaska USA opened its first branch in Washington nearly 30 years ago and now operates 23 branches in the state. The credit union offers a full range of financial solutions in Washington, including mortgages, insurance, and financial planning and investment services. Anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Washington can become a member of Alaska USA. The credit union operates 64 branches throughout Alaska, California, and Washington. Learn more at alaskausa.org.   vGrow Financial Federal Credit Union, Tampa, Fla., announced the credit union's continued growth with three branches set to open in Columbia, S.C., this year and next. Grow Financial plans to open two branches in 2013 and one in 2014, all targeted for Columbia.  In addition, a home office will be set up in Columbia for the two newest Grow employees.  Chase Clelland has been named the vice president of operations in South Carolina, and John Paul is currently serving as the dealer relationship representative. The credit union's goal is to open 15 branches throughout South Carolina. After targeting the city of Columbia in such towns as Harbison, Forest Acres and Sandhill, the credit union plans to further expand into Greenville and Charleston. The look and feel of the new Grow Financial branches that will be opening in Columbia will feature a contemporary color scheme and interactive technology.

Mountain America Credit Union, West Jordan, Utah, is celebrating the opening of its new Kimball Junction branch in Park City, Utah. A public grand opening for the new branch was held this month. The Kimball Junction branch, located on West Newpark Boulevard in Park City, is managed by Brian Marsing.  Marsing has seven years of banking experience in the Summit County area. The branch provides Mountain America's wide range of financial products and services including traditional savings, insurance, investments, auto and RV loans, and a full array of mortgage loans and services. Mountain America also offers a checking account called MyStyle, which allows accountholders to customize their accounts with rewards such as music downloads, loan discounts and credit monitoring. The new branch offers drive-up access, safe deposit boxes, a night drop, and a drive-up 24 hour ATM. 

Northeast Credit Union, Merrimack, N.H., celebrated the opening of its newest branch in Merrimack with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Over 40 local business owners, Merrimack Chamber of Commerce members and local and state dignitaries joined the celebration and welcomed the credit union to the Merrimack community. The opening of the branch gives the credit union 15 branch locations throughout the state serving over 90,000 members.  Northeast Credit Union President/CEO Peter J. Kavalauskas recounted the story of the founding of Northeast Credit Union over 76 years ago, when 10 employees at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard established U.S. Employees Federal Credit Union #1515. Greg Kennedy has been named as the sales and service manager for the Merrimack branch and has more than 12 years of experience in banking and lending. 

ORNL Federal Credit Union, Oak Ridge, Tenn. announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase land with the intention of opening a new full-service branch in 2014.  To be located in Northshore Town Center, the new branch, ORNL FCU's 33rd, will provide a full suite of services and greater convenience to ORNL FCU's membership of approximately 157,000. According to Chris Johnson, president/CEO, in the past 13 years ORNL FCU has tripled its assets–from $450 million to $1.43 billion–and more than doubled its membership.  Over the past 10 years, it expanded to serving 16 East Tennessee counties, a demographic region with a little more than one million in population.  Additionally, because of its size, ORNL FCU has been able to grow through offering services to peers.  In 2006, the credit union created a service organization, called CU Community, which provides mortgage services to other credit unions.

Postal Credit Union, Oakdale, Minn., has achieved its longtime goal of opening an in-school credit union branch.  The credit union recently celebrated the grand opening of its student-run office at Tartan High School, in nearby suburb Oakdale. This in-school branch highlights the credit union's mission of providing avenues for financial education and giving students tools to prepare for life after high school.  The two high school juniors and a senior who helped get the student credit union off the ground, and who are responsible for the branch's day-to-day operations, are part of Tartan's DECA program, a high school marketing and business group. All three said they welcome the opportunity to learn more about how a financial institution operates and to help educate their peers on the importance of saving, budgeting and developing a strong credit history.  The student workers' marketing teacher and DECA adviser, Craig Spreiter, is a Postal Credit Union member and has a longtime partnership with the credit union in bringing financial education opportunities to Tartan High School. He said the new in-school credit union branch, and accompanying ATM, are great ways for the students to get firsthand experience of what money is all about.

Redstone Federal Credit Union, Huntsville, Ala.,  is celebrating the recent opening of its newest full-service branch office in Guntersville, Ala., with a grand opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting. The branch will offer financial products including loans, deposits, insurance and investments. The branch is located in Southgate Plaza. Local elected officials including Guntersville Mayor Leigh Dollar attended the ceremony. The branch is the credit union 23rd branch location. Redstone branches are located throughout Northern Alabama and Southern Tennessee.

Vantage Credit Union, St. Louis, celebrated the grand opening of its Bridgeton branch with a VIP ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by community leaders and credit union VIPs. Vantage donated $500 from the ribbon-cutting ceremony to the Missouri Baptist Children's Home.  Brian Goldman, president/CEO of the Northwest Chamber, facilitated the ribbon cutting on behalf of the chamber. Derald Harris, PR director for the Missouri Baptist Children's Home, accepted the $500 donation for his organization. The new location, a mile west Vantage's old Bridgeton branch and existing administrative building, offers two drive-up teller lanes.