Despite online convenience and advancements, credit union members still prefer to conduct business at a local branch, but they expect knowledgeable, highly-personalized service when they visit, according to a survey.

The Boston-based customer engagement firm TimeTrade's "The State of Credit Unions 2017" survey of 2,000 consumers gauged feelings on the quality of service they receive from their institutions. The survey found nearly half of respondents (46%) visited a credit union branch once a month or more, with another 25% visiting at least five times during the past year.

The survey revealed while it's no longer necessary to visit a branch for many transactions, in-person banking at credit unions isn't going away. Instead, it's becoming more important and more specialized, and, as a result, member service experiences, which branches provide, are increasingly vital to a credit union's success.