Over the last decade, the function of a credit union branch has shifted and there have been two contributing factors: The global pandemic and expedited digital transformation.

First, the pandemic has drastically changed the way members expect to bank. At the height of the pandemic, many branches closed or reduced traffic. Members that wouldn't typically have chosen digital banking opted for it to meet their banking needs. The shift away from branch-based services during the pandemic helped baby boomer and Gen X members adopt digital banking when they may not have otherwise.

Even without the impact of the pandemic, the transformation to digital-first processes and products has been underway for some time. This transformation has steadily been shifting the branch's purpose away from basic transactions to more sophisticated member interactions. The pandemic merely accelerated this shift, and it is becoming vital for credit unions to embrace digital transformation to stay competitive.