CU Branches Open From California to N.J.

One credit union is building a new branch in Michigan, while another is opening a branch near a popular amusement park in California.

Consumers Credit Union of Kalamazoo, Mich. ($2.3 billion in assets, 140122 members) announced Monday it has begun building a new 1,185-square-foot branch in Galesburg, nine miles east of Kalamazoo.

“Galesburg is home to many of our members and employees, and there is an opportunity for us to bring banking back to Galesburg where other financial institutions have pulled out,” President/CEO Scott Sylvester said.

Wescom Central Credit Union of Pasadena, Calif. ($6.5 billion in assets, 247,718 members) opened its Knott’s Berry Farm Branch Sept. 10 in Buena Park, Calif., 30 miles southeast of Pasadena.

Michael Cederbaum, Wescom’s vice president of partner development, said the branch follows last year’s creation of a strategic partnership with Knott’s Berry Farm. The 57-acre amusement park is the nation’s 12th-most-visited theme park with an average of four million visitors a year, according to Wikipedia.

“Opening our newest Wescom branch adjacent to the theme park really brings this partnership to life,” Cederbaum said.

“By opening this new branch we’re providing convenient, better banking services to Knott’s associates, season passholders and park guests, as well as current Wescom members and the community at large,” he said.

Despite NCUA data showing a slight net drop in branches in the second quarter, third-quarter announcements also included:

• Lake Michigan Credit Union of Grand Rapids, Mich. ($14.3 billion in assets, 493,257 members), which opened a branch Sept. 9 in Greenville, Mich., 30 miles northeast of Grand Rapids. The branch is LMCU’s first in Greenville and 50th in Michigan.
• Affinity Federal Credit Union of Basking Ridge, N.J. ($4.1 billion in assets, 227,891 members), which opened its 20th branch Sept. 12 in Lawrenceville, seven miles north of Trenton.
• Mountain America Federal Credit Union of Salt Lake City ($19.6 billion in assets, 1.3 million members), which opened a branch Sept. 14 in Eagle Mountain, Utah, 40 miles south of Salt Lake City and one of the fastest growing cities in the state.
• OnPath Federal Credit Union of Metairie, La. ($1 billion in assets, 84,600 members), which announced Sept. 9 that it has begun construction of a new branch in Gonzales, 25 miles southeast of Baton Rouge and 50 miles northwest of Metairie. It will be the credit union’s first branch in Ascension Parish when it opens in the spring of 2025.
• Financial Center First Credit Union of Indianapolis ($872.9 million in assets, 63,401 members), which announced Sept. 12 the opening of its Hazel Dell Crossing branch near Noblesville, Ind., 23 miles northeast of Indianapolis.

Financial Center said the branch is its first in Hamilton County, and represents a $1.5 million investment.

“With over 13% of our members already residing here, it was a natural choice to expand and meet our members where they are,” President/CEO Cam Minges said. “We are proud to support both people and businesses in Hamilton County.”