Tellers made of flesh and blood will return to a branch of the 96,000-member, $600 million Altura Credit Union.

The Riverside, Calif., credit union announced that it will return human beings to its Murrieta branch location after it had been an ATM-only location for almost a year.

“With the slow, yet steady improvement in the Inland Empire economy, and in Altura's financial performance, we are now able to return our Murrieta location to a full-service branch for our Members,” said Mark Hawkins, CEO of Altura Credit Union.

After several years of financial losses tied to the collapse of the local economy, Altura reported net income of $8.43 million at the end of 2011, the third-straight period of strong net income and Altura's best year since 2006.

“In 2010 and 2011, we implemented a series of cost-cutting measures to reduce our day-to-day operating expenses,” Hawkins said. “Among these was the difficult decision to convert the Murrieta branch to an ATM-only branch with no on-site staff support. At the time, we reaffirmed our commitment to southern Riverside County, and that is why we maintained an ATM at the location.

“Our south county members, understandably, were upset about the loss of branch staff and the ability to conduct all types of financial business at the branch. Now I'm pleased to report that we are able to act on our commitment and respond to Member needs by re-staffing this office,” Hawkins added.

The branch will be staffed with eight positions, three of which are internal transfers or promotions. One person is a rehire, and four staffers are new hires.

Altura removed staff from the branch in May 2011.

Instant Insights /

Altura Credit Union: Reviving Economy Brings Human Tellers Back to Branch

Related Stories

Recommended For You