Credit union members tend to stick with their credit unionsafter they move, according to anew study by Filene Research Institute.

In late 2014, the Madison, Wis.-based institute surveyed 862people who moved to a different U.S. city in the past three yearsto find out whether credit unions and other financial institutionslose market share when people relocate. About 69% of therespondents said they did not change financial institutions afterthey moved.

About 19% of the respondents said they kept most of their moneyin a credit union before their move; that number was unchangedpost-move, according to the research. Community-based credit unionswithout robust online banking offerings appear most vulnerable tolosing members who rely on branch banking.

Of those who did switch financial institutions after moving, 29%said they did so to be closer to a branch. Another 17% said theyswitched because the service was better, 17% said they switched because theirprevious financial institution did not meet their needs and 15%switched for better products. Another 11% said they switchedbecause they preferred doing business electronically, and 11% said theyswitched because their income changed.

The average American moves once every five years, according tothe U.S. Census Bureau, and though it's harder to keeplong-distance relationships of any kind going, an increasingly digital world is making that easier for creditunions, the research found.

“In order to ensure members feel engaged in any location outside of the branch, your creditunion should invest in robust online DIY tools and applications,”Filene Research Associate Manpreet Nat wrote. “The priority shouldbe to broaden access points and service channels to afford membersmultiple opportunities to stay connected. Moving doesn't haveto mean the end of your relationship with your members.”

About 80% of the survey respondents were female, and 45% werebetween 18 and 29 years old. About 77% of the respondents had anannual household income below $100,000, Filene said.