MARYSVILLE, Ohio -After years at Honda production facilities, Honda Federal Credit Union has broken with tradition by opening its first offsite branch here. "It was just the right time for this move," said Honda FCU Vice President of Sales/Marketing Mary Anawalt. "We realized that a lot of our retired members and family members of Honda employees live in Marysville and it was a great opportunity for us to better meet their needs." The offsite location also provided the Torrance, California-based single sponsor credit union a chance to explore retail branching. The state-of-the-art full service facility includes such features as a children's play area; Internet Caf; four drive-thru windows; ATMs; biotech safe deposit box access using palm scan recognition; and remote teller stations. Anawalt says the teller stations are another first for the credit union- all other branches are "cashless" with all cash transactions completed via ATM. Designed by design/build firm PWCampbell to play up the credit union's "One of the Family-extending banking value to your family" tagline the branch showcases various lifestyle images, which is continued in its brochures. In addition, the new facility offers members a community room complete with its own kitchen which members can use to hold meetings or social functions. "We wanted the environment to be more open and welcoming," said Anawalt. "With such a defined group of members this branch also helps us become more involved with the Marysville community and reinforces our brand that we are not only a part of the Honda family but that our members are like family as well," More than 500 members and their families toured the new branch during an open house and since the grand opening the branch hosts weekly themes to help build awareness. Anawalt says staffers draw inspiration for themes from everywhere. So far the branch has hosted circus week, "shake your family tree" week and western week. The concept behind the themes goes beyond members vying for prizes and having fun but also helps establish the new branch as a community resource. For example, during community week Honda FCU invited officials from the fire department and police department to demonstrate safety techniques. Anawalt says members loved it. Anawalt says the branch has been doing so well that the $385 million credit union has plans to revamp its existing branches to have more of a "retail" feel over the next few years. [email protected]