SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. – Not many people would look at three acres of land with a two-bedroom home and a man-made pond and think future branch, but the team at Army Aviation Federal Credit Union did and the results are stunning.
Working with design/build firm NewGround, AAFCU President/CEO Jim Mitchell understood early on that the credit union's expansion into what is known as "Air Force Country" and a popular tourist area would require a fresh approach to branching.
"We needed to connect to the community, and we knew our facility had to be the vehicle that bridged the gap. We asked NewGround to create a branch that would help us make that connection," said Mitchell. "Our branch manager Karen McCarthy had passed the current site everyday and brought it to our attention. Although it was a wetlands we knew it would make a great location for us."
Recommended For You
"Instead of working around the Wetlands, our design team incorporated it into the site design. A pond and fountain were created with a walk-over bridge to showcase the unique grounds behind the facility," added Bob Mannion, NewGround senior vice president of design and construction. "Army Aviation understood, from the very beginning of this project that they needed a member-centric branch to enter this market successfully."
Despite challenges ranging from changing the property to a commercial area and the permits and paperwork involved, to dealing with three hurricanes and four tropical storms during construction, the credit union succeeded in finally unveiling its 8,000 square foot state-of-the-art contribution to the community.
The facility houses three teller pods, eight LCD screens, a coffee and Internet caf and a showroom off the main lobby for local businesses to display wares such as a sailboat or car. Playing up the member-centric environment a community room was also built to accommodate community club meetings and gatherings after hours.
"There is an open quality to the facility, in form and function. Employees love it. Tellers aren't locked behind counters. They are walking the lobby freely, ready to assist members. And our members do more than make transactions here. They drink coffee, surf the net, and have club meetings. We've become a community hub," said Mitchell.
Maximizing the natural elements of the environment, an emerald and seafoam color scheme mimics the outside landscape. Brand image artwork depicting the community mixing ocean and family landscapes and Air Force, Army, and Navy images appear on the walls portraying the history and personality of Santa Rosa Beach while reinforcing the Army Aviation brand.
"The custom artwork depicts a little of who they are as a credit union and a little of the area," said Mannion. "It is a great way to tie in the history of the credit union with the community image. It is another way to connect with the membership and have them feel they are part of a whole."
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
