TYLER, Texas -- Kelly Community Federal Credit Union has broken ground on its latest branch.

Located across from Tyler Junior College, the new state-of-the-art facility marks Kelly Community FCU's fourth location. Designed to provide a more spacious and member-friendly experience, the new facility is slated to open during the first quarter of 2009

Green Earns Silver for Community First

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Community First Credit Union of Florida was awarded leadership in energy and environmental design certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

LEED is the rating system for designing and constructing green, energy-efficient and high-performing buildings.

"As the fifth LEED-certified building project in Jacksonville, we are very excited to be among area companies pioneering the way in green construction," said Community First President/CEO John Hirabayashi. "Our Silver LEED certification represents a long-term value for our members our community and the environment as a whole. We are very proud of this accomplishment and those who helped us make it possible."

The Community First Hodges branch marks the credit union's 19th in the North Florida region and was designed by TTV Architects Inc. to achieve LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. LEED verifies environmental performance, occupant health and financial return. LEED was established to encourage design and construction of buildings that protect and save resources while also making economic sense.

LEED certification of Community First Credit Union Hodges branch was based on a number of green design and construction features that have a positive impact on the project itself and on the broader community. These features included skylights that reduce electricity usage, landscape and structural design that minimizes water usage, and most of the building's construction materials contained a portion of recycled content and were purchased from nearby vendors to reduce environmental impact.

Texans Initiates Student-Run Branch

FRISCO, Texas -- Texans Credit Union and Frisco Independent School District are teaming up for financial literacy.

On the first day of classes at the Career and Technology Center in the Frisco district, a student-run credit union branch opened its doors inside the center. Led by a Texans' operations manager, four students will earn co-op credit by working in the credit union throughout the school year.

The move is part of Texans' on-going initiative to encourage financial literacy, and the branch provides an opportunity to teach students the importance of saving and financial management. Additionally, the student employees will learn interview, problem-solving and decision-making skills that will help them be successful as they move into adulthood and the workplace.

Texans also sees the project as a chance to connect with students, the school and the community.

"As future employees and leaders, we will benefit from their experience and skills learned while working at the student-run branch," said CTE Center Project Manager Dee Fincher.

According to Texans, it is the first credit union to initiate this type of venture in the Dallas area.

The project is the final phase of a three-part plan for Texans to assist with teaching Frisco students the importance of saving and sound money management. The first phase involved training several high school teachers on a financial literacy curriculum, while the second phase introduced the student-run branch concept to Wakeland students during the 2007-2008 school year.

The CTE Center branch and ATM will be open during school hours to students, teachers, administrators and the public.

Gesa CU Finds It's Easy Being Green

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Design and build firm Clayco Inc. has been tapped to develop Gesa Credit Union's 76,000-square-foot home office and branch facility in Richland, Wash.

Clayco is designing the new four-story facility with sustainable strategies to achieve certification in the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building rating system.

According to the firm, this is the first credit union home office and branch facility in the state of Washington to be registered for LEED certification.

Gesa CU's new facility will include a number of green design and construction features to positively impact the Tri-Cities community with sustainable items such as underground storm water detention system, rapidly renewable products including cork flooring and bamboo millwork.

"This project is extraordinarily exciting for Clayco because it is an example of how sustainable building practices are truly taking hold of the financial facilities industry," said Paul Barrath, business unit leader for financial facilities at Clayco and project executive on the Gesa CU facility project. "Gesa's new home office and branch facility demonstrates the credit union's commitment and investment in its community and the broader environment. Through this project other financial institutions may appreciate the value sustainable design and construction and a commitment to consumers has on the success of any business."

Clayco's project team included Darrell Lundsford, project manager; Bill Beck, project superintendent; Dean Wilcoxen; project architect; and Kerry Schuette and Mackenzie Lucas, designers.

PEFCU Opens Second In-School Branch

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union and William Henry Harrison High School are gearing up to open the doors on Greater Lafayette's second in-school financial institution.

PEFCU opened the area's first in-school financial institution in January 2005 at Lafayette Jefferson High School.

"We are pleased to have this partnership with PEFCU," said Doug Lesley, Harrison High School principal. "We believe it creates numerous educational opportunities for students and also provides beneficial financial services to Tippecanoe School Corporation employees."

The 208-square-foot branch named Harrison's PEFCU@School will be operated by two high school student tellers and a PEFCU supervisor. Supervisor Sara Gretencord will oversee and evaluate the work of Melissa Blosser and Shane Hamilton, who were trained and worked at the PEFCU Financial Mall during the summer. Student tellers are expected to meet the same qualifications as other PEFCU employees. They must also be enrolled in the 12th-grade interdisciplinary cooperative education course at Harrison High School. Students are selected as tellers after submitting an application and being interviewed. They receive compensation as well as course credits for their work.

In addition to the hands-on learning experience for student tellers, other students will gain money management skills by opening checking and savings accounts, making transactions at the branch and learning from the financial literacy curriculum provided by PEFCU and Harrison staff through career- and business-related courses. The branch will be open Monday through Friday during lunch periods from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. to serve students, faculty and staff.

"PEFCU has provided Harrison High School with financial education for two years, and this in-school branch solidifies our commitment to the financial health of Greater Lafayette's youth," said Carolyn Barrett, PEFCU financial literacy coordinator.

Independent FCU Plans New Main Office

ATLANTA -- LEVEL5 a consulting and facilities development firm specializing in financial institutions, will build a new main office and combined retail branch for Independent Federal Credit Union in Anderson, Ind.

Independent FCU wanted to better serve its members and spark growth after several large factories in Anderson closed and branch activity declined. The strategically located main office combined with a state-of-the-art retail branch will replace the current headquarters and branch.

"Competition among financial institutions is fierce right now," said Independent FCU CEO Norm Getts. "Being a smaller credit union, it's critical for us to look at the big picture and plan strategically for both our future as well as our members."

The headquarters will be approximately 12,000 square feet and will feature the latest teller center technology and multilane drive-thrus to optimize branch efficiency and member convenience. Two-way video communication will connect drive-thru employees to members in their vehicles and provide direct face-to-face member service. The new main branch for Independent FCU is expected to be complete in the first half of 2009.