The $556 million Rivermark Community Credit Union of Beaverton,Ore. announced its online and mobile banking business continues tosurge with a 34 % year-to-year usage jump in online accounts and86% spurt in mobile banking.

In August 17 announcement, the suburban Portland credit unionwith 64, 400 members called the increases a “dramatic shift in howour members conduct their business” which also means they arerelying less on branches.

Scott Burgess, president/CEO, said Rivermark members seem to beembracing the new technology much more than he expected by openingnew accounts online, signing loan documents and depositing checksremotely.

Burgess said he is “pleasantly surprised by the overwhelmingresponse” to the credit union's marketing, noting also “during thesame time, the number of in-branch transactions has also declinedsteadily.”

But he stressed that branches are not going out of thepicture.

“While we're excited about the increased access and conveniencewe've provided our members, it's important to note that we do notintend to become a branchless credit union,” he concluded.“Branches continue to play a vital role in our strategicdirection.”

Burgess added Rivermark was the first Oregon credit union toimplement mobile deposit in March 2012. In five months, nearly10,000 members deposited more than 31,000 paper checks using theiriPhone or Android mobile device, the credit union reported.

Rivermark also launched an e-signature service including smartphone applications. Since that service was launched inFebruary 2012, more than 1,000 loan applications have been signedelectronically from mobile and online devices.