The 3,100-square-foot Callahan branch will have a full-service drive-thru, two ATMs (drive-up and walk-up) and Community First's signature tower feature.

Community First also announced it has opened its Murabella branch. A grand opening celebration began Monday and ends Friday.

The Callahan Branch is an addition to the credit union's Branch Transformation Project, which already has expanded at least once before. It aims to enhance member service by expanding the branch network and configuring spaces to create a modern retail experience.

According to the U.S. Census, Callahan's population is growing at nearly 4% per year and has grown more than 17% since the 2010 census. According to analysts, the area is expected to experience future job growth of nearly 50%. The nearby 400-acre Crawford Diamond Industrial Park is contributing to the need for infrastructure and services for residents, businesses and their employees.

"Both Callahan and Nassau County are growing rapidly," President/CEO John Hirabayashi said. "We aim to help Callahan residents with accessible and local financial services where they live."

John Hirabayashi

Community First now has five expansion branches in the works or newly opened. The credit union recently opened its 20th branch at Northpoint Village, 17 miles northeast of downtown Jacksonville, its 21st branch at Boulevard Crossing near Jacksonville and its 22nd branch in Murabella in St. Johns County.

Other credit union branch expansion developments include:

• Philadelphia Federal Credit Union of Philadelphia ($1.7 billion in assets, 120,042 members), which announced Thursday (June 6), that it has opened a branch at East Falls, about five miles north of city hall near the Schuylkill River. The new 3,295-square-foot branch — the credit union's 12th — includes a full-service ATM, an Internet café and a free coin-counting machine.
• TLC Community Credit Union of Adrian, Mich. ($739.1 million in assets, 55,325 members), which held a grand opening June 1 for its new branch in Dundee, 24 miles east of Adrian and 50 miles southwest of Detroit. The credit union broke ground last September for the branch, its first in Monroe County.
• Financial Center First Credit Union of Indianapolis ($873 million in assets, 66,355 members), which announced May 31 that it is building a new branch in Noblesville, 23 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis. It would be its first branch in Hamilton County when it opens in August.

"With 13% of our members already living in Hamilton County, this new branch represents our commitment to making banking more accessible and convenient for them," President/CEO Cam Minges said. "We also see a tremendous opportunity to welcome new members from the local community, giving them access to our competitive products and financial experts in their neighborhood."

DEI, a Cincinnati-based design and build firm, is leading the construction.