Community First Credit Union of Florida has opened its branch in Callahan, 20 miles northwest of downtown Jacksonville.

Three more credit unions have announced branch expansions this month in Florida, which has been one of the fastest states for branch growth.

Achieva Credit Union of Dunedin, Fla., 25 miles north of St. Petersburg ($3 billion in assets, 207,483 members), announced Tuesday that it has opened its first branch in Hernando County, Florida.

The Spring Hill branch, 50 miles north of Dunedin, marked “a major milestone in its Florida expansion strategy,” its news release said. “The new full-service location in Spring Hill brings Achieva’s trusted, community-first banking model to a fast-growing region.”

NCUA data showed it had 27 branches and other locations on March 31, unchanged from a year earlier, and one fewer than Dec. 31.

The second Florida branch was announced Monday by Teachers Federal Credit Union of Hauppauge, N.Y. ($9.9 billion in assets, 472,861 members). It has opened a branch in Naples, Fla., 40 miles south of Fort Myers and 170 miles south of Tampa, where it opened its first Florida branch in 2022. “Our new Naples branch is a continuation of our long-term investment in Florida,” President/CEO Brad C. Calhoun said. It had 31 branches on March 31, unchanged from a year earlier. Teachers also announced in June it would expand with a new branch on Long Island next year.

The third Florida branch opening was announced Wednesday by Community First Credit Union of Florida of Jacksonville ($2.8 billion in assets, 181,507 members). Plans to build the branch in Callahan, 20 miles northwest of downtown Jacksonville, were announced in June 2024.

The 3,100-square-foot branch is Community First’s second in Nassau County. It had 25 branches on March 31, two more than a year earlier, and one more than Dec. 31.

Florida had 1,118 branches and other locations on March 31, an increase of 111 locations from March 2015. The 11% growth rate made Florida the 10th fastest state for branch growth in the past 10 years.

By contrast, two other states with recent news of branch expansions ranked far lower. Connecticut, where branch counts fell 11.6% to 244, ranked 47th, and Maine, where branch counts rose 1.4% to 212, ranked 25th.

In other branch news:

  • Maine’s University Credit Union of Orono ($514.9 million in assets, 31,252 members) announced July 15 that it has opened a branch and loan operations center in Saco, 150 miles southwest of Orono on the Atlantic coast. “Expanding into York County marks a meaningful step in our continued growth across Maine,” President/CEO Renee Ouellette said. UCU had nine branches on March 31, one more than a year earlier.
  • Sikorsky Credit Union of Stratford, Conn. ($1.3 billion in assets, 66,165 members) announced July 17 that it plans to open a new branch next year in Fairfield, Conn., nine miles southwest of Stratford. President/CEO Vinny Ciambriello said, “This new location connects our Trumbull and Bridgeport branches, making it easier for current and future members to take advantage of our competitive rates, smart financial solutions and the honest, transparent service we’re known for.” It had 11 branches on March 31, unchanged from a year earlier.
  • Gesa Credit Union of Richland, Wash. ($5.9 billion in assets, 293,650 members) announced July 17 that it has moved its Tukwila branch three miles south to SeaTac, both just east of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It had 33 branches on March 31, unchanged from a year earlier.
  • Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union of Clinton Township ($4 billion in assets, 153,455 members) announced last Monday it has reopened its Chesterfield Township branch after a remodeling. “Refreshing this branch office is an investment in member service,” President/CEO Steve Brewer said. It had 23 branches on March 31, one more than Dec. 31.

Also, First Harvest Credit Union of Camden, N.J. ($439.5 million in assets, 46,611 members) announced July 17 that it has installed an ATM on Atlantic Cape Community College’s Cape May Court House Campus — its first physical location in Cape May County in southern New Jersey.

The ATM is part of a new, long-term partnership with the school, which also includes $30,000 in donations over the next five years.

“In addition to our indirect auto lending partners in Cape May County, by expanding our ATM network into the Cape May region, we are opening the door for more southern New Jersey residents to take advantage of all First Harvest has to offer,” President/CEO Mike Dinneen said.

It had seven branches on March 31, two less than a year earlier.

Contact Jim DuPlessis at JDuPlessis@cutimes.com.

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