The U.S. map, in lights

Credit unions added 53 branches and other offices from June to September, showing their first large gain over the pre-pandemic high nearly six years ago.

Most of the gain came from the West and Midwest, while credit unions shed branches in the Middle Atlantic states.

A CU Times analysis of NCUA data showed credit unions had 22,068 branches and other offices on Sept. 30, including 50 on overseas military bases. The count grew by 53 from June 30, which followed a gain of 31 from March to June.

The quarter continued the overall story of recovery since the pandemic era. Credit unions lost 448 offices (-2%) from December 2019 to December 2020 and since then have gained 502 (+2.3%).

The third quarter had the biggest three-month gain since credit unions added 55 offices from September to December 2024.

The counts and changes by Census region were:

  • The Midwest had 5,592 branches on Sept. 30, 29 (+0.5%) more than the previous quarter. It lost -96 (-1.7%) from December 2019 to December 2020 and since then has gained 106 (+1.9%).
  • The West had 4,875 branches on Sept. 30, 28 (+0.6%) more than the previous quarter. It lost 106 (-2.2%) from December 2019 to December 2020 and since then has gained 240 (+5.2%).
  • The South had 7,998 branches on Sept. 30, nine (+0.1%) more than the previous quarter. It lost 159 (-2%) from December 2019 to December 2020 and since then has gained 285 (+3.7%).
  • The Northeast region had 3,553 branches on Sept. 30, 13 (-0.4%) less than the previous quarter. It lost -87 (-2.3%) from December 2019 to December 2020 and since then has lost 128 (-3.5%).

Twelve of the 13 Northeast offices lost were in the Middle Atlantic states, including three in New York and eight in Pennsylvania, which tied with Nebraska for the most offices lost in the quarter.

The biggest gain for the quarter was from the Midwest state of Missouri. It had 369 branches on Sept. 30, 26 (+7.6%) more than the previous quarter. It lost five (-1.4%) from December 2019 to December 2020 and since then has gained 26 (+7.6%).

The other top five gains were also from the Midwest or West: Kansas (+7), Utah (+6), Illinois (+5) and Oregon (+5).

Meanwhile, Rize Federal Credit Union of Los Angeles ($1.2 billion in assets, 78,142 members) continued to add to the West’s count in the fourth quarter. It is holding a ribbon-cutting Wednesday for its new branch in Henderson, Nev., about 260 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the southern tip of Nevada.

“Our growth in southern Nevada reflects our commitment to increasing access to financial tools and education for every person in our community,” President/CEO Jennifer Oliver said. “At Rize, we believe financial empowerment changes lives. We’re excited to meet people where they are, provide resources that build confidence and help our community thrive.”

Space Coast Credit Union of Melbourne, Fla. ($8.9 billion in assets, 692,562 members) further expanded in the Orlando area with Monday’s opening of a branch in its Avalon Park community.

It opened its first branch in the Orlando area in October at Waterford Lakes and plans to open a third branch in 2027 in Lake Nona.

Space Coast’s news release said the Avalon branch expansion “supports SCCU’s existing and growing base of more than 20,000 members in Orlando while creating six new jobs in the area,” which is 70 miles northwest of Melbourne.

Space Coast had 68 branches on Sept. 30, one more than a year earlier.

In other branch news:

  • Consumers Credit Union of Kalamazoo, Mich. ($2.6 billion in assets, 151,033 members) began construction this month of a 1,200-square-foot branch in Douglas, Mich., 50 miles northwest of Kalamazoo on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. The branch at 312 South Ferry Street is expected to open in mid-2026. It had 33 branches on Sept. 30, four more than a year earlier.
  • Finanta Federal Credit Union of Lancaster, Pa. ($32.8 million in assets, 1,434 members) opened its first branch Dec. 5 in Philadelphia, 80 miles east of its Lancaster headquarters. The credit union and its sponsor, Finanta, an independent non-profit community loan fund, changed their names in November 2024 from Community First Fund Federal Credit Union and the Community First Fund.
  • USAlliance Federal Credit Union of Rye, N.Y. ($3.3 billion in assets, 190,669 members) reopened its Walmart of Napanoch Branch Dec. 5. Napanoch is 90 miles northwest of Rye, which is 30 miles northeast of Times Square in New York City. USAlliance had eight branches on Sept. 30, three fewer than a year earlier.
  • Gulf Winds Credit Union of Pensacola, Fla. ($1.2 billion in assets, 72,992 members) plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for a new headquarters in Pensacola, 60 miles east of Mobile, Ala.

Gulf Winds’ news release said the credit union plans to bring administrative teams together under one roof and create “a unified space that fosters collaboration and enhances the team’s ability to deliver personalized, efficient service to members.”

“Our new headquarters is not just a building; it is a strategic investment in our collective future,” President/CEO Daniel Souers said. “This modern workspace will empower us to expand member support, demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the community, and nurture partnerships that create lasting impact.”

Gulf Winds had 13 branches on Sept. 30, one fewer than a year earlier.

Contact Jim DuPlessis at JDuPlessis@cutimes.com.

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