Your Neighborhood Credit Union is moving its Stratford branch from the Festival Marketplace to a brand new building currently under construction on Huron Street.
Your Neighborhood Credit Union is moving its Stratford branch from the Festival Marketplace to a brand new building currently under construction on Huron Street.
The new location in Stratford’s growing west end will offer roughly 3,000 members more flexible hours, parking, and accessibility when the “state-of-the-art” building opens its doors this autumn, the credit union said this week.
“Our membership is growing,” Andriana Akins, the local branch’s assistant manager of member services, added Friday. “Banking is changing and generations are shifting, too. We’re keeping up to make sure we provide our members with the best service possible.”
Although it’s true the pandemic has pushed many services online, financial advice is one thing members seem to prefer accessing in person, said Archie Bonifacio, the credit union’s chief member experience officer.
“When it comes to advice, what we’re finding is people would rather either have a face-to-face meeting or some sort of hybrid meeting,” he said. “Having convenient conversations digitally but still getting that advice. either by a phone call or a nice (in-person) meeting, that’s what people are looking for.”
That’s especially true in Stratford, Akins said.
“We are a busy location. We have many members that use in-person services. It’s about more than just one style because we serve a wide range of (people).”
New technology at the branch will improve lobby management and the teller lineup experience.
“Those are just a couple of examples that we’re thinking (about),” Bonifacio said. “What we learned about the pandemic is people want as much flexibility and accessibility as possible, so we want to ensure we have the ability to allow people into our offices when they need to see us and when it’s convenient for them.”
The branch’s current location will stay open until the new building is complete. It’s one of 17 YNCU locations in Southwestern and northern Ontario.
The credit union serves about 53,000 members across the province.