Blue, navy blue

by CU Soapbox

by. Ron Daly

I saw a story on today’s CU Watercooler titled “World’s Largest Credit Union is Getting Bigger“. It would seem that Navy Federal, the biggest dog in the credit union pack, is expanding its reach by another 60 branches nationwide.

From the article:

To keep up with growing membership, which has risen 25 percent since 2012, the credit union is opening 60 new branches across the country by 2016.

And:

This month, the credit union opened its first “technology concept branch” in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard, marking its 32nd area location.

Yowza. That’s a lot of branches, especially when you consider that many banks (and some CU’s) are closing branches by the dozen. I did a quick Google search for how many CU’s had closed in Q1 of 2014 but didn’t find much info. Banks closed 281 branches in Q1, roughing out to about three branches closed every day for three months.

Navy FCU is growing while other institutions are receding. They have the money, the members, and the momentum. I’m sure for a few CU’s out there, it might seem like this level of service and growth is unattainable. It might make you feel blue…Navy blue. As blue as you can be.

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