Facility Solutions: Branch opening check list

Opening a new branch can be complex. A lot is riding on the first impression made by this new location’s branded member and staff experience. At opening you want the branch to run flawlessly. This is particularly important if you are presenting a new business model and evolving the member and staff experience from traditional operations to new teller/member service kiosks or self-service and connection with remote service providers.

Many steps are required to ensure success when designing, constructing and opening a branch—enough to fill many pages of books and articles I have written over the years. This is the last management and oversight step in the pre-opening process and can vary significantly based on location, lease vs. own, size, jurisdiction, lines of business, type of cash delivery, level of technology, adjacency to headquarters, drive-thrus and other factors. But there are also some common elements in every opening. In response to a CUES member’s recent inquiry about a checklist to use for this process, I put together the following list.

Marketing

• Has your target market been informed about the new location? If you are relocating a branch, explain why you moved and the expected benefit to members?

 

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