ST. JOSEPH, MI (October 23, 2013) -- United Federal Credit Union (UFCU) announces it is expanding its footprint in Berrien County. The Credit Union, which has provided financial products and services throughout the area for more than 60 years, is launching a multi-phase building project aimed at supporting its planned growth over the next five years. The first phase includes construction of a new, 20,000-square-foot Operations Center at 2100 S. 11th Street, Niles, Mich.
“This is an exciting time for United as we prepare for additional growth,” said President/CEO Gary Easterling. “While our corporate headquarters will remain in St. Joseph, our new Operations Center and the follow-on building projects that we are planning throughout Berrien County will help us expand our capabilities. Having several sizable work locations throughout the county will also help us attract talented employees that live throughout the Michiana area.”
UFCU settled on the Niles location for its new Operations Center, and its multi-phase approach to further expansion, after receiving and reviewing proposals for an expanded corporate headquarters facility that were received from more than 40 municipalities, developers and property owners. Easterling says that after reviewing the proposals, it became apparent that having several modular campuses - rather than a single, large headquarters building – was the best approach. “It will allow the Credit Union to remain flexible and to better adapt to changing market conditions as needed,” said Easterling.
As the multi-phase building plan progresses, it will create employee campuses at the site for the new Operations Center, as well as on State Street in St. Joseph. The Redmond Company of Waukesha, Wis., has been selected to manage the construction projects.
Phase one construction in Niles will begin December 2013 with an anticipated completion date of December 2014.
“In addition to our new Operations Center, we’ll continue to invest in southwest Michigan, even as we grow throughout the communities we serve across the U.S.,” said Easterling. “For example, United just opened a new, state-of-the-art employee training center here in St. Joseph. We repurposed an unused, former branch location and invested $750,000 to create the newly renovated educational facility, which held its first training class on September 9.”
Easterling also noted that UFCU’s existing corporate headquarters and branch facility located at 2807 South State Street in St. Joseph, Mich. will benefit from re-building and renovation investments of more than $3,000,000 planned for 2014. The existing branch will be replaced by a new building on the same property and the corporate headquarters will be expanded and improved to house UFCU’s growing workforce.
In addition to its nine branches in southwest Michigan, UFCU serves Members through locations in Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio.
About UFCU
United Federal Credit Union has served its Members since 1949 by helping them to build a sound financial future. UFCU consists of more than 120,000 Member/owners worldwide, and manages assets in excess of $1.57 billion. Its corporate offices and main branch are located in St. Joseph, Mich., with additional branches in Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio. UFCU has been named the Michigan Credit Union League Outstanding Credit Union of the Year 2013. UFCU has also been named the National Federal Credit Union of the Year 2013 by the National Association of Federal Credit Unions.