KEMBA Financial Credit Union’s personnel growth & service enhancements remain strong & steady despite American economic woes
COLUMBUS, OH (September 14, 2020) — KEMBA Financial Credit Union, a $1.7 billion dollar credit union located in Columbus, Ohio, continues to grow and invest in the central Ohio communities it calls home despite an economy that continues to churn as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Likewise, KEMBA continues to hire and promote associates as well as implement service enhancements and associated branch lobby renovations in the face of an unstable job market and a reluctance by many to plan for the future right now.
“KEMBA is really fortunate to be in this position,” said Shernette Henry, VP of Human Resources. “Our 2020 growth plans have remained intact, and we continue to contribute to the Central Ohio economy with new and exciting career opportunities.”
Since March, 15 new associates have been hired, 12 were promoted and 18 transitioned into new roles. These positive numbers illustrate KEMBA’s commitment to the communities served, even during a worldwide pandemic.
Henry continued to say she is both proud and humbled that KEMBA is positioned to offer such opportunities. “We are intentional about workplace development,” she said. “As a leadership team, it is something we take seriously. We dedicate significant resources to providing learning and development opportunities for our associates. Their growth fuels our growth.”
Equally important, given the persistence of the pandemic, KEMBA continues to invest in technology by implementing innovative, safe, and convenient ways to better serve members. Beginning in late September, Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs) will be installed and introduced in the 10 branches across Central Ohio. This new banking tool, which was already in motion pre-COVID, offers members using the drive-thru a personal banking experience via video chat with a live teller while remaining conveniently in their vehicle. Think of the ITM as a Zoom or Facetime call with a teller. The ITMs have an added benefit of keeping both the member and the associate safely social-distanced during the transaction. Likewise, the units will be installed in branch lobbies down the road, enabling more efficient teller services.
“Since the pandemic began, we have seen an understandable decline in branch lobby traffic, making our drive-thru’s an even more popular alternative for our members,” said Amy Peterman, VP of Virtual and Member Experience. “We are confident that the ITMs will enhance the member experience, reduce wait times, and ultimately better meet their needs whether selecting to video chat with a teller in the drive thru or, once people are more comfortable visiting the lobbies, inside as well.”
Through the remainder of 2020, a number of tellers from the 10 existing branches will relocate to centralized locations where they will continue to provide the same services for members through interactive video. KEMBA expects to move the entire remaining teller staff to two centralized locations in 2021. As the ITM installation is completed and usage increases, KEMBA anticipates the need for centralized tellers to follow suit.
“Having a hand in the introduction of this emerging technology and service enhancement is an exciting opportunity for our teller team,” said Peterman. “They are looking forward to this new challenge.”
KEMBA Financial expects to maintain current growth models, including the addition of staff and resources to better serve its 113,000-plus members, including small businesses, through the remainder of 2020 and into 2021.
About KEMBA Financial Credit Union
KEMBA offers a full range of financial services to its members, including savings, checking, retirement, investment, home, student, and auto loans,
business loans and services, and more. Established in 1933, KEMBA Financial Credit Union is the largest Central Ohio-based credit union with 12 full-service retail branches, assets of more than $2.1 billion and in excess of 130,000 members, serving residents of Fairfield, Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Madison, Logan, and Union Counties. For more information, visit kemba.org.
