BATTLE CREEK, MI (October 10, 2023) — United Federal Credit Union (UFCU) will open their first full-service branch in the Battle Creek market in early 2024. The new location will be in The Milton, located in the heart of Battle Creek’s downtown business district. The state-of-the-art branch will occupy 2,900 square feet of space and house seven full-time staff, including tellers, mortgage loan officers, and commercial lenders.
Construction on UFCU’s new branch in The Milton will begin in late fall, with the opening expected in the first half of 2024. The Milton opened in 1931 as the home of Old Merchants National Bank & Trust Company. After being vacant for more than 10 years, the building underwent a $38 million renovation and reopened in 2020. Today, 19-story building is home to 85 apartments and 32,000 square feet of commercial space along Michigan Avenue.
United Federal President & CEO Terry O’Rourke said, “Our growth and expansion into the Battle Creek community is a testament to United’s commitment and dedication to helping more people in this growing area. We are ready to work with our new Members and local businesses to achieve their financial goals through outstanding products and services, as well as with our team of experts who take the complexity out of banking.”
Joe Sobieralski, President & CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) stated, “We are extremely excited to welcome such a strong and strategic financial partner to Battle Creek. United Federal Credit Union has demonstrated time and time again their willingness to help BCU continue its redevelopment efforts. We are thankful for their investment in downtown and their desire to partner with the Battle Creek community.”
“Our strength comes from knowing our Members better than anyone and from rolling up our sleeves with community partners like Battle Creek Unlimited to make the biggest impact possible for all.” said O’Rourke.
In recent years, UFCU has taken on the role of senior lender on several major community development projects in Battle Creek, totaling approximately $25 Million in commercial loans. These projects include the renovation of the DoubleTree Hotel (the former McCamly Hotel), Restore (269)’s redevelopment of the Anson Hotel, and the refinancing of The Milton. Along the way, UFCU has also partnered with local financial institutions like Kellogg Community Credit Union and Blue Ox to bring these projects to fruition.
UFCU was founded in 1949 in St. Joseph, Michigan. The organization has grown from a cash box in a personnel office to 35 branches in Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio with $3.9 billion in assets. UFCU has over 186,000 members and more than 900 employer partners. For the past 25 years, UFCU has maintained a 5-star rating from Bauer Financial, one the country’s premier financial ratings services.
In addition to its strong financials, UFCU is focused on giving back to the communities it serves. On top of the paid time off every employee of UFCU is provided to volunteer in their communities, the credit union invests more than $600,000 annually through community donations and sponsorships.
Established in 1972, Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as the economic development arm for the City of Battle Creek and manages the Fort Custer Industrial Park. The Fort Custer Industrial Park is home to over 80 businesses, including 25 international companies, and employs over 13,000 people. BCU’s mission is to build a strong community by driving strategic investment and job creation. Visit BCUnlimited.org for more info.
Joe Sobieralski
President & CEO
Battle Creek Unlimited
269-962-7526
sobieralski@bcunlimited.org
