Global Credit Union shuts its two offices in Tri-Cities

Headnote

Citing lack of growth...

Yoke's seeks bank, CU to fill branch vacancies

Spokane-based Global Credit Union has closed two Tri-Cities branches and a home loan center there.

The credit union shuttered in-store branches at the Pasco and Kennewick Yoke's Fresh Market supermarkets on Jan. 31.

Global Credit Union's 1,600 TriCities members may keep their accounts open and rely on mobile banking, online bill pay services and home banking in lieu of visiting a branch in person, says Mary Starkey, Global Credit Union's Spokane-based executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Starkey says the credit union hasn't seen any significant growth since it arrived in the market 15 years ago, and strategies to stimulate growth haven't panned out, which led to the decision to close the branches.

"We have to look at our whole branch system," she says, "How does everything contribute to the overall credit union for the...