Westoba Credit Union closing downtown Brandon branch
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/06/2017 (3241 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Westoba Credit Union is closing its downtown Brandon branch at 10th Street and Princess Avenue by November.
The neighbouring corporate office building will remain open, CEO Jim Rediger confirmed on Friday.
Rediger said between eight and 12 people working out of the downtown branch would be absorbed by the other three Westoba branches in the city and that the balance of those working at the space would shift next door to the corporate office building.
In a Westoba release, it’s noted that the end result of these changes would be the elimination of between seven and nine full-time positions, with some achieved through attrition.
The decision to close a branch came as the result of a changing business climate with a greater reliance on technology, Rediger said, adding that the downtown location was chosen because it carries the greatest cost savings with the least impact to members.
“We are becoming a more nimble financial institution, and for us that means being more adaptable to the changing needs of our members and doing business the way they want,” he said.
“People want access to their accounts when they want and where they please, and over the last couple years we’ve done some member surveys and they have indicated to us that they want online and alternative services.”
By selling the downtown branch location, Westoba will be able to afford a greater investment in technology to allow greater online flexibility for members, such as the ability for them to take a picture of a cheque with their phones and have it automatically deposit into their account.
Westoba also hopes to introduce Interac Flash, a contactless debit card process that allows people to “tap and go.”
Renaissance Brandon executive director Elisabeth Saftiuk said that while it’s always disappointing to see someone leave a location in the city’s historic downtown core, there’s a silver lining to this decision.
Where the branch employed about a dozen people, about 80 people work out of the neighbouring corporate office, which Westoba is retaining.
As for the branch itself, she said the 16,000-square-foot building carries “tremendous potential.”
Zoned as mixed use, she said that the property allows lots of flexibility for prospective owners.
Beginning in downtown Brandon, Westoba Credit Union started up 54 years ago and currently serves about 38,000 clients at 17 branches throughout Manitoba, the majority of which are in Westman.
» tclarke@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB