LEWISTON, Idaho—Potlatch No. 1 Financial Credit Union has announced plans to open eight new branches over the next 14 months.
The CU plans to open facilities in the Idaho markets of Genesee, Osburn, in between the town of Kellogg and Wallace, and Athol, and in the Washington cities of Cle Elum, Tonasket, Walla Walla, Brewster and College Place, President/CEO Chris Loseth said during the credit union’s annual meeting, according to the Lewiston Tribune.
“We’re going to towns where they need credit union service,” Loseth was quoted as telling the meeting.
The expansion is coming one year after credit union members approved going from a federal to a state charter and an expanded field of membership that includes all of Washington and certain parts of eastern Oregon, as well as Payette, Gem, Washington and Adams counties in the southern end of its Idaho footprint.
The total market area includes 7.98-million people.
“The growth is part of a strategy to prevent the Lewiston-based credit union from being overtaken by bigger credit unions or banks by offering members competitive rates for services such as loans, Loseth said, according to the Tribune.