During an impromptu tour of the new Riverways Federal Credit Union building on Scenic Rivers Boulevard, the term “state of the art” came up often in conversation.
The approximately 3,000 square foot building between Walmart and Dollar Tree is scheduled to open April 13, and credit union members will find not only the familiar staff, but options for modern banking and a building to fit their needs, according to Riverways branch manager Chris Holliday and chief executive officer Scott Shults, who were at the building Friday checking on progress and making last-minute decisions that go along with expansion.
“We are growing as a credit union, and you see that growth evident in this building,” Holliday said.
As he walked through the facility, he detailed not only the results of RFCU growth, but some of the improvements available because of that growth.
Walk into the lobby and you will see an open floor plan, with the main lobby flanked with four offices that include sliding glass doors for privacy. LED lighting is used throughout, and that lighting changes automatically as the natural light changes. There are plenty of windows offering available light.
A generator is contained in one of the back rooms and powers the building within 10 seconds of the loss of power. The drive-through lanes – “state of the art” Holliday says – can handle most any banking need and “are the most innovative drive-throughs available and a big investment for our credit union.”
He says the drive-through lanes will be available to speak with Riverways personnel about banking needs 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
“We want to be able to provide services when our members need services and talk to someone when they need to talk to someone, and that is often outside of normal business hours,” Holliday said.
There are of course other office spaces, a lounge area for customers, restrooms and storage.
Holliday and Shults also talked a lot about a room that will take advantage of technology in order for customers to connect with Riverways staff who are working remotely or in another credit union facility.
“Our member will be able to interface with any Riverways’ personnel, wherever they are ,” Holliday said. “It might be a loan officer, someone processing a loan, management…We can make that convenient and happen through technology.”
Holliday said every new Riverways facility construction job that was bid on by a local contractor was awarded to a local contractor, and that was the goal from the outset.
The acreage Riverways purchased is large enough to construct another building on, and Holliday says the credit union is already working with multiple businesses that are considering locating in that proposed facility.
Drive-through lanes at Riverways’ facility on Highway 19 will remain open, though the lobby will be closed when the new facility opens, Holliday said. The Highway 19 lobby will be closed April 12 while personnel are moving to the new facility, which opens April 13.
Riverways Federal Credit Union opened the current Salem location March 2, 2015. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Sept. 30, 2020, to launch construction of its new Salem location.
“Because of the tremendous community support and growth in membership, we have made the decision to further invest in Salem,” Shults said during the groundbreaking. “This new location is a commitment to the community and the members which Riverways serves. It will feature a larger parking area, more spacious lobby and the best drive-through hours available. All of these features are centered around our promise to provide the most convenient banking services to our area.”
Riverways also has locations in Rolla and Cuba. In addition, RFCU is part of a co-op network of credit unions and gives members free access to over 30,000 ATMs and 2,000 branches across the nation.
