Use the text below in letter or article to members announcing the addition of shared branching to your credit union. The letter can be from your CEO, Operations Manager or other appropriate personnel.

President/CEO Article

Credit unions have lots of advantages over other financial institutions: price advantages, a reputation for superior customer service and the ability to cooperate are just a few. But credit unions, unlike other financial institutions, can only conduct business with members within their “field of membership.” When a credit union wishes to locate a branch office to service its membership, it can only select from an area where there are enough of their own members to justify and support the facility. This is a limitation for many credit unions. Because of this requirement, many members are underserved, since they don’t live or work in an area with a sufficient number of fellow members to justify a branch office.

Recognizing this, <Credit Union Name> and many other leading credit unions across the country have joined to better serve their members through CO-OP Shared Branching, a member-friendly financial network of shared facilities where members of participating credit unions may conduct business at common locations. The CO-OP Shared Branching network of shared facilities provides you instant access to your account at thousand of locations worldwide.

You can walk into any CO-OP Shared Branch and make a deposit, withdrawal, transfer, or loan payment. Simply bring your photo ID and your credit union account number and you can perform nearly any transaction just like at your home credit union branch.

It’s that easy, whether you’re across town, traveling outofstate on business or vacation, or even moving or retiring to another state. Now you can keep in touch with your own credit union at a place where you can get information and answers to questions from real people.

And while CO-OP Shared Branching already represents a network that is rivaled by only the largest national banks, the number of locations is still growing. To find a location near you simply visit www.co-opsharedbranch.org or find a branch by phone at 1-888-748-3266. In the meantime, if there’s anything else we can do to be of service, call or come by the credit union. At <Credit Union Name>, we’re proud of the role we’re taking to bring you the ultimate in financial service convenience.


Additional art / link elements

Links:

Find a Shared Branch:
www.co-opsharedbranch.org

“Find Branch” iPhone App (iTunes link):
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-branch/id357607352?mt=8

CO-OP Shared Branch Logo:
Download the new CO-OP Shared Branch Logo

Video:
How to Use a Shared Branch

Locate a Shared Branch by phone:
888-748-3266

NOTE: Review your copy – be sure to edit and change [Credit Union Name] to your credit union name.