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 Photo: National Credit Union Administration Chairman Dennis Dollar (center) recently toured the Credit Union Service Company of Virginia’s latest service center facility in Yorktown/Newport News.
A cooperative effort of 50 Virginia-based credit unions, the shared facility offers a host of high-tech convenience features to improve service to credit union members. Also pictured (from left): Rick Pillow, president of the Virginia Credit Union League; Greg Manweiler, of Langley Federal Credit Union and chairman of the Credit Union Service Company of Virginia; Chairman Dollar; George Dudley, CEO of Newport News Shipbuilding Employees Credit Union and a CUSCVA board member, and National Credit Union Administration Special Counsel Kirk Cuevas.
 Thousands of credit union members in eastern Virginia are flocking to a new credit union service center that melds the best in personal service with the latest in technology. Members have the option of face-to-face interaction with a member services representative, the convenience of drive-thru lanes that feature "personal" interaction via video screen, or they can speak to a service center representative through one of the video-enabled kiosks.
The Credit Union Service Company of Virginia, LLC officially opened its state-of-the-art Newport News facility Nov. 14 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour for National Credit Union Administration Chairman Dennis Dollar.
The new service center is the result of a cooperative effort between the 50 Virginia-based credit unions that comprise the Credit Union Service Company of Virginia, LLC (CUSCVA). The company was formed 10 years ago to address credit unions' need for additional physical branches. The new facility is the first shared branch constructed and owned by the service company. Its other eight shared facilities are leased.
"The strength of this cooperative endeavor is highly commendable," said NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar. "Shared service centers, like this one, demonstrate quality member service. I applaud Virginia's credit unions for their vision and cooperative spirit."
Located at 1600 George Washington Memorial Highway (Highway 17), the new 3,200 square foot facility will primarily serve the members of the following area credit unions: 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union, Fort Monroe Credit Union, Hampton Roads Educators' Credit Union, Langley Federal Credit Union, Newport News Municipal Employees Credit Union, Newport News Shipbuilding Employees Credit Union, Virginia Credit Union, and Virginia Educators' Credit Union. Members of the national shared branching network will also use the service center.
"We have now been in the business of sharing credit union branches for more than 10 years. This new Yorktown/Newport News facility supports our long-term commitment to serving credit union members throughout the Virginia peninsula, as well as the rest of the Commonwealth," said Langley Federal Credit Union's Greg Manweiler, board chairman of CUSCVA.
"For all the recent technological leaps we've made in financial services, many credit union members equate convenience and accessibility with personal service branches. This new branch will allow us to provide better and more efficient service to an estimated 35,000 credit union members," he added.
Michael Culbertson, president of the national Credit Union Service Corporation, called the new branch a showpiece for the entire network, which now boasts more than 1,000 participating credit unions and is comprised of 775 shared branch facilities, including Virginia’s nine locations.
Virginia continues to be a pacesetter in shared branching, said Culbertson. This facility is yet another demonstration of the success Virginia has enjoyed, with a number of the state's shared facilities consistently ranking among the most active in our network.
Joan Lipple, who manages the service center branch, said members enjoy the new facility’s blend of high-tech and high-touch.
From a convenience and service standpoint, members love this branch,” said Lipple. I think we offer the best of both worlds when it comes to personal interaction and the use of technology. We use both very well to accomplish our mission of service to credit union members.
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