YORKVILLE — Construction workers have finished a remodeling project at the Yorkville branch office of Rome–based AmeriCU Credit Union. Plans for the project started in late 2017, and crews started working on the initiative at 4957 Commercial Drive earlier this year, says Nicholas Cray, VP of member relations and marketing, who spoke with CNYBJ on […]
YORKVILLE — Construction workers have finished a remodeling project at the Yorkville branch office of Rome–based AmeriCU Credit Union.
Plans for the project started in late 2017, and crews started working on the initiative at 4957 Commercial Drive earlier this year, says Nicholas Cray, VP of member relations and marketing, who spoke with CNYBJ on Oct. 22.
“We began in earnest in June and [continued] through the early part of September … We were able to remain open during that time,” he notes. AmeriCU didn’t provide a project cost total.
Rin-Buhr Construction Corporation of Utica was the general contractor for the project, says Cray.
AmeriCU opened its Yorkville location in 1999, and “it was due” for some improvement work. It was “still completely functional, but not as modern as we’d prefer. That precipitated the project,” says Cray.
He described the remodeling effort as “fairly extensive,” noting that involved removing cubicles, putting in new offices, and adding new paint and wallpaper. “Really just a complete facelift,” he says.
Cray also notes that AmeriCU members visiting the branch will see that the credit union has replaced all print posters with digital screens following the project.
The Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 17 held a formal opening to acknowledge the remodeling project.
“This remodel has brought a new look and feel to our Financial Center after being here for almost 20 years,” Ellen Traub, manager of the Commercial Drive financial center, said in the chamber’s news release. “The new offices allow us to offer our members a more professional, private experience and our waiting area is much more open and inviting.”
The Yorkville branch has 26 employees, says Cray.
AmeriCU refers to its branches as “financial centers.” When asked about why they’re described as such, Cray says the branches offer a “wide variety of other services.”
“Through some subsidiaries, we offer insurance, investment, retirement planning, capital management … those types of things that are not traditionally associated with a bank branch,” he explains.
The nonprofit AmeriCU has more than 130,000 members and nearly $1.5 billion in assets. It operates 19 full-service financial centers in Central and Northern New York.