Credit union to build new branch

Greg Newsom, manager of United Credit Union's Fulton branch, and CEO/president Brent Sadler, announced a new branch will be constructed this summer.
Greg Newsom, manager of United Credit Union's Fulton branch, and CEO/president Brent Sadler, announced a new branch will be constructed this summer.

The story of United Credit Union's growth in Fulton is just getting started.

On Monday, officials announced they will build an expanded facility this summer, still on the south side of Fulton.

"We're purchasing a new piece of property and putting up a new building," Manager Greg Newsom said. "It will have more parking, easier access for members and more drive-thru lanes. We need to do this to accommodate our members."

The space was most recently part of the Fulton Ford dealership, just to the north between the new dealership and A-1 Rentals.

United Credit Union originally opened in 1935 in Mexico, starting as Greenco Credit Union.

"It served AP Green employees," Newsom said. "In 1983, we changed the by-laws to be able to serve the surrounding counties and people who live and work in any of those counties."

United Credit Union is now in 16 counties, serving everyone. The Fulton branch also offers extra educational seminars, such as tonight's car buying seminar at 6 p.m.

The first Fulton branch opened in 2007 in a shopping center behind Wendy's.

"It was off the road a little bit," Newsom said. "Fulton didn't have a credit union before."

The concept was hard for some people to understand, CEO/president Brent Sadler said.

"We call our people members; we pay our members back," he said. "We gave $292,000 back to members this last year. We are one of the highest performing credit unions in the state right now."

People can enjoy full-service banking - but by paying $1 to "buy" a share, they "own" their credit union.

"We're still federally insured," Newsom added. "We're owned by the members instead of shareholders. One share/one vote."

All members are invited to an annual meeting which is coming up at 6 p.m. May 2 at the 4-H Center in Mexico.

"I want people to really understand a credit union is a not-for-profit cooperative, and anyone can come and join," Newsom said.

The credit union purchased its current site (1222 S. Business 54, Fulton) and moved in the summer of 2012. But the parking lot and drive-thru banking stations are awkward.

"This used to be an old Hallmark store," Sadler said. "We redid the inside. We don't have the parking lot space and the flow is wrong. The drive-thru is getting backed up. This will accommodate future growth."

For the new Fulton branch, Glove Con of Fulton will be the contractor. There will be a ground-breaking ceremony at 8 a.m. May 3 at the new site.

"We should be open the last quarter of this year," Sadler added.

At that point, the current location will be available for other uses, and perhaps sold.