Kinetic Credit Union to open 11th branch in Midland area

Kinetic Credit Union, with an eye on the growth in the Midland area of Columbus, is moving forward with a new branch in the Lakeside Village commercial area off the heavily trafficked U.S. Highway 80.

The Columbus-based credit union — formerly known as TIC Credit Union — said the new location is expected to open this fall in a portion of an existing retail building, with the branch facing Starbucks. The smaller than typical office will be using what the credit union calls a “micro concept” that includes a staff of three employees and three interactive teller machines, which allow customers to conduct transactions by two-way video.

“The ITMs are an innovative solution to our members’ changing needs,” Kinetic President and CEO Janet Davis said in a statement. “Members still want the option of a physical location, but are conducting more of their financial transactions online or with their smartphone. The ITM combines technology with personal touch that gives members the best of both.”

A city building permit shows Kinetic spending $220,000 to prepare the 1,518-square-foot branch for business at 6516 Kitten Lake Drive, with Pound Construction the contractor.

Davis called the Midland area a “growing area of our community,” with the new location catering not only to residents in and around the immediate area, but also those who live in Harris County and commute back and forth to Columbus. There has been a flourish of commercial activity in the area in recent years, with a Wal-Mart Supercenter and adjacent retail strip centers locating on nearby Gateway Road, the Woodruff Company developing the Lakeside Village apartments, restaurants and retail shops, and other offerings in and around the area.

The three Kinetic employees at the location will handle full service needs of customers, the credit union said, including opening accounts and taking out loans. The ITMs will have touch screens that let credit union members handle business with tellers at a remote location. For audio, customers will have options — an ITM handset, their own headset or ear buds, or simply talking into the built-in system.

The upcoming Midland branch will give Kinetic Credit Union 11 locations. That includes the three former MEA Credit Union branches it absorbed with a merger earlier this year that was completed this spring. As of the merger, the combined financial institutions had combined assets of more than $360 million and membership of 49,000.

Kinetic Credit Union dates to 1956 when it was founded as The Infantry Center Federal Credit Union to serve employees at Fort Benning. It has grown through the years, eventually opening its doors to the general public in surrounding counties — not just those connected to the military. The name was changed from TIC to Kinetic in 2014.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Kinetic Credit Union to open 11th branch in Midland area."