Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU) hosted a community event in southwest Fresno recently to celebrate the opening of its newest ATM located at 1245 C Street in Fresno, CA 93706.
Credit union staff and community leaders gathered to celebrate the opening of the only full-service credit union ATM in the southwest Fresno 93706 zip code – a much-needed and welcomed service to the area.
An official ribbon cutting took place after speakers addressed those in attendance. Event speakers included Pastor DJ Criner, Fresno Police Department Deputy Chief Michael Landon, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher, and Fresno County Board of Supervisors District 1 Supervisor Brian Pacheco. In addition, many local community leaders and the representatives of several elected officials joined the event in support of the effort.
EECU’s President/CEO Elizabeth J. Dooley shared that the credit union has deep roots in southwest Fresno and is thrilled that EECU was able to work with such amazing local leaders and community partners for the project – making it possible to open a new ATM that is accessible to those who work, live, shop or frequent the area.
“Our full-service ATM will make financial services more accessible to people who live and work in the West Fresno area and serves to create a more inclusive financial future for all,” Dooley said.
Since its first date of service on May 16, the new southwest Fresno ATM has had an impressive number of transactions – more than four thousand – demonstrating the acute need of services in the area.
DJ Criner, senior pastor at Saint Rest Baptist Church and adjunct professor at Fresno Pacific University, worked closely with EECU to select the right location for the new ATM and spoke with enthusiasm and appreciation of the greater access to banking services provided by the ATM.
“Southwest Fresno historically is disenfranchised. It is a community that has been forgotten and left behind, not just with the city but with our state,” Pastor Criner said. “What EECU has done is they have come in to invest and to say that the soil in southwest is not contaminated, it’s actually fertile. You just have to have someone that believes in the soil, and we believe EECU has reminded us that this soil is not contaminated.”
Providing convenient access to financial services has been an ongoing effort for EECU. The credit union shared that it now has a mobile branch, which was featured at this morning’s event. The mobile branch will travel to various locations, bringing banking services directly to people across local urban and rural areas.
“Our mobile branch will travel to areas the credit union serves where we don’t have a physical branch office. It will provide the same services as a traditional branch office and even has an ATM,” Dooley said.
By attending the event, elected officials, EECU staff, local leaders and nearby residents didn’t just celebrate the opening of the credit union’s newest ATM, they also came together to celebrate the southwest Fresno community, its successful outcomes, partnership projects, businesses and residents.
EECU President/CEO Elizabeth J. Dooley (holding scissors) and guests attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the credit union’s new ATM in West Fresno.