Design decisions for agile, member focused Community Savings
RATIO wrote this on Apr 12, 2016

Our concept for a small footprint (1400 sq. ft.) relocated community credit union branch in Port Coquitlam sets a precedent for agile, member focused branches, maximizing flexible meeting space in a warm and inviting setting. Through the economy of smaller individual branches, Community Savings has the potential to reach more members over a greater geography. The creation of intimate, member-dedicated spaces allows for more personal interactions in comfort and privacy. The impetus for this new space was to create a vibrant and supportive environment in keeping with Community Savings’ ethos of empowering people in the working community with advice that is in their best interest.

Empowering members to reach financial goals drives  design decisions for updated Community Savings branches.

           Community Savings Credit Union concept _3               Community Savings Credit Union concept 1

Anticipated Opening: Late Spring

About Community Savings

In 1944, a small group of people, with limited resources but unlimited faith, pooled their savings to form a credit union that would assist hardworking people with their financial dreams. Today, Community Savings Credit Union continues to rely on its founding principles of “people helping people”.

Community Savings Credit Union is not restricted to any one group of individuals. Societies, partnerships, companies, proprietorships, and trade unions can also become members of Community Savings Credit Union.

In recent years, Community Savings has been experiencing robust growth. As a co-operative financial institution, it is now BC’s 16th largest credit union with assets totaling over $454 million. In addition to the head office, the credit union has 6 branches located in Metro Vancouver and Victoria. There are now over 80 employees dedicated to serving members.

About RATIO and credit union branch design:

Our team has provided architectural, interior design and planning services to credit unions for over 50 years.  See our Distinctive Thinking piece on  how Credit Unions community branch design helps deliver on brand promise and high-value transactions. Recent and ongoing projects include: Island Savings Branch of the Future, award winning design on the downtown branch of Salmon Arm Savings & Credit Union, refresh of Greater Vancouver Community Credit Union’s brand and branch template, integrated consulting on all Vancity branches and the  forward-thinking branch concept  for First West Credit Union through their Envision Financial brand.

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