Now a reality, this credit union’s branch design concepts are meeting organizational and community engagement objectives. See how our design concepts have come to life.

Before location and branch design decisions are made take a step back and look at where you want to be in five or 10 years. Because the decisions you’re making now have a massive effect on what your credit union is able to do in the future.

A thorough and collaborative approach ensures the new Vancity Chinatown Community branch would serve the neighbourhood’s diverse and robust community now and in the years to come. As prime consultant, our RATIO team was responsible for the planning and design of this tenant improvement project.  The interior design embraces natural light and circular shapes acknowledged in both Indigenous cultures and Feng Shui principals.

It wasn’t organizational challenges that drove Aldergrove Credit Union  (ACU) to embark on a new branch design; it was opportunity.  As a new branch in a new building in a new community, an opportunity arose for RATIO to integrate corporate goals into the branch design.

Vancity has taken steps to remove barriers and improve accessibility for the hundreds of employees and members who enter their branches daily. Vancity branches in Burnaby Heights and Vancity Centre have received the Accessibility Certified Gold rating under the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program.

RATIO principal, Chris Pollard was interviewed for Enterprise Magazine, published by the Canadian Credit Union Association for his thoughts on future-proofing credit union branch design. Credit Unions are adapting their branches to address usage shifts as a result of technology; now and for the future. Chris shares thoughts on scalability, member insights and community profiling.

Recently released,  a global branch design report features 25 case studies from around the world including RATIO’s work for Island Savings. Published by a banking intelligence provider, Lafferty Group, the report is titled Digital Branch Design: Presence, Openness and Intimacy. Read on for a look at the published case study and more about the report.

Today, October 19 is International Credit Union day. This is a shout out to the credit unions in our communities for their ongoing service pledge to their members and communities. The RATIO team has been privileged to work with credit unions for over 50 years.

For us, the Branch of the Future is more than just a change in decor. It is our understanding of the business, how to serve customers better, how to integrate technology in-branch in a customer-friendly way, and how to create high-value transactions that allows us to create a path to the Branch of the Future.

Retail banking design decisions must meet the challenges financial service organizations face to align new or revamped branches with brand, values, service and trust. See our list of 18 design trends for financial service retail branches……

New direction, new images of community-focused credit union branch for Community Savings. Our concept for a 1400 sq ft community credit union branch delivers intimate, member-dedicated spaces allowing for more personal interactions in comfort and privacy.

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

RATIO’s credit union clients, Island Savings and Salmon Arm Savings & Credit Union were 2 of the featured banking branch design concepts in the Financial Brand’s international photo showcase.

The only credit union on the 2015 LEED Platinum certification list, Vancity’s Mount Tolmie Community Branch delivers a high-performance green interior that is a healthy, productive place to work with a reduced environmental footprint. RATIO acted as the prime consultant and was responsible for the planning and design of the of the 5000 square foot Mount Tolmie Community Branch space that resulted in a LEED Platinum for Commercial Interiors rating.

Our name is grounded in the importance of relations and relationships in our work. Between a building and its environment. Between citizens and structures. Between our firm and our clients. How do we live and breathe the RATIO story? On every project we bring distinctive thinking, rigorous creativity, and a progressive approach. Here are four stories from 2015 we are proud to share.

Congratulations to Vancity for their first LEED Platinum for Commercial Interiors for their Mount Tolmie community branch in Victoria on Vancouver Island. RATIO acted as the prime consultant and was responsible for the planning and design of the of the 5000 square foot space. This project was another opportunity for Vancity to build a healthy, productive, community-minded space with a reduced environmental footprint. We are our proud that our work on Vancity’s Mount Tolmie branch resulted in a LEED Platinum for Commercial Interiors rating.

There is disruption occurring in banking, specifically around retail branch design and technology. The branch of the future is both high tech and high touch. A recent story in the Globe and Mail gives great examples of what is happening in the Big 5 banks that have become more technologically savvy with more services online, but still delivering high value personal services in branch. Branches that now offer a different personality than one may have found in recent past. Think open, transparent and welcoming with fewer counters and smaller spaces. Here in BC, where credit unions are a significant part of the financial services landscape and our communities, RATIO has seen an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit evident in branch design and service delivery.

A forward-thinking credit union branch design helps First West achieve enviable financial performance. In June of 2014, the first of the Ratio designed Envision Financial branch concept opened in Chilliwack , BC at Garrison Crossing. With a visionary operational model, First West Credit Union’s investment into a future-focused branch network for their Envision Financial brand paid off with more new members and positive revenue results.

The new Valley First Vernon Branch is the first of a network-wide design solution by RATIO featuring open, engaging branch spaces that promote staff interaction and personal service. Although part of the 40-plus First West Credit Union family, Valley First has a strong local brand and is a vital member of the Okanagan, Similkameen and Thompson communities. Branch members have a powerful connection to staff and the strength of this relationship is the framework for the branch network design. Our design solution features open, engaging branch spaces that promote staff interaction and personal service. The design platform also introduces subtle aesthetic cues through materials and finishes to acknowledge regional geographic and local demographic differences.

Recently, Business in Vancouver published a story related to the changes that have occurred with BC’s Credit Unions. The dichotomy of growing membership but fewer credit union brands is interesting and presents a challenge. The trend towards mergers in the sector means there are now fewer than 40 credit union brands compared to 1996 when there were around 100. Credit Unions are about community, people and relationships. So, how do Credit Unions keep brand consistency across credit union branches and communities? How does Credit Union branch design support those brand characteristics that set it apart from competitors and deliver on the promise of community support?

Recently RATIO was asked by The Financial Brand for perspective on when a financial institution should rebrand. Having worked with some of Canada’s leading credit unions on rebrand strategies where the built environment is integral, RATIO has unique experience to share. The ‘when to rebrand’ question and perspectives offered up in the article are relevant for all businesses — not just FIs — who want to be competitive in their marketplace.

RATIO designed Salmon Arm Saving & Credit Union uptown branch was recently awarded ‘Best Retail’ in the sixth annual Southern Interior Construction Association Commercial Building Awards. In the spring of 2014, RATIO was awarded two 2014 BC Wood Design Awards in for this project: the Commercial Wood Design award; and RATIO principal Mike Mammone was honoured with the Architect Award.

The Credit Union Journal’s Special Report on The ‘branch of the future’ highlights the necessity that credit union branch design must incorporate both high tech and high touch. To illustrate the point, the reporter spoke to Island Savings Credit Union COO, Randy Bertsch and Christopher Pollard, principal, RATIO who described some of the thought behind the Island Savings “branch of the future” concept.

Island Savings Chemainus branch recently opened in the new Chemainus Village Square. RATIO led the corporate wide reimagination which included a branch design concept and implementation strategy. The Chemainus location ‘branch of the future’ is the 5th in the concept rollout. Even though Chemainus is the smallest branch in system, the 25’ high ceilings, full height exterior glazing and open plan make the space feel larger than it is; modern and welcoming. RATIO leveraged Island Savings new brand identity by using the already-iconic “sand dollar” motif as the basis for a 16’ x by 47’ 3D mural. The mural runs the width of the branch, acting as a unifying element that ties together all member facing branch components including entry, atm vestibule, greeter, members lounge, and teller wickets within the open plan.

Envision Financial, under the umbrella of First West Credit Union has opened the door to a new way of banking. It also introduces a fresh, cohesive design concept for the merged credit union network under First West. Their newest branch, at Garrison Crossing in Chilliwack, introduces this new member experience. During the design and planning process RATIO and the First West team re-imagined the credit union from the perspective of its true definition: a cooperative organisation of individuals for a common purpose; and as a key community stakeholder. Design decisions were made based on the client’s very successful brand drivers.

Canada’s Green 30 list identifies companies that integrate sustainability programs into their workplace culture. This  collection of Canadian businesses whose employees, according to consulting firm Aon Hewitt, are most positive about their record of environmental stewardship.  More about the Green 30 can be found in Maclean’s. This year’s list included Island Savings and Vancity.  We… Read more »