Educators Credit Union – Oak Creek

Branding in the Oak Creek Branch is elevated and integrated throughout the building from the materials to the curvatures of the building. Their iconic red and flower logo is highlighted against the warm and neutral material palette making customers feel immersed in essence of the credit union. Within the entrance vestibule, the flower is a focal point as it is elegantly backlit providing a serene and upscale banking environment. The building shape also calls back to the Union’s branding where the curvature of the building echoes to the curves in the logo. This branch is holistically an Educators Credit Union but elevated from the entrance to the bathrooms.

On a functional level, the Oak Creek Branch re-envisioned the nature of banking and its future. It is designed to be flexible and react in time to global pandemics. One programmatic element is the credit union’s ability to “shut down” in face of a changes in public health. The welcoming vestibule can be partitioned from the main lobby to still allow customers to access the Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs) even when the branch is closed. Touchless features were also integrated throughout the space that allows patrons and employees to be more hands-free.

What is unique about this branch is that there are no teller lines or pods as they rely solely on ITMs for typical banking transactions. The space within the credit union is dedicated for more complex transactions such as mortgages and loans. Another unique feature is the drive thru that is disconnected from the building. The site of the branch is constrained and relocating the drive thru apart from the building allowed for greater flexibility on the site.

The new Educators Credit Union Oak Creek Branch pushes the envelope on touchless technology, the nature of banking, and the future Educators Credit Union buildings. The Oak Creek Branch is a striking new prototype of banking.