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Conexus to close branch but will pay for seniors transport

Oct 19, 2017 | 11:59 AM

The city centre branch of the Conexus Credit Union will close at month’s end and merge with their branch at the south end of town.

That will be an inconvenience for many local customers, especially seniors living within a walk of the branch, but the company said they’ve come up with a plan to help.

In explaining the closure, Conexus said customer needs have changed over the years with far more transactions happening via digital platforms or phone these days.

“We know from our stats that 10 years ago maybe 25 per cent of our member’s transactions were happening in a branch,” Jacques DeCorby with Conexus told paNOW. “Now that figure averages slightly over ten per cent and we have some locations where that figure is six or seven per cent.”

DeCorby said the credit union had informed members of the move starting in late June and the decision was taken to “be more responsible with our member’s money by merging the teams and the locations together.”

The south hill branch offers walk-in services for consultation, investments and borrowing. The eleven staff at the city centre branch will be transferred to the consolidated location.

However, recognising there are many senior customers living in the four high-rises near the city centre, branch DeCorby said they reached out to P.A. Community Services in the summer. The credit union will cover the special vehicle transport cost of any senior customer in those residences who needs a ride to the other branch.

“When they call the dispatch, if they identify themselves as a Conexus member and they need a ride to the south hill branch, the ride will be on us,” DeCorby said.

Bill Powalinsky with the P.A. and District Community Service Centre said Conexus was being good corporate citizens.

“Those seniors who could walk to the city centre branch are kind of stuck so it shows good community connection on their part,” Powalinsky said.

The organization happens to have expanded their car program for seniors recently so Powalinsky figured they’re in a good position to accommodate the extra demand once the credit union branch closes. He’s encouraging anyone who needs the special service to book a few days in advance to get the time slot they want.

“I’m really quite impressed with the way the credit union has approached this whole issue, and we’re more than happy to be part of the solution.”

 

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow