Beyond bricks and mortar: Granite Credit Union’s mobile branch delivers banking where it’s needed

Rebecca Olds 
Salt Lake Business Journal 

Granite Credit Union’s mobile branch has been on the road for a year, following an increasingly growing trend of vans that go to customers to serve their financial needs. 

It is currently the only one on active duty in the state. U.S. Bank and Chase Bank also offer mobile services in the case of disaster recovery, but aren’t normally on the road. 

Spencer Carver, Granite Credit Union’s marketing director, said to “think of an RV, but it’s a branch on wheels.”

In the past year, this mobile branch has become a part of the credit union’s strategic plan and vision moving forward, but it started as a way to reach out to “serve the underserved.”

“By bringing personalized financial service directly to our members, we’re removing barriers and meeting people where they are — whether that’s at a community event, a high school football game, or a rural area without nearby branch access,” said Mark Young, president of Granite Credit Union. “It’s allowed us to connect in ways that traditional banking simply can’t, reinforcing what it means to be part of a truly member-focused credit union.”

Granite Credit Union currently has 12 open locations and services 10 counties, even where they might not have a permanent branch.

“The mobile branch has been quite an innovative way for us to grow and to reach out to our members,” Carver said. “It shows that even when costs are high — the costs of building a branch are incredibly high — we’re still adapting to try to find ways to meet the needs of our members, where they are.”

The whole look and feel of the mobile truck is meant to pique customers’ curiosity and act as a lead generator, while still providing a welcoming environment.

It will be at every site of future, traditional brick-and-mortar branches to “prepare the runway” and give the credit union a base of members in the area. More than that, it can be seen at different events to help out when needed.

“Anything that you can do inside of one of our regular branch locations, you can do here,” Carver said. “You can do cash transactions, apply for loans, open accounts, so any kind of business that you would normally do inside a branch.”

The truck is staffed with two workers, and security is similar to a permanent location, Carver said.

Even though the credit union offers mobile and online banking services, Carver said that the in-person experience is still valuable.

“Most members will still do business, despite all the advancements in technology, in a physical location, and so the mobile branch does give us some flexibility in providing a temporary, physical location while we’re growing and determining where we want to place those assets.”

The mobile branch will make appearances at the future sites of two branches in the coming months, in Clearfield and Eagle Mountain. Its location is always searchable on www.granite.org/mobile-branch.