WSECU has been serving generations of members, constantly adapting to meet their and the banking industry’s changing dynamics. WSECU’s Hawks Prairie branch at the Hogum Bay Town Center offers local convenience and multiple services.
WSECU opened an innovative new branch in the bustling and growing Hawks Prairie area in Lacey to continue its service in meeting members’ needs in the neighborhood “where they are.” The new member-centric office in the growing Olympia/Lacey area was carefully designed to address members’ needs. “It’s an emerging market,” says Kris King, WSECU vice president – service delivery retail operations, when describing the expanding Hawks Prairie area. “That’s why we are there.”
“We have a lot of members across Thurston County and gaps in coverage area as you go up the I5 corridor,” he adds. “When we open a location, our primary goal is to engage with members. We want to save people time, stress and money and help them achieve their financial dreams.”
New WSECU Branch Opens in Hawks Prairie to Serve Area Members’ Banking Needs Including In-Person Services
Hawks Prairie is a busy popular community embracing new residential and commercial developments, thanks to its convenient location with outdoor spaces, schools, restaurants, and other amenities, plus easy access to Interstate 5.
That’s why WSECU selected Hawks Prairie as its next branch site in a new commercial mall that was under construction. “It was not even built when we started,” King says. As an early tenant, King says the credit union had time to think carefully about the office layout before construction started and the office opened in April 2025.
King says members are discovering the new branch offers well-located and accessible banking services while providing a safe place for their money. And the branch is especially designed to support in-person banking. Members can come in to discuss their banking needs or funding a life event or get a financial tune-up. “You can go inside, and slow down a minute,” he explains. “You can think about, ‘why am I here and what do I need.’”
“It’s nice to have a place where you can go,” adds King. “When people go into a branch, if they run into a problem, they want to talk to a person, not AI (Artificial Intelligence),” he explains. “Branches have real people. We have lots of tools on our website, and you can also come in, and we’ll take care of you.”
Extensive Feedback and Testing Informed the Credit Union’s Flexible Design at WSECU Hawks Prairie
The credit union received extensive feedback and testing with people from other branches and consultants before starting work on the 2,175-square-foot space in Hawks Prairie. This early input meant WSECU could thoughtfully craft space with flexibility to better serve people walking in the door at the new branch.
King says they wanted to make members feel at home and receive personalized services in a comfortable environment. “This branch has several innovations,” says King. “While there’s a smaller footprint, we saw how people interacted and could try some new things.”
One key element ensures the spaces fit members’ varying needs, with design tweaks providing more flexible options for privacy. This focus translated into differently-purposed spaces, such as quiet offices for individual consultations, adjustable desks to accommodate sitting or standing conversations, and an open area arranged like a living room. Members can access the space where they are most at ease in conducting their financial business.
King says another innovation is the barn doors that can close to form a small area for conversations or open to a larger footprint if things get busy. “We have lots of flexibility,” King adds. “I am excited to repeat this in the next build.”
New WSECU Branch Meets Credit Union Members Where They Are To Provide a Safe Place for Their Money
The new WSECU branch is designed to adjust to the banking needs of members in the expanding Olympia/Lacey area and meet them where they live and work. In addition to local in-person banking services, the Hawks Prairie branch offers a 24-hour walk-up ATM, coin machine, night drop, notary services and free parking.
And that easy access to personal help from neighborhood banking professionals can be especially important. For example, King says it’s great to have branch nearby when opening a new account, if a potential fraud event impacts your account, or if you lost your debit card and need an immediate replacement.
The Hawks Prairie branch is now open, and an official grand opening event will be scheduled soon. Stop by and say hi! For more credit union information, visit the WSECU website.
WSECU
Hawks Prairie Branch
2390 Marvin Rd NE, Suite K, Lacey
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