Piedmont Advantage Credit Union Expands into Wilmington
Officials at Piedmont Advantage Credit Union have announced that they will acquire East Coast Credit Union in Wilmington, NC, effective November 30, 2012. On that date, East Coast Credit Union members will officially become part of the Piedmont Advantage family.
East Coast Credit Union operates one location in Wilmington, NC and serves approximately 2,500 members throughout six coastal counties of North Carolina. It was chartered in 1955 to serve the financial needs of the Corp of Engineers’ Wilmington District employees.
Piedmont Advantage Credit Union has a rich history in North Carolina. It was founded in 1949 to serve employees of the former Piedmont Airlines, and has since opened its doors to employees at other partner companies as well as those who live, work, worship, or attend school within its service areas. Currently, Piedmont Advantage serves approximately 40,000 members nationwide, in more than 8,000 zip codes and every state in the United States. It currently holds a 5-star rating from Bauer Financial, the nation’s premier financial services rating organization.
Credit Union officials state that the partnership between the two organizations will greatly expand the variety of financial products and services previously available to East Coast Credit Union members, while establishing a physical presence for Piedmont Advantage in Wilmington and southeastern North Carolina.
“In a challenging economy, people need resources –– not just to help manage day-to-day financial issues, but to help them build a sound financial future,” said Judy Tharp, President/CEO of Piedmont Advantage Credit Union. “That’s our mission every day. We look forward to serving more members in the six-county area surrounding Wilmington.”
Officials at East Coast agreed. “This partnership was carefully and thoughtfully considered,” said John Cowan, Chairman of the Board of East Coast Credit Union. “The two organizations share a common vision of enhancing the lives of members through customized and caring financial solutions. This partnership will expand and enhance our offerings and fulfill that promise to our members.”
Members of the former East Coast Credit Union will continue to be able to transact business at the original East Coast Credit Union branch at 3815 Park Avenue in Wilmington. In addition, they will now have access to nine Piedmont Advantage Credit Union branches, 4,600 Credit Union Service Center branches nationwide, the toll-free Piedmont Advantage Call Center, online services through the Piedmont Advantage website, and surcharge-free CO-OP ATMs at more than 30,000 locations nationwide.