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How to Choose the Perfect Location for Your Credit Union or Bank Branch

Aug 3, 2023Site Selection

A data-driven branch strategy approach

Selecting the ideal site for your credit union’s or community bank’s next branch is a critical decision that can significantly impact your institution’s long-term success. Gone are the days of relying on intuition alone; today, financial institutions need to use data-driven strategies to make informed choices. 

At LEVEL5, we understand the importance of coupling data with our Branch Site Selection services to provide well-informed, actionable recommendations. In this article, we’ll explore why it’s crucial to let the data dictate the right location in your trade area and how partnering with a developer-minded firm like LEVEL5 can lead to the best results.

Overhead view of city business district with orange roofs

Data-Informed Branch Site Selection: More Than Drawing a Circle on a Map

Simply drawing a circle around a location on a map based on gut feelings won’t guarantee the best site for your next credit union or community bank branch. Accurately assessing growth markets requires a comprehensive analysis of multiple data points that leads to a quantifiable recommendation.

However, while having data pointing to a specific site is essential, it doesn’t guarantee the availability of suitable locations in that area. That’s why LEVEL5 synthesizes our data strategy with our vast real estate acquisition experience and capabilities.

4 business people in a discussion over information on a laptop screen.

Aligning Strategy with Actionable Branch Site Recommendations

Data without a clear strategy is meaningless. Paying for data analysis is only valuable if it leads to actionable insights. We combine our Site Selection services with the data obtained during our Branch Market Analysis Strategy sessions so that we only recommend prime sites which can be acquired.

This integration ensures that the locations we recommend not only meet the data criteria but also align with your defined business strategy. By fusing data and strategy, we present you with workable options that truly support your long-term growth goals.

The Benefits of a Developer-Minded Branch Network Partner

2 construction engineers at a construction site looking at a schematic and smiling while a surveyor works in the background.

Choosing a site is about understanding how the chosen location fits into your long-term plan. That’s why we think of ourselves as developers with your overarching plans as the goal, not mere brokers. Our approach involves a thorough assessment of the geographies and available options within a given trade area. 

Moreover, we overlay the Credit Union or Community Bank Branch Design types that best suit the specific location, directly aligning with your 10-Year Branch Pro forma developed during the Strategy phase. This approach ensures that the site chosen will indeed support your long-term objectives.

Location, Location, Data-Driven Action: Partner with LEVEL5 for the Perfect Credit Union or Community Bank Branch Site

Selecting the right site for your branch or headquarters is a critical process that requires more than just intuition or simple mapping. A data-driven approach, coupled with a clear strategy, is essential to making informed and actionable decisions to grow your branch network. 

At LEVEL5, we bring you the expertise of a developer, not a broker, as we assess geographies, identify suitable options, and align them with your long-term goals.

Let the data guide you to an optimal site and work with a partner who understands your unique needs. Contact LEVEL5 today to ensure that your financial institution makes the best location choices for sustainable growth and success.

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