BECU is looking for a new Kent location for its Neighborhood Financial Center with the decision by TOP Food and Drug to close its store within the new few months on the East Hill.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
BECU, the state’s largest credit union<\/a>, operates a center inside TOP Food at 26015 104th Ave. S.E. TOP Food announced Oct. 15 it would close stores<\/a> in Kent, Auburn and Yakima in an effort to improve its overall business performance.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “We are in the process of finalizing both a new temporary and permanent location in the Kent area,” said Tood Pietzsch, BECU spokesman, in an email.\u00a0 “Our goal is not to have any disruption in service to our members.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The credit union has more than 40 neighborhood centers in Puget Sound area. The only other Kent location is inside the Fred Meyer on the West Hill at 25250 Pacific Hwy. S.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Pietzsch said the new permanent location will not be in a grocery store, but rather, a \u201cstand-a-lone\u201d Neighborhood Financial Center that will be much larger (in excess of 2,000 square feet) than its current in-store location.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “Our goal is to have the new permanent location open by the second quarter of next year,” he said. “With the larger location are members will then have the opportunity to make appointments with experts who can help with everything from retirement and estate planning, buying or refinancing a home, or growing their business with BECU Small Business Services. The larger location will also help us to better serve our growing membership base in the Kent area.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n