As Corning Credit Union broke ground Wednesday morning on its new regional headquarters in Wilmington, a CCU spokeswoman also confirmed that the facility is not the credit union’s only evidence of growth in the market.

“We’re working on a service center located in Hampstead,” Stephanie Carl said Wednesday, explaining that the center represents a new model for Corning, New York-based CCU.

An announcement to local members described the service center as an office where people “can open all types of deposit accounts and apply for loans (including consumer, home equity, and mortgage loans). You will also be able to consult with us on business loans and speak with our wealth management representatives by appointment.”

At the outset, Carl said, the center located in Suite 106 at 17230 U.S. 17, will be staffed by one representative who can handle all of the transactions.

“The biggest difference [between the service center and a branch] is there will not be a traditional teller line,” Carl said. “But there will be a full-service ATM where members can deposit checks and withdraw cash.”

An opening date for the new center has not yet been determined, according to Carl.

Meanwhile, work is ready to start at CCU's new 43,000-square-foot regional headquarters building, which has been designed by Becker Morgan Group and will be constructed by McKinley Building Corp. The project should take about a year to complete, officials said.

The new facility, on 17th Street Extension, will be a big step for the financial institution, and reflects its growth in the market, Carl said.

Wilmington “has continued to be a great community to do business in,” she said Wednesday. “It has a vibrant, diverse economy and Wilmington has welcomed us with open arms.”

The credit union currently operates four branches in the greater Wilmington area: one in Leland, two in Wilmington and one in Ogden. The ground floor of the new headquarters building will house a full-service branch office that replaces the current CCU branch on 17th Street Extension.
 
Corning Credit Union support offices will occupy the second and third stories of the new building. Carl said that the facility will be CCU's first headquarters located outside of Corning, New York.
 
The choice of Wilmington was a logical one, according to Gary Grinnell, CCU president and CEO.
 
“Our credit union has grown substantially in the last 10 years and the Wilmington community has been the primary driver of that growth,” he said in the credit union’s announcement Wednesday. “We are grateful for the support of the community and we are excited to make this significant investment. Our new regional headquarters will serve our more than 23,000 members who live and work in the Cape Fear region. In addition, it will position us for additional growth and give us the capability to add over 100 jobs over the next five to 10 years.”