Steady progress has been made on the new North Shore Federal Credit Union branch on Highway 61 in Two Harbors. A tentative grand opening has been set for June 22. The new location will offer the same services as the other locations in Grand Portage, Grand Marais, Lutsen, and Silver Bay.
County residents who have made a trip to Duluth in recent months have likely noticed the construction under way at the first stoplight in Two Harbors at the site of the former BP gas station. North Shore Federal Credit Union (NSFCU) members may also have noticed that this new building will be a branch of their financial institution.
The Cook County News-Herald reached NSFCU Manager Mark Summers last week just after he had completed a tour of new building. Summers said the Two Harbors location should be open in early June.
“The interior is finished; the ceiling grids are going in. The building will be ready in plenty of time,” said Summers.
However, opening will wait until the parking lot is finished. It needs to be blacktopped and curb and gutter installed. The credit union also purchased the two lots behind the building for plenty of parking. “We have to wait for the road bans to go off for paving,” Summers explained. “As soon as the frost is out of the ground, we’re ready.”
The News-Herald noted that the new branch will be handy for Cook and Lake County residents travelling down the shore, but is that enough justification to open a new facility? Summers said yes. “You’d be surprised at the number of people between Knife River and Silver Bay who are credit union members. There is an established membership there.”
He said the expansion is part of NSFCU’s long-term strategy, to serve members all along the North Shore. “We have many people who live in one community and work in another, for example many members live in Silver Bay, but work in Two Harbors.”
“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from businesses and citizens of Two Harbors. They are glad to see a business opening at that corner. A vacant building didn’t give the best impression at the entrance to town,” said Summers.
The new branch keeps up the NSFCU traditional lighthouse theme. “It was designed by DSGW. We’re very pleased with how the design has turned out,” said Summers.
He is also pleased that the credit union has been able to work with so many local contractors at the site. He said there will be some stonework on the outside of the building, but most of the siding is being produced locally at Louisiana Pacific, just a few blocks away, up County Road 2.
The new location will offer all the services of the branches in Grand Portage, Grand Marais, Lutsen and Silver Bay, perhaps with more focus on commercial products because of the growing economy of Two Harbors. The hours—7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday— will likely be the same as well, he said.
Staff at the new location has been training and working at the Silver Bay branch since last fall. “So they will be experienced from day one,” said Summers.
And when will day one be? Summers said an opening celebration has tentatively been set for June 22. And will there be a party? Summers grinned, “You bet.”
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