Chatham has another banking alternative, as WFCU Credit Union opened its branch on St. Clair Street this week.
Eddie Francis, CEO and president of WFCU, said he is happy the time has come to open the doors to the public.
“The build went great, all staff are hired and ready to go,” he said.
The 4,000 square-foot branch is located near the intersection of St. Clair and Pioneer Line, on the west side of St. Clair. It features a drive-thru ATM and more.
Francis said community response has been quite positive, even before the doors opened.
“My team has been surprised with the response. It’s been great,” he said. “The residents are great. People are excited. It’s nice to hear. We’ve gone into other markets and don’t get the immediate feedback.”
He said credit unions treat people differently than big banks, and therein lies the appeal.
“We’re very intimate. We don’t want people to become a number,” he said.
Putting profits back into the communities they serve is another difference maker, Francis added.
“We invest back in our members and our staff. We give back to the community through all the different causes and organizations we support,” he said.
Having purchased the Education Credit Union in the Kitchener-Waterloo region three years ago, the WFCU expanding into Chatham was a “natural progression,” Francis told The Voice.
He did not rule out further expansion into other Chatham-Kent communities at some future date.
“It’s possible,” he said.
The Moose is loose
NASCAR driver Ross Chastain’s race car will be on site at the Moose Lodge in Chatham on Saturday.
From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., people can stop by to get an up-close look at the Chevy Camaro at the lodge at 850 Richmond St.
Chastain is a member of the Moose Lodge in Florida. The Moose support the driver on and off the track.
Cannabis expo
The We Store in Chatham hosts a Cannabis Expo on July 23.
From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., the store will be hosting a variety of activities in the parking lot behind the St. Clair Street store. See their ad in this week’s Chatham Voice for details.
The Brick opens in Thames-Lea Plaza
The Brick has completed its move to a new home in Chatham.
Originally located on Richmond Street West, the furniture and appliance store is now operating out of the Thames-Lea Plaza on Grand Avenue West.
The company, owned by Leon’s Furniture Ltd., held a ribbon cutting July 6 at the new location recently, which opened its doors July 8.
The new Chatham showroom is 22,975 square feet and will replace the previous location that closed in June 2023. The new showroom is 4,000-sq.-ft. larger and will provide the community with a broader product assortment in a spacious, modern showroom.
“The relocation of our Chatham store ensures continued accessibility and convenience for our loyal customers,” Dave Freeman, president of The Brick, said in a media release.
Maizex goes Elite
Maizex Seeds has announced its new Elite forages portfolio for 2024, featuring high-performance alfalfa varieties and alfalfa-driven blends. Maizex is now the official source for Elite forages in Ontario and the Maritime provinces.
Products are selected specifically to meet the evolving needs of dairy and beef producers in regions across the country.
“In addition to our premier stand-alone alfalfa products, we have positioned select products together to create a comprehensive lineup of blends to address the specific needs of Canadian dairy, beef, and export operations,” said Adam Parker, forage product lead for Maizex Seeds in a media release.
- Business Voice is a bi-monthly column in The Chatham Voice that highlights some of the achievements made and efforts underway in Chatham-Kent’s business community. Send your information to bruce@chathamvoice.com.
