In Alaska and West Virginia, Credit Unions Innovate to Meet the Needs of Rural Communities

Credit Union 1 (CU1) in Alaska opens rural branches tailored to local needs, such as a lower drive-through window in Nome and bilingual currency transactions in Skagway. Despite logistical challenges in remote areas, membership triples in communities like Skagway after new branches open. A 2024 study questions the 'banking desert' term, finding underserved communities are better identified by service quality than absence of institutions.