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Envision Financial leaving Langley City downtown

The credit union is consolidating operations with its Willowbrook branch.

Envision Financial is leaving Langley City, effective May 9.

Envision is consolidating its Langley City branch with its Willoughby branch, which is located three kilometres away at 20193 64 Ave.

“We’ve been a part of the Langley City community for many years and during this time we have built strong relationships with our members and community partners. Given our connection to the area, this isn’t a decision we’ve made lightly,” reads the online statement from Envision.

Envision Financial has been in Langley City since 1986. The area the branch is located in, at 20627 Fraser Highway, has some empty store fronts and other challenges. The mall area adjacent to the branch is not fully occupied.

“We have committed members and employees at this branch so this wasn’t a decision we took lightly. We wanted to be really thoughtful about this,” said Shelley Besse, Envision president.

The credit union wanted to give its members as much notice as possible and even called many of them, including those who are now out of town, to notify them of the consolidation.

“There is a declining portfolio of growth in the area and we are worried about the safety of our staff,” said Besse. “The area is changing.

“Our Willoughby branch is a full service bank with commercial banking, an ATM dispensing US currency, a coin counter and on-site insurance,” Besse said.

Three-quarters of the staff will be moving to the Willoughby branch “so our members will greeted by the same faces as before.”

The other staff members will be moving to branches closer to where they live, she said.

“Our employees and are our members are very important to us,” she said.

Envision is currently looking at ways to best serve those of their Langley City customers who have mobility challenges.

It will continue its long-standing relationship with the Gateway of Hope, Langley Seniors Centre and Langley Big Brothers.

With the departure of Envision Financial, that leaves two banks still located in the downtown area of the City, with TD Bank and Scotia Bank remaining.

A number of financial institutions have left the Langley City downtown area for Willowbrook over the past 20 years, including the Royal Bank, CIBC, Bank of Montreal and Coast Capital Credit Union.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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