Community First Credit Union Starts Construction on Murabella Branch

Credit union to open Branch 22 in growing St. Johns 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., November 15, 2023 – Community First Credit Union has started construction on its newest expansion branch in Murabella in St. Johns County. The credit union purchased the 1.23-acre site at the northwest corner of State Road 16 and Pacetti Rd. in April. The freestanding branch is being built in the Mill Creek retail development. 

Construction on the freestanding branch is set to open in the summer of 2024. Upon completion, the 3,000-square-foot branch will feature a full-service drive-thru, two ATMs (drive-up and walk-up), and Community First’s signature tower feature. 

Designed with Community First's modern branch concept, the Murabella branch will have an open floor plan, upgraded digital technologies, and a historical mural depicting the history of the Murabella/World Golf Village area. The branch will serve the nearly 2,000 Community First members living within five miles of the shopping center. 

“We look forward to serving this growing area of St. Johns with a new branch location,” said John Hirabayashi, CEO and president of Community First. “Our branch network expansion is focused on improving and expanding our branch and ATM network to meet the evolving needs of our region and serve members where they are.” 

Community First is undertaking its largest one-time investment in its branch network with three expansion branches in the works or newly opened in 2023. In addition to the new Murabella branch, the credit union recently opened its 20th branch at Northpoint Village in North Jacksonville, has nearly completed its 21st branch at Boulevard Crossing (Beach and University Boulevards) and relocated its Mandarin Branch to Mandarin Station. It also recently purchased sites for a new Beachwalk Branch and to relocate its Baymeadows Branch to a new branch in Southside Quarter on Gate Parkway. 

The new branch in Murabella is part of the credit union’s Branch Transformation Project, which aims to enhance member service by configuring spaces to create a modern retail experience. The Murabella branch will be Community First’s third location in St. Johns County, where it has served members with branch services for over 23 years. 

Community First Credit Union of Florida, named Florida’s 2022 Credit Union of the Year by the LSCU, is a state-chartered credit union based in Jacksonville serving anyone who lives or works on the First Coast. Community First is one of the largest credit unions in Florida with $2.7 billion in assets and serving 171,000 members. Community First has 20 locations and more than 400 employees. A not-for-profit, Community First is a full-service financial institution offering banking, loans, mortgages and investments for consumers and businesses across the First Coast. 

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