BAY MILLS — Bay Mills residents will no longer have to drive to Brimley to do their banking. For those who belong to the Soo Coop Credit Union, its Brimley branch has opened a mini-branch at the Bay Mills Community College, open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Dec. 3 grand opening is planned at the mini branch, with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. and refreshments and door prizes to follow.
The only thing missing is a loan officer, said Head Teller Mary Swendsen, who is in charge of the mini-branch, located in the college's main building. SCCU members can do their usual banking business — opening accounts, buying money orders, or making deposits, withdrawals, and payments, for example.
Brimley Branch Manager Ruby Campeau said the mini-branch is part of the credit union's Partnership in Education program. The credit union has student branches in local public schools, so why not a mini-branch at BMCC?
Campeau stressed that the mini-branch is for everyone to use, and hopes it will be more convenient.
BMCC President Mickey Parish said that when the college was approached to open the mini-branch, it had the space due to shifts to the new faculty and classroom building. Parish said that the students could use the employment opportunities and the tribe could use the service. “It will save me a trip to Brimley,” he said.
Campeau hopes that BMCC will help develop a certificate program. Parish said the college is trying develop such a program to train cashiers. Under such a program, college tellers would not only be paid, they would receive college credit for their work.
“There seems to be a need in the local area for people in banking,” Parish added.
The credit union took applications from BMCC students and hired two — Tracy Smith and Jessica Olson. Smith likes working days so that she can be with her three children in the evenings. She is happy to have the job experience, and although she doesn't make as much as she used to, she says her kids “love having me at home.”
Swendsen said the student tellers will gain variety of work experience. Teller work involves a “little bit of everything” — computers, secretarial work, bookkeeping, accounting, and people skills, to name a few.
Smith said that Swendsen is a good trainer. Swendsen, who likes her job, was asked to get the mini-branch up and running. She said it might take awhile, but once people realize the mini-branch is there, it will be a going concern.
Right now, the credit union is conducting a survey of its members. Those who complete surveys will be eligible for a “dinner & a movie” prize of a DVD and a free pizza.
