Travis Credit Union opens 24th branch, with focus on in-person relationships

As Travis Credit Union approaches its 75th anniversary this October, the Solano County-based financial institution is marking the milestone with continued branch expansion.

A newly opened East Bay location, executives say, reflects an ongoing commitment to in-person relationships amid a long industry consolidation.

The Vacaville-based credit union opened a branch in Pinole on May 21, adding its 24th branch and its seventh location in Contra Costa County. The opening follows the debut of the Hillcrest branch in Antioch in February 2024.

“Our four most recent openings, including Pinole, have occurred in the last nine years, and all of them have been in Contra Costa County,” said Lizett Jimenez, marketing project specialist lead.

That county is where the institution has been working to deepen member relationships, according to Kevin Miller, president and CEO.

“We’re prioritizing member service, financial guidance, and community connection at a time when many institutions are moving away from physical locations,” Miller said.

Some North Bay-based financial institutions are actively adding branches, as early signs emerge of a reversal of a long trend in consolidation.

While digital banking services continue to expand, including a highly rated mobile app and access to 30,000 fee-free ATMs in the Co-Op network, Jimenez said physical branches remain central to the credit union’s long-term plans.

“Opening new branch locations is still a critical part of our growth plan, as branches are the heart and soul of our presence in, and engagement with, our local communities,” she said.

The Pinole opening is the latest step in a long expansion arc that began in 1951. That’s when a group of civilian workers at Travis Air Force Base sought an alternative to traditional banking options and secured a federal charter for what was then known as Travis Air Force Base Federal Credit Union.

The institution opened with 46 members and $270 in assets after its first month of operation. By the end of the 1950s, it had grown to nearly 3,500 members and $652,000 in deposits.

The organization expanded steadily through the following decades, opening its first permanent branch on Travis Air Force Base in 1968 and its first off-base branch in Fairfield in 1977 after broadening its membership field to surrounding communities.

In 2000 the institution adopted the Travis Credit Union name and a community charter serving 12 Northern California counties. During that decade, the branch footprint doubled with locations in Antioch, Green Valley, Dixon, Woodland, Vallejo, Atwater, Clayton Valley, Napa and other communities.

The Pinole branch is the only planned opening this year, but there are more in the works.

“Travis is currently working on our next locations to open in 2027 and beyond,” Jimenez said.

The institution’s growth has extended beyond branch count. Travis is now the 12th-largest California credit union, with $5.7 billion in assets and more than 271,000 members at the end of the first quarter. By comparison, Santa Rosa-based Redwood Credit Union is the state’s fourth-largest, with $9.7 billion in assets and over 525,000 members.

Boost in business lending

Lending activity for Travis has also increased substantially, Jimenez said. Over the last 12 months, the credit union increased its loan portfolio overall by more than $210 million, or over 5%.

“A material contributor to this strong growth is the increase in our business memberships and loans,” Jimenez said. “In fact, over the last two years we have more than doubled the size of our business lending portfolio.”

The 12 counties the institution serves have an estimated 281,000 small businesses, and 70% of them have fewer than five employees and under $1 million in annual revenue, according to The Financial Brand.

The institution also recently completed the rollout of its QuickFund Line of Credit program for businesses after testing a new artificial intelligence–powered lending application system by Judi.ai. The program allows businesses to borrow up to $100,000 in a streamlined application and underwriting process.

“The trial period of our new business lending system and application has been successful, contributing to the strong growth Travis achieved in business lending,” Jimenez said.

The credit union’s community involvement has also expanded alongside its financial growth. In Contra Costa County last year, the institution donated $25,000 to the Food Bank of Contra Costa, awarded $10,000 in high school scholarships and distributed $2,000 in teacher grants, according to the announcement.

At the Pinole branch grand opening, the credit union presented a $10,000 donation to the Pinole Garden Club, which has served the community for more than 65 years through student gardening education, scholarships and workshops.