Banking on wheels: DuTrac ‘Mobile Branch’ hits the road in QC

Sherrie Keating was recently at a gas station fueling up DuTrac Community Credit Union’s newest vehicle – a 29-foot-long small RV type vehicle – called the Mobile Branch. A man near her asked about the vehicle. She told him the Mobile Branch is a bank on wheels, capable of driving anywhere and doing many of […]

Sherrie Keating was recently at a gas station fueling up DuTrac Community Credit Union’s newest vehicle – a 29-foot-long small RV type vehicle – called the Mobile Branch. A man near her asked about the vehicle. She told him the Mobile Branch is a bank on wheels, capable of driving anywhere and doing many of the jobs and services that traditional brick-and-mortar financial branches now offer. “He looked at the vehicle and told me ‘That’s beyond smart,’” said Ms. Keating, an outreach rep with DuTrac and one of the two employees taking the new banking vehicle on the road.

DuTrac’s Mobile Branch has been on a show-and-tell tour of the region since Valentine’s Day. Ms. Keating, along with Jamie Banfield, the Mobile Branch manager, have been showing off the financial services vehicle across the region, mostly to DuTrac employees. On Friday, Feb. 23, the vehicle was parked outside DuTrac’s Bettendorf office at 2770 Middle Road where numerous branch employees toured the vehicle to see all the features. “People are really surprised at how much space is in this vehicle,” Mr. Banfield said on Friday. Mr. Banfield, a former financial services consultant with DuTrac, said he recently took the new assignment as the Mobile Branch manager so he could get out in the community and show off a new financial tool that he believes will help many customers. “With our state-of-the-art Mobile Branch, we’re breaking down barriers, ensuring you can conveniently access a suite of banking services at community events, schools, workplaces and beyond. Whether you’re seeking personalized financial guidance, educational resources, or a seamless banking experience, our Mobile Branch is your go-to resource,” DuTrac said in its informational materials.

So far, DuTrac officials have been showing off the credit union on wheels at various DuTrac branches and events. (Go here to see the Mobile Branch’s tour schedule in the coming weeks.) The Mobile Branch is expected to be open for business for the first time during its Wednesday, March 13, stop at the Carnegie Stout Library in Dubuque, Iowa. It is scheduled to be at the library from 4 to 5 p.m.  “We’re really looking forward to seeing the impact we can make with this vehicle,” said Ms. Keating. She added that one of the new Mobile Branch’s major goals is to attract new and young customers to DuTrac. Many of those customers have become used to doing their banking online. The Mobile Branch could show many young people that doing banking in person can be a great experience. Ms. Keating and other DuTrac officials added that they believe the Mobile Branch will be a great asset to help people who do not have a traditional brick-and-mortar credit union or bank in their neighborhood. Also, it can be used to host educational events to teach young people about finances. Here are some of the Mobile Branch’s services and features:

• The Mobile Branch offers general banking transactions, including deposit, withdrawal, new account opening, loan services, financial education, e-banking, an ATM and community outreach.
• In most cases, no appointments are needed to use the bank. Walk-ins are welcome.
• The Mobile Branch vehicle is customized for DuTrac. The blue and white vehicle took 10 months to build and is 29 feet long and 12 feet high. DuTrac officials would not say how much was spent on building the vehicle.
• The interior of the branch on wheels is somewhat plain. It has two desks, two computer screens and four chairs.
• The Mobile Branch can comfortably fit four people at a time – two employees helping two customers at the workstations.
• The vehicle’s exterior features a big TV screen that can show news events and banking educational lessons, an ATM near the back, a phone charging station, speakers, outside power sources and an awning to shadow customers on those sunny, hot days. The back of the vehicle has the message: “Follow us to your financial future.”
• There’s also a significant number of security features. DuTrac officials would not share details on all those features, but did say there are many cameras on the vehicle, and security is a top priority. “There are many eyes on us at all times here. … It’s our little Fort Knox,” said Ms. Keating.

Currently, there is one only DuTrac Mobile Branch vehicle. But Jason Norton, DuTrac’s senior vice president of marketing and business development, said credit union leaders want to see the public response to the first vehicle before considering adding a second vehicle.

Ms. Keating added that the early response to the vehicle has been so great and positive that she recently joked with DuTrac officials about getting a second vehicle in production. “Everybody who sees this has a great new idea on how to use it. … We are really paving the way to the future,” she added.