Cooperative Federal has opened a new office at 1816 Erie Boulevard East in Syracuse’s Eastside neighborhood. The new location is Coop Fed’s largest branch, offering more space, better amenities and a centralized hub for members services, lending, and financial counseling.
The new office replaced our branch at 723 Westcott Street, which is 0.9 miles from the new location [view on Google maps]. We know that this will be a big change for our members – and change can be hard. But change can also be powerful.
This move allows our credit union to not only maintain service to our existing members, but to keep growing our investment in Syracuse communities. To learn more about this move – including what to expect, how it benefits our members, and why we’re moving in this direction – please check out these Frequently Asked Questions.
Our new building is in Syracuse’s Near Eastside neighborhood, at 1816 Erie Boulevard East [view on Google Maps] - one block west of Westmoreland Avenue, just past Lombard Avenue. It’s basically at the tail end of Westcott Street, less than 1 mile from our former location at 723 Westcott Street.
We opened our doors on April 20, 2023! Stay tuned for a grand opening celebration, once we're all settled in.
Yes, the credit union has closed our Westcott Street office, with all staff relocating to Erie Blvd. E. Our office hours and our phone numbers have all transferred from Westcott to Erie. Coop Fed's other three community branches - on North Salina Street, South Avenue, and Burt Street - will remain open. We will also close floor 2 only at our North Salina Street location, with our Community Development & Administration office relocating to the new Erie Blvd. headquarters.
Yes, Coop Fed’s existing Westcott Street ATM will remain available after the branch is closed. We are also exploring options to move our ATM to a location within the main Westcott business district, and/or upgrade the machine so that deposits can be accepted.
Cooperative Federal is thrilled to be bring our members a bigger, better, more attractive and comfortable office. Specifically, the new location offers:
Ultimately, this is a move to help our credit union grow in size and scale - which is key to improving services for our members and our community.
We believe that the new location benefits all of our members (as listed above). For our member businesses, the capability to accept deposits by drive-through ATM is particularly beneficial. There will also be a secure night-drop deposit box (coming soon/in progress).
In the fall of 2020, Coop Fed conducted a member survey which showed that 79% respondents who use the Westcott Street branch travel there by car, and members at all locations frequently mention the need for drive-through services and off-street parking. That said, we know it is critical to provide safe access to our members (and our staff!) who travel by other means. The building on Erie Boulevard meets all of these needs.
Pedestrians: Thanks to the recently completed construction on Erie Boulevard East, the location of our new building is now walkable - with sidewalks along the road as well as in the central median. For example, members coming from the Westcott area can take East Genesee, to Columbus, to Erie to access the office with continuous sidewalks. We are also advocating for installation of sidewalks on Lombard Avenue, which would allow foot traffic from the Westcott area via Westcott and Lombard.
Bike Commuters: The improvements to Erie Boulevard East also offer safe access for bicyclists, with a bike lane in the central median and designated crossings. A bike rack is available at the main entrance to our building, as well as by the rear entrance.
Bus Routes: Centro’s East Fayette Street/Erie Boulevard Bus Route (#168/68) offers frequent bus service to our new location, especially relative to the Westcott Street route which has minimal service. A bus stop is located about a block away from the new Erie Boulevard office and we are inquiring about installation of a covered bus shelter.
Leaving Westcott Street was surely bittersweet. We know that Coop Fed’s presence there is very meaningful to three generations of members, and our roots in the neighborhood run deep. But despite three (or is it four?!) major renovations, we were bursting at the seams. This relocation - only one mile away, and still within the greater Eastside area - allows us to not only maintain our service to the Westcott neighborhood, but to keep investing in the future of our credit union and our city. In addition to providing key member service amenities and much-needed space, the new building offers community-wide visibility and a modern, energy-efficient building.
Cooperative Federal’s work is grounded in values of equity, inclusion, and justice. When we first opened our doors - originally in the Syracuse Real Food Cooperative on Kensington Avenue (1982) before moving to Westcott Street (1994) - we served a neighborhood that was struggling with blight, vacancy and disinvestment. Standing alongside other nonprofits, leaders, and activists, Coop Fed spent decades transforming the neighborhood into what it is today. And step by step, by opening more branches and expanding our membership, we’ve become a city-wide partner for grassroots revitalization and economic opportunity.
Relocating from our historic Westcott “home” to the adjacent Near Eastside neighborhood is the next step in this journey. The census tract of our new location has a population that is 68% people of color, compared to 20% in the census tract of our Westcott office; and this corresponds to significant economic disparity including a poverty rate of 56% (compared to 40% in the Westcott office census tract). Cooperative Federal’s new location is in a certified Opportunity Zone, meaning it is designated as a priority area for economic development; our presence will help ensure that development is inclusive, sustainable, and equitable.
You are welcome to contact Christina Sauve, CEO; Meagan Weatherby, Development & Communications Manager; or the Board of Directors.