Spokane Railway Credit Union plans to change its name to Numerica Credit Union to reflect the nature of its expanding membership base more accurately, says Robyn Baird, senior marketing specialist for the credit union.


The new name will go into effect in May. Financial institutions typically take such steps to help them grow.


The state of Washington already has approved the name change, says Linda Jekel, program manager at the states Department of Financial Institutions, division of credit unions. At Railways request, the state agency wont file the Numerica name with the Secretary of States office until May 1, Jekel says.


The credit union has sent letters notifying its about 39,000 members of the name change, and has begun installing displays at some branches that recount its history and incorporate the new name, Baird says.


Recent market research conducted by the credit union found that many potential members didnt know that they could join the credit union even though theyre not railroad workers, Baird says. In addition to railroad workers, the credit union extends membership eligibility to people who live in the Spokane Valley, on the South Hill, in West Central Spokane, in northeast Spokane, and in the Indian Trail area, as well as to select employee groups in Spokane and North Idaho.


By eliminating Spokane from its name, the credit union also hopes to be more appealing to North Idaho residents, Baird says. It opened a branch in Coeur dAlene in 1996.


Separately, the credit union plans to replace this year its Coeur dAlene branch and a branch it operates at Lincoln Heights, Baird says. Both of those branches are located in strip malls and will be replaced with freestanding branches that each will include drive-through service, she says.


The Coeur dAlene branch is located at 296 W. Sunset, and the replacement branch there will be built directly across Sunset Avenue from the current location, Baird says.


The branch in the Lincoln Heights Shopping Center, at 2941 E. 29th, will be replaced with a new branch a few blocks west of the shopping center on 29th in the Quail Run area, she says.


Additional details on the new branches arent available yet, Baird says.