Rockville, Md. (July 21, 2011) The results of a two-year transformation of the nation’s largest credit union serving the biomedical industry are beginning to be realized. Coinciding with the 2011 BIO International Convention in June, the National Institutes of Health Federal Credit Union, officially unveiled its new brand image and state-of-the-art prototype branch at 2200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC.  The opening of this  branch, located in the heart of DC’s historic Foggy Bottom district, is the latest in a string of impressive service investments the NIHFCU has made in its mission to deliver banking solutions that save biomedical professionals time and money. Included among the many other recent service enhancements are: checking with use of any ATM in the world for free, remote deposit capture, mobile banking with 2-way text messaging and smart phone apps, and the launch of a 24 / 365 national call center.

“It’s important for us to be at the forefront of banking technology and convenience because that’s what our member expect,” said Juli Anne Callis, president and chief executive officer of NIHFCU. “The biomedical industry does not stand still, and neither do we. Through our new brand and significantly improved services, our members will find a renewed energy and commitment to our nation’s highly-educated researchers, physicians, nurses, and dentists that we are so proud to support.”

Joining the NIHFCU staff and volunteers for the opening of the credit union’s first new branch in 5 years were distinguished representatives from The George Washington University Cancer Institute, The George Washington University Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, the US Small Business Administration, The Medical Society of Washington DC, Women in Bio, and other leaders in the healthcare and biomedical industries. The new branch environment, carefully appointed after numerous industry focus groups, combines privacy with a warm contemporary and open design, paperless in-branch transactions, a state-of-the art ATM, and a video kiosk.

The new branch, situated moments from The George Washington University Hospital, the GW Medical Faculty Association and in close proximity to Kaiser Permanente and many other health and biomedical practices and related organizations, will also support the credit union’s burgeoning small business lending program. Any qualified professional in the healthcare and biomedical industries in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland or West Virginia, may apply with NIHFCU for a secured or unsecured business loan to meet their long- and short-term business borrowing needs. As an approved SBA lender, the NIHFCU offers an array business loans  particularly beneficial for the area’s biomedical and healthcare firms looking to invest in their organizations as well as physicians, dentists and other current or aspiring small business owners in these industries  who want to start or expand their practices.   

NIHFCU also has plans to open another newly redesigned Washington, DC-based branch. The current Sibley Hospital branch and ATM will move to the new Sibley Medical Building at 5215 Loughboro Road, N.W., Washington, D.C.