REAL ESTATE
Nusenda Credit Union to replace Uptown branch with new, tech-savvy location
The new branch is set to open in 2027
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New Mexico鈥檚 largest credit union is keeping pace with the times, replacing one of its busiest locations with a new tech-forward branch in Uptown.
In the coming weeks, Nusenda Credit Union will break ground on a 6,400-square-foot branch located at 6401 Uptown NE. The branch will replace the credit union鈥檚 current Uptown location at 6501 Indian School NE, just two minutes away.
The new branch is slated to open toward the end of the first quarter of 2027. It will offer 鈥渂etter parking, a better drive-up area and just a more modern branch experience,鈥� said Michael Buehler, Nusenda鈥檚 executive vice president and chief administrative officer.
The new branch鈥檚 drive-thru operation will have six lanes 鈥� one of which will lead to an ATM and five of which will lead to machines that feature real-life tellers who can communicate with customers and operate the machines through video. This technology is at several of Nusenda鈥檚 remodeled and newer locations across the state.
Nusenda is hoping to have the drive-thru operation up and running by July of this year.
鈥淭his branch is such an important location for our members,鈥� Buehler said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e really put a great deal of time into really designing what we think will be a really nice branch for them that incorporates all the services they want and is just a more convenient location for them.鈥�
The decision to relocate and replace the existing Uptown branch comes after years of exploring remodeling plans for the building, which was built in the late 1960s and has been occupied by Nusenda since the mid-1990s, Buehler said.
The age of the building and its concrete construction have made remodeling options 鈥渧ery cost prohibitive,鈥� Buehler said, prompting the credit union to explore new construction.
All fell into place when the credit union found the new branch location鈥檚 nearly 3-acre site on Uptown Boulevard 鈥� a vacant land plot formerly the site of a movie theater 鈥� and also identified a developer that wanted to acquire the current Uptown branch.
Nothing official has taken place, but Nusenda plans to sell its Indian School location to Palindrome Communities, a Portland-based real estate company.
Buehler said Palindrome will demolish the property to make way for , a $120 million transit-centered, mixed-use project that ABQ Ride is leading.
Buehler said Nusenda鈥檚 current Uptown branch will remain operational until the new location is ready. The Indian School branch鈥檚 drive-thru operations, however, could close as other Uptown Connect construction surrounding the location begins, which is why the credit union is aiming to get the new branch鈥檚 drive-thru open soon.
All of the Uptown branch鈥檚 24 employees will relocate to the new site, which Buehler said also offers enough land for future expansion and development of some office space.
Nusenda is New Mexico鈥檚 largest locally owned credit union with nearly $5 billion in assets, more than 290,000 members and 1,000 employees. The company has more than 30 branches throughout New Mexico and West Texas.
The company has deepened its New Mexico roots recently with the purchase of naming rights for the University of New Mexico鈥檚 basketball facilities, the Pit, as well as the opening of a new location inside New Mexico State University鈥檚 Corbett Center.
鈥淲e feel like there鈥檚 a great deal of opportunity in New Mexico, and we鈥檙e really excited about serving all those members that we have here and throughout the state,鈥� Buehler said.
Kylie Garcia covers retail and real estate for the Journal. You can reach her at kgarcia@abqjournal.com.
