Jacksonville-based Community First Credit Union of Florida is working toward developing a branch along Gate Parkway near Village Crossing Drive for what could be its 23rd area branch.
Civil engineer Kimley-Horn Jacksonville applied to Jacksonville utility JEA for a service availability determination for Community First to develop a 3,100-square-foot branch on a 4.6-acre site west of Interstate 295.
The credit union said through a spokesperson that it does not comment on pending real estate closings.
Community First is a state-chartered credit union based in Jacksonville and serves anyone who lives or works on the First Coast.
It is a full-service financial institution offering banking, loans, mortgages and investments for consumers and businesses.
It has $2.7 billion in assets and serves 171,000 members. It has 430 employees.
Community First has 19 branches open in the Northeast Florida region from St. Johns County and St. Augustine to the south and to Nassau County and Yulee to the north.
It has three branches under construction or development at Boulevard Crossing at Beach and University boulevards, Northpoint Village in North Jacksonville and the Murabella location in St. Johns County.
That takes it to 22 branches when the locations open.
Community First announced April 25 it bought the Murabella site at northwest Florida 16 and Pacetti Road in St. Johns County for its 22nd area branch.
It also is building its first retail building that will have additional space that can accommodate tenants.
Community First will anchor the building under development on 1.22 acres at 5617 Beach Blvd. in Boulevard Crossing at northwest Beach and University boulevards.
Community First will occupy 2,660 square feet of the 8,843-square-foot building, along with drive-thru lanes. The additional space is for lease.
Available tenant spaces start at 1,750 square feet up to the entire remaining space at about 6,000 square feet.
It is one of Community First’s first new branches since it built a free-standing expansion OakLeaf location, which opened in 2018.
Community First has launched a branch transformation project, which “seeks to improve member service by configuring the offices to create a more modern retail experience.”
The new branch interiors feature upgrades that include an open floor plan and advanced self-service technologies.