Community First Credit Union announced Nov. 2 it bought a 1.23-acre site at Beachwalk in St. Johns County for development of its 23rd branch location.
According to St. Johns County records, the credit union bought the site Nov. 1 for $2.33 million from Beachwalk Retail Center LLC.
Jacksonville-based Community First said construction is expected to start in spring 2024 with an opening in early 2025.
Community First’s Beachwalk location is an outparcel to the retail center at Old County Road 210 and Beachwalk Boulevard.
Upon completion, the 3,150-square-foot Beachwalk branch will feature a full-service lobby and drive-thru, two ATMs (drive-up and walk-up), and Community First’s signature tower feature.
The credit union said that the branch, designed with Community First’s modern branch concept, will have an open floor plan, upgraded digital technologies and a historical mural depicting the history of western St. Johns County.
The branch will serve the nearly 4,000 Community First members living within 5 miles of the retail center.
“Western St. Johns County has been growing exponentially,” said John Hirabayashi, CEO and president of Community First, in a news release.
“The Beachwalk Branch will triple our branch footprint in St. Johns County and seeks to meet the evolving needs of our region and serve members where they are.”
Beachwalk will be the credit union’s third branch location in St. Johns County.
The new Beachwalk Branch is part of the credit union’s Branch Transformation Project, which aims to enhance member service by configuring spaces to create a modern retail experience.
The release said Community First is undertaking a historic investment in its branch network with four expansion branches in the works or newly opened in 2023.
The credit union recently opened its 20th branch at Northpoint Village in North Jacksonville, has nearly completed its 21st branch at Boulevard Crossing at Beach and University Boulevards, and relocated its Mandarin Branch to Mandarin Station.
It recently started construction on Branch 22 in Murabella, also in St. Johns.
Community First Credit Union announced Oct. 26 it bought a 1.1-acre site at Southside Quarter for a 3,600-square-foot Gate Parkway branch.
It will close its Baymeadows location, about 2½ miles south, when the new branch is complete.
Construction is expected to start in spring 2024 with an opening by the end of 2024.
Community First Credit Union of Florida paid $1 million for the property, according to a deed posted Oct. 31 by the Duval County Clerk of Courts. It bought the land Oct. 26 from S-15 Land Holdings LLC.