Special to the Daily Record
Community First Credit Union plans to build a fourth location in St. Johns County after buying a 2.2-acre site in the Treaty Oaks community July 11 for $1.5 million.
The Jacksonville-based financial institution plans to open the branch at Florida 207 and Brinkoff Road in 2025.
The property is about 1 mile east of Interstate 95 and a quarter-mile from a Publix shopping center.
The Treaty Oaks location will be the credit union’s 25th branch in Florida.
It will join a recently announced location at 525 Beachwalk Shore Drive, along with branches at 5360 Florida 16 and 3581 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine.
Community First President and CEO John Hirabayash said the acquisition is in response to county growth.
“Our St. Johns expansion represents a strategic plan to better serve our members where they are,” he said. “We’ve underinvested in St. Johns County. We’ve not kept up. We hear a lot from members about how they want us there.”
Hirabayashi said the credit union prefers to purchase land rather than lease.
The 3,100-square-foot Treaty Oaks branch will include a lobby, drive-thru, two ATMs and the credit union’s signature tower. It will feature an open floor plan, digital technologies and a local history mural.
Auld & White Constructors is the contractor. TTV Architects is the architect.
About 20,000 Community First members live in St. Johns County, with 2,000 within 5 miles of the new branch, according to Community First spokesperson.
Community First has announced or opened six new branches since 2022.
The credit union has 175,000 members, $2.8 billion in assets, 22 locations and more than 450 employees.