Followup: BECU’s early withdrawal from Admiral, & the Alki ATM

In a weekend roundup of West Seattle business notes (biznotes if we can’t fit both words in the headline!), we shared Diane‘s report of BECU sending a letter to say its Admiral Safeway branch is closing because of the upcoming store-reconstruction project; then in the first comment, “angelescrest” reported that Alki’s BECU ATM (Google Street View above) is gone. We followed up on both with Todd Pietzsch in BECU media relations, particularly to find out why the Admiral Safeway branch is closing now, though construction is not expected before the middle of next summer. Read on to see his reply:

You are correct that effective December 5th; we will be closing our Admiral Safeway Branch and have sent letters to all of our members in the area to make them aware of it.

The decision to close this location was based upon the fact that our current lease is expiring; coupled with the fact that Safeway would be closing the location for remodeling/rebuilding. At the time we made this decision we did not know that the remodeling/rebuilding would be delayed to the extent that it has and we had already put a plan in place to transfer the current staff at the Admiral location to a new location in the Queen Anne area.

This does not mean that we are abandoning the West Seattle area. Our ATM will remain at the Admiral location until construction starts and we will be considering additional locations in West Seattle in the future.

Regarding the removal of the BECU ATM at Alki, our lease was up and we elected not to renew it. To be quite honest, we have had the ATM there for approximately 10 years and the volume of utilization compared to our other ATM’s was not where it needed to be to cost-effectively serve our members.

It is important for our members to know that through our CO-OP Network there are several other ATM’s in the area that our members can use Surcharge free and also make deposits to their accounts. For example, all of the 7-11 ATM’s in the area are surcharge free for our members and accept deposits.

At this time we do not have any additional changes planned in the West Seattle area.

While I understand that it is a few miles away from the Admiral location, our location in the Roxbury Safeway located at 9620 28th Ave SW will remain in place to serve our members in the area.

Alki residents – any other ATMs at the beach, with the departure of BECU, besides the one in the back at Pepperdock, if that’s still there?

miws November 10, 2009 (4:45 am)

I find the pun deposited into the Headline of this article, to be of great interest. ;)

Mike

WSB November 10, 2009 (4:58 am)

:) Long ago and far away, I was prolific with puns … they still sneak in on occasion … TR

TBMR November 10, 2009 (5:45 am)

I am pretty sure that the 7-11 ATM’s have changed. I tried to make a deposit (I used to be able to) to my credit union account & it wouldn’t work.

DownOnAlki November 10, 2009 (7:24 am)

That’s too bad. The BECU ATM on Alki was the only ATM in walking distance, super easy and convenient for me to use as part of the co-op network.

Alki Area November 10, 2009 (7:34 am)

If you go to the BECU web site, and look for ATMs/branches, it will ALSO show all of these other ‘network’ ATMs (like the ones at 7/11) you can use for free. It also shows if they take deposits or not. The 3 7/11s in the north West Seattle area (Admiral, California, Harbor) all show on their web site today as surcharge free and taking deposits.

Dano November 10, 2009 (8:12 am)

What a shame…. After 10 years it’s time for me to find a new credit union… Any suggestions?

old timer November 10, 2009 (8:18 am)

There is a BECU ATM in the Morgan Junction,
on California just south of the Thriftway.

Alki Area November 10, 2009 (8:27 am)

Wow, you’d think people can use a web site…LOL.

You can use the ATM in the 7/11 on Admiral & California, half a block from the Safeway ATM…for cash and deposits. Or the 7/11 in the Alaska junction. Or the 7/11 on Harbor Ave. Of course the Safeway at Admiral Junction will have it’s ATM for a year yet. And they’re all over downtown now (BECU and other network ATMs).

I liked the “idea” of the branch at the Admiral Safeway, though I never used the ‘people’ there, just the ATM. I probably only talk to real live bank people every 3 months. For that, I can drive another 5 minutes. No biggie. It’s part of the ‘sacrifice’ you make belonging to a non-profit community bank. If you want a bank every 5 blocks, join national chains like Chase, or Bank of America, or Wells Fargo.

chas redmond November 10, 2009 (11:43 am)

Of course the reality is that there is NO BECU compatible ATM within any reasonable distance of Alki Beach – the 7-11’s referenced are quite far from the Alki spot we’re talking about – the Harbor Ave. 7-11 is nearly two miles on foot (and in a car) and the Admiral junction 7-11 is over a mile up a fairly steep hill. Way to go BECU – just like Metro bus – no real Alki service. Oh, and for those who might use the Morgan Junction BECU ATM (between the Shell station and the Thriftway on the east side of California) – that machine has a history of both not working and eating your check/ATM card. Beware.

owen November 10, 2009 (2:45 pm)

Why should BECU continue provide service where it is being under used?
.
I like Alki and all, but isn’t BECU’s responsibility to its co-op members as a whole?
If the Alki ATM wasn’t being heavily used, why should the non-Alki co-op members be asked to essentially subsidize having an ATM there?

me on 28th Ave SW November 10, 2009 (3:03 pm)

Last I checked there are all sorts of things Alki doesn’t have; a library, a bank, a gas station. It’s always been that way (well, except for it did have a gas station a very long time ago). I guess I figured it was part of the deal living there; the reality that you have to trek up Admiral hill to get to those conveniences. Up here in my neighborhood, we have to travel to get to a restaurant, coffee shop or beach.

RAE November 10, 2009 (5:55 pm)

Not everyone is as mobile as all of you seem to be. Make all the wise cracks you want but for some people it is a big deal to get up to Admiral and points far beyond, to do their banking.
Surely, there will always be lesser and greater preforming ATMs in the BECU system. I’ve been a member of BECU for thirty years and I don’t mind if I’m somehow subsidizing a lesser preforming ATM in a neighborhood that needs the service.

Krystal November 10, 2009 (10:00 pm)

I like what BECU had to say. Unlike a response from most other financial institutions, it seems like a real and fair response. Why keep an ATM that isn’t financially viable?

I used the 7-11 at Edmonds/Erskine/California just last night to make a deposit, and it worked fine. I don’t mind the neighborhood branch closing, as long as there are deposit taking ATMs. Perhaps it is due to the nature of business I do with BECU (deposits and withdrawals), but I don’t find the neighborhood financial centers to be of much service, since they have no cash on hand in case I need to exchange bills for change or whatnot.

Diane November 11, 2009 (10:34 am)

Agree, as a BECU member, I rarely go inside Admiral center for anything, just wave/say hi to folks inside when I use ATM; seems odd to me there were no notices posted at Admiral branch of what now seems to be clearly known for some time of impending closure
~
having attended all design reviews for Admiral Safeway remodel, their preferred plan is to build a retail center along California before the grocery teardown, in order to house their pharmacy; why can’t BECU move their ATM to that building?
~
to further complicate the ATM issue; there are 2 different types; Admiral has had the new type for some time, which does not require deposit slip and envelope; it will not accept envelopes; the machine reads the cash or check; so much easier not having to find my acct # to write on dep slip and envelope; so aside from convenience of close to my home, it’s the new fangled easy machine; and it’s inside the Safeway, warm, no wind/rain, and I never worry about watching my back for potential thief
~
the machine at Morgan, is out near the sidewalk, parking lot for small strip mall/gas station/McDonalds; and it’s an old machine that requires dep slip and envelopes; so unless it’s decent weather, broad daylight, I never go there; and as Chas pointed out, sometimes it does not work
~
Tuesday I was up at Ballard Fred Meyer, which conveniently has my WaMu/Chase bank center, and BECU ATM, but again, it’s outside, whipped by wind/rain, and it’s older machine
~
so I went to Ballard to check out their new stand-alone BECU banking center; I REALLY hope we get one of those in WS soon; it’s about same size as their downtown center near Pike Market; and they have the modern ATM, and it’s inside, with a little desk to organize your stuff
~
my request to BECU would be to keep the Admiral ATM, move it to the new Safeway retail space that will be built prior to Safeway grocery teardown, and I’m hoping they’re actively searching out a new retail space in north WS for a modern stand-alone banking center

WSB November 11, 2009 (11:32 am)

FYI – The Queen Anne branch to which people are transferring apparently is opening almost immediately after the closure here, according to a report from our fellow independent community-collaborative news site Queen Anne View:
http://www.queenanneview.com/2009/11/11/becu-to-open-a-new-location-in-lower-queen-anne
.
TR

Rob November 12, 2009 (6:51 am)

Switch to Alsaka USA Inside QFC Westwood. Super cool, open all the time and a great credit Union. No silly fees.

mike November 16, 2009 (10:55 am)

It is just sad in these days of folks wanting to walk more and drive less, that the only ATM within a mile of the central Alki area is now gone. It was a problematic ATM though and did need an upgrade. As a BECU member I am disappointed.

Sorry, comment time is over.