Achieva Credit Union is investigating two potential locations in Collier County as it looks to grow south into the Naples area. With the credit union already having branch locations in Bradenton south through Lee County, growing into Collier is a natural progression for expansion, according to its new Regional Market President Susan Lacey.    

Achieva, which was founded in 1937 in Pinellas County and has 22 branches serving more than 153,000 members, hasn’t identified final placements in Collier as it is still exploring specific branch location options that can be readily accessible for its members. The credit union manages more than $2.4 billion in assets. 

Credit unions are member owned, nonprofit financial organizations, whereas banks are for-profit, privately or publicly held. “Because of our size, Achieva Credit Union offers many of the same consumer and business offerings as banks do, but we are known for our personable approach and relationship-centric service,” Lacey said. “We know our members personally and the local branches play a big role in that connection we feel is so important.”  

As regional market president, Lacey is responsible for Florida’s west coast from Bradenton to Fort Myers and Estero, continuing Achieva’s movement in the region since its merger with Sarasota Coastal Credit Union in 2010. It has 11 branches in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties accounting for 35% of its membership. 

Even a pandemic didn’t stop the institution’s growth as Lacey made it possible for her teams to serve existing members, as well as gain new ones, such as businesses that turned to Achieva for help with Payment Protection Program loans. In her market, Achieva served 760 small businesses with PPP loans.