BECU Expands With New Location in White Center
A new Neighborhood Financial Center provides better access to financial resources in White Center and the surrounding communities.
A sign that says "Growing a Global Village" greets drivers as they enter White Center. The phrase is fitting for a neighborhood where nearly 30% of the population was born outside the U.S. and 40% speak a language other than English in their home, according to U.S. Census data.
While this diversity has made White Center rich with culture, it can also create challenges when it comes to understanding and accessing financial systems, especially for those who are new to the U.S. To better serve the White Center community, BECU has opened a new Neighborhood Financial Center that will offer financial education resources in addition to its standard financial services.
"White Center is a dynamic and resilient community — one built on entrepreneurship, celebrating diversity and collaboration," said Samantha Le, President and CEO of the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Success Foundation. "BECU has been a true pillar in our region, deeply invested in the success of local businesses, students and families."
The new 3,000-square-foot location will replace BECU's smaller Roxbury location, which was inside a Safeway about a mile away. Branch Manager Andrew Blanco, who has lived in White Center with his family for nearly a decade, and his Roxbury team are transferring to the new location.
"We could probably fit 10 Roxbury Neighborhood Financial Centers in this location," Blanco said, addressing the community at a March 19 grand-opening event. "In my time here in White Center, I've seen a lot of change. The neighborhood has changed, and the community has grown. BECU has recognized the need to expand and provide additional resources for this community. This new location proves that."
With a larger, dedicated space, the credit union features expanded services including BECU business partners offering mortgage, small business and wealth management support on a rotating basis. The White Center location also includes space for Video Banking, which helps members access on-demand services. Additionally, BECU's Financial Health team hosts free, in-person seminars on topics like budgeting, debt management and understanding credit scores.
"Honestly, for this community, having free things to help in their lives and their finances means a lot," Blanco said. "The people we serve are number one — every person in this community is No. 1 to us."
Beyond financial services, BECU also supports local organizations. One of BECU's longstanding partners, the White Center Food Bank, works to minimize hunger while nourishing community, nurturing self-reliance and embracing the area's rich cultural diversity. Honored at BECU's 10th-annual People Helping People Awards with a $15,000 grant to increase access to healthy food, the White Center Food Bank served over 1.6 million people in 2024, providing intake services in nine languages.
"We've been a business member and partner with BECU for a while now but what we love about our relationship is that it has blossomed into a true partnership," said Carmen Smith, executive director of the White Center Food Bank. "Not only does BECU support many of our events but team members also take the time to come and volunteer at WCFB. I'm so excited to have BECU in our neighborhood and see how our partnership continues to flourish, as well, as the credit union supports the White Center community."
Other local partners BECU supports through funding and volunteer opportunities include Alimentando al Pueblo, which cultivates healing through food, community and celebration, and the White Center Community Development Association, which works to eradicate poverty and build an economically diverse community.
"Without our partners, we could not fully realize our purpose which is to improve the financial well-being of every single person that walks through our doors," said Jason Rudman, BECU's Executive Vice President, Chief Member and Digital Experience Officer. "This is more than a building for the entire team at BECU. This represents work that matters for members and communities like White Center."
The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized financial, tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation when making financial, legal, tax, investment, or any other business and professional decisions that affect you and/or your business.
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