Banking Services Offered at Philly ShopRite
Brown’s Super Stores is getting its first credit union branch, thanks to a partnership with American Heritage Federal Credit Union. The branch will be located in the ShopRite of Parkside in West Philadelphia, with a grand-opening celebration to be held on Monday, Sept.12 at 5 p.m.
“I am very excited on two levels,” said Jeff Brown, president and CEO of Westville, N.J.-based Brown’s Super Stores, which operates 10 Philadelphia-area locations. “It is a great convenience for all our customers, and it will create an unbelievable opportunity for those of modest means. They will now be able to have an account with no minimum balance requirement, no monthly maintenance fee and no ATM transaction fees. American Heritage is creating a personal financial option for our consumers who will now be able to safely and conveniently transact their personal business and save for their future.”
The program will also be supported by UpLift Solutions, the nonprofit organization created by Brown to help low-income areas where affordable fresh and healthy food is often inaccessible. “This is one of the various services UpLift Solutions offers to assist supermarket businesses in their successful expansion into underserved communities,” explained Brown.
The opening of the branch marks another technological milestone for the credit union, as it’s the first location to feature Personal Automated Teller (PAT) machines, which combine the convenience of an ATM with highly personal two-way video interaction. The branch will also offer a surcharge-free ATM.
“We view this branch as an extension of the outreach to the community we are already doing,” says Bruce Foulke, president and CEO of Philadelphia-based American Heritage. “Our goal is to bring lower rates on loans, higher rates on savings, and fewer and lower fees on financial services to as many people as possible … to the people who need them most.”
Brown’s Super Stores is a member of the Keasbey, N.J.-based Wakefern Food Corp., the largest food cooperative in the United States. The White House has honored Brown’s for its efforts in eradicating food deserts.