Credit union to open in Kasson’s Plaza 57

A credit union is opening at Plaza 57, the former Shopko building on Mantorville Avenue, with a projected opening date of early June.
Accentra Credit Union has locations in Austin and Albert Lea, making Kasson its third location in southeastern Minnesota.
The 2,400-square-foot credit union will help the mini mall toward full completion, putting it at 65 percent full, said Plaza 57 co-owner Brad Clemens.
Kasson Indoor Self Storage and Clem’s Cups & Cones opened in Plaza 57 in September. Clemens said other tenants are looking at signing leases with Plaza 57, so more announcements might come soon about additional businesses moving into the 36,000-square-foot mini mall.
The Dodge County Independent newspaper just signed a lease and will move into Plaza 57 by March 1.
Anna Olson, Accentra’s director of marketing, said the credit union is opening in Kasson “to bring the benefits of belonging to a credit union to Kasson and Dodge County. There currently isn’t a credit union branch location in Dodge County and we are hoping to fill that gap. We’re also looking forward to providing additional convenience to our existing members in the Kasson area.”
Olson described Kasson as a vibrant and growing community.
“Outside of Olmsted County, Dodge County is the fastest growing county in southeastern Minnesota and we feel Accentra is well-suited to help support that growth,” she said. “In addition, we’re committed to developing relationships that benefit our  members and to being an active member of the communities we serve. Kasson provides a great opportunity for us to do both.”
The credit union will hire five employees for its June opening. Olson said they’ll be hiring a branch manager, a financial services officer and a few tellers.
Currently Accentra is working on building out its location in Plaza 57, and will also be focused on hiring and training staff. Hours at the credit union will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some possible modifications depending on community need.
Accentra already has 50 members in Kasson and 400 members in Dodge County.
Olson said as a not-for-profit financial institution, Accentra’s focus is on helping those who bank with them to achieve a greater level of financial success.
“We offer the same products and services as traditional banks,” she said, “but in a manner that helps customers profit from the relationship more than if they bank with a traditional for-profit bank. Our profits are returned to our members in the form of low loan rates, high savings rates, fewer or no fees for products and services, and overall investments that make the banking relationship more convenient and secure for everyone.”
As a testament to Accentra’s efforts and hard-working staff, the credit union has been voted by the residents of Mower County, where its Austin branch is located, as the “Best Financial Institution” for 17 consecutive years.
As for the future, Olson believes people will see the value in banking with Accentra. “The hope is… that people will recognize it’s better being an owner/member than just a customer,” she said. “We hope that as the Kasson area continues to grow and prosper, that Accentra will grow with the community, focusing on helping those in the community to reach a higher level of financial success and freedom.”