By LAURIE JOHNSON Memphis Area Teachers' Credit Union opens Collierville office By LAURIE JOHNSON The Daily News The Memphis Area Teachers Credit Union is now operating a full-service branch in Collierville. The new branch, located at 310 New Byhalia Road north of Poplar Avenue, is designed to allow the system to better serve its customers in the area, officials said. "We currently have more than 1,200 Collierville residents using our financial services, and were excited about extending credit union services to others in the community," said Ray P. Algee, MATCU president and chief executive officer. The new 4,200-square-foot building, designed by JMGR Inc., marks the first time the credit union has purchased land and designed and built its own facility, said MATCU marketing director Susan Hayne. The credit unions 10 other branches in Memphis are located in existing buildings the credit union either is leasing or has bought, she said. Construction on the new branch was completed in June, and it has been open for business for about three weeks. In addition to serving area educators, the credit union also is authorized to serve any resident of Collierville, Cordova and Germantown who is not already being served by a credit union, regardless of occupation. In addition to savings account, checking account and consumer loan services, the branch also will offer mortgage lending, investment and insurance services. Investment and insurance services will be provided through the credit unions subsidiary, Members First Financial Services Inc. Organized in 1957, MATCU currently serves more than 70,000 customers in the area and has more than $297 million in assets. Hayne said the new branch is part of MATCUs plan to locate its offices in places easily accessible to its clients. Other MATCU branches are located on Covington Pike, Flicker Street, Madison Avenue, Millbranch Road, South Perkins Road, Southern Avenue, German Oak Road, Highway 64, Germantown Road Extended and Mississippi Valley Boulevard. Prior to the opening of the Collierville branch, the closest MATCU office to the area was the German Oak location in Cordova, about 10 to 15 miles away. Hayne said although MATCU has no current plans to open any new locations, future plans may include relocating some existing offices. "We have a good mix now, as far as our locations are concerned," Hayne said. "We may be relocating some of our locations in the future that we dont feel are in just the ideal location." Catherine G. McCollum, who has lived in Collierville for 33 years, has been named manager of the new Collierville branch, which will house six MATCU employees and one Members First representative. Business hours at the new branch are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Drive-through hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Its drive-through automatic teller machine is accessible 24 hours a day.