The Northwest Activities Center is undergoing a renaissance of sorts. Since Fifth Third Bank began forming a partnership with the 37-year-old community center, things have begun to change for the better and on Saturday October 19, Fifth Third will celebrate its grand opening of the new micro-branch located just inside the center (see related story on page B-2).
The micro-branch, a new type of banking center for Fifth Third Bank, boasts “branch of the future” style features and provides customers and community residents the flexibility to do their banking where they play. The micro-branch is a “cash-less” branch, meaning there will be no cash transactions on the premises. There will, however, be other banking services available to customers that include ATM services, online banking and bill payment. Also, individuals can open an account at the NWAC micro-branch. Customers will also be able to make appointments for loan closings at the new micro-branch.
Customers that need to make cash-based or more involved banking transactions can visit the full-service branch at Eight Mile and Livernois which serves as the parent branch, or any one of our other four Detroit area branches.
“We are excited about the new branch,” said Sue Golembiewski, vice president and regional manager, “This micro-branch is one of a few of its kind in our market and it has been a great success since we opened our doors in August.”
While significant in its own right, the micro-branch is not the only change the Northwest Activities Center has experienced recently. Fifth Third Bank has also invested $800,000 in the center itself. The center has good bones, an important history in the area and is one of the most popular and heavily trafficked city-owned community centers in Detroit, having more than 300,000 visitors each year. The upgrades, many of them cosmetic, are currently in progress. Revitalization of the first floor includes new carpeting, furniture and upgraded technology that adds wi-fi to the first floor.
The partnership is not only skin deep. It includes a commitment to Mayor Bing’s Active and Safe Campaign for recreational programs and to the northwest Detroit community in particular. The Northwest Activities Center is an important anchor in northwest Detroit and many residents in the community and in the city at large rely on its continued presence to hold functions, conduct business and deliver programming and services for reasonable rates and fees that most city residents and community groups can afford.
Added investments for the center include a Mac computer lab, and an upgraded conference room that will be available for use by nonprofit organizations, a redesign of the center’s website including site administration, and new marketing materials. Fifth Third also installed a copier with newer technology. In the months to come, the bank will begin programming financial literacy education programs and classes that residents can take advantage of. The bank has plans to include financial literacy education as part of the Northwest Activity Center’s permanent programming.
“I can’t wait to get started,” said Warren Morgan, assistant vice president and new financial center manager for the Eight Mile and Livernois branch and the NWAC micro-branch. “When you think about a partnership and our strong tradition of outreach, there’s a lot of promise here and we have a lot to offer the community. I feel at home already.”
The micro-branch will have non-traditional hours and will be open:
Monday 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Friday 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
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