STCU recently opened a standalone drive-thru branch at 1335 E. Main St., Othello.

It features five drive-thru lanes, four for banking transactions and one for ATM transactions.

An exterior walk-up ATM is attached to the building.

The building, which opened Oct. 31, is 2,050 square feet on a lot about a 2/3 acre in size. It is eight blocks east of STCU’s Othello branch.

The building interior includes a work space, break room, employee restrooms and a mechanical/electrical/data closet.

STCU obtained the existing Othello branch location, 450 E. Main, in 2020. Congestion at that branch's drive-thru has been a persistent issue. The new standalone drive-thru will eventually become a full-service branch. STCU said the branch represents its commitment to underserved communities across its geographic footprint.

The new Othello building is designed for future expansions to include a lobby for in-branch transactions. Conduit and other provisions are in place for a future electric-vehicle charger.

Construction cost $1.5 million. Land cost $459,000.

Cliff Thorn Construction, Richland is the general contractor.

ALSC Architects of Spokane is the architect.

Founded by teachers in 1934, STCU is a not-for-profit credit union with a full suite of financial products and services for consumers and businesses.

Based in Spokane, it has more than 270,000 members living in every state, who access their accounts online, through the STCU mobile app, or in-person at 38 branch locations in Eastern Washington, Tri-Cities, the Columbia Basin and North Idaho.

STCU has more than $5.8 billion in total assets, and more than 970 employees, who are encouraged and equipped to contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.

STCU’s next location, in Moses Lake, will open in late 2024, providing an in-person option for STCU’s 3,000 existing Grant County members, including business members. The Moses Lake branch will be at 1025 N. Stratford Roa, near the Highway 17-Stratford interchange.

Go to: stcu.org.