Branch Transformation
Shared Branch network celebrates 50th anniversary with tech, personalized banking
Founder of the Shared Branch network of credit unions Velera is celebrating the network's 50th anniversary by providing advanced tools to credit unions like ITMs while also keeping personal banking alive.
November 4, 2025
Banking with a local credit union comes with many advantages, from personalized service to friendly bankers. However, there are some limitations, such as being able to access ATMs when traveling or having to visit a branch to be able to conduct transactions. In order to answer these limitations, Velera, a credit union solutions provider, began its Shared Branch network 50 years ago in Detroit in 1975. Since then, the branch network has grown exponentially to more than 5,500 supporting branches in all 50 states.
Moving ahead, Velera aims to support branches by keeping them relevant in the age of AI by providing advanced self-service tools like ITMs without losing that personal banking touch.
ATM Marketplace spoke with Ashley Romero, strategic product manager, Velera, and Pete Winninger, director, product management, Velera, via an email interview to learn more about the Shared Branch network and how it's tapping into current banking trends.
Q. What's the history of the Shared Branch network?
Winninger: The Shared Branch network began in 1975 when a group of Detroit-area credit unions chose collaboration over competition, working together to give members access to more branches and services. In the 50 years since, Shared Branch has grown into a nationwide network with thousands of locations, proving how cooperation and shared resources can create real opportunities for members. It's a model unique to the credit union industry and truly reflects the credit union philosophy of "people helping people" — a motto that drives all we also do at Velera.
Q. How has it grown over the years?
Winninger: The Shared Branch network started with just five credit unions, and over the years, has grown exponentially. We now have over 5,500 branches in all 50 states, including Puerto Rico and Guam. It's evolved from a simple branch-sharing arrangement into a secure, technology-driven network that enables millions of transactions nationwide, offering more physical access points than most of the country's largest banks.
Romero:What began as a shared access solution has become a modern, innovation-driven network. We've added technology like IDCheck for real-time member verification and expanded services beyond traditional branch transactions to meet evolving member needs.
Q. What are its primary features?
Romero:The primary features of the Shared Branch network are convenience, accessibility, flexibility and member retention. The network allows members of participating credit unions to complete transactions nationwide, whether that's depositing cash, making loan payments or verifying identity in person. It also gives credit unions the ability to serve other members as acquirers, turning their branches into community hubs that welcome local and guest members while generating non-interest income.
Q. How does it benefit the average member of one of these credit unions?
Romero: The Shared Branch network gives members access to their accounts and funds, regardless of how close or far they are from their home credit union. Whether traveling, relocating, sending a child to college or purely out of convenience, it provides consistency and helps members maintain the same trusted relationship wherever life takes them. By combining local service with national reach, it also offers stability during unexpected events. For example, when one credit union was hit by a ransomware attack a few years ago, members were still able to visit other participating branches to make transactions, withdraw cash and access their accounts. That reliability gives members real peace of mind, knowing they can always count on uninterrupted access to their money and the service they trust.
Winninger:Familiarity is key. Even if members move out of state, they can still visit a nearby shared branch and be served just as they were at home. It's a lifeline that preserves their relationship with their credit union, no matter where they are.
Q. How does it tap into changing branch trends? (i.e. offering more advice and moving traditional transactions to ATMs/ITMs/online?).
Romero: The Shared Branch network meets the growing demand for digital experiences by blending speed and convenience with human connection. It's what we call a "phygital" experience, where technology and human service work together. Self-service options like ITMs make quick tasks easy, and tools like IDCheck help verify members securely, whether they're in a drive-through or at a teller window.
Branches are also being reimagined as experience centers where members can connect, get advice and explore new financial tools. This approach resonates with younger generations who value both speed and genuine relationships. The Shared Branch network helps credit unions stay relevant in this changing landscape, offering the flexibility of digital banking while keeping the personal touch that has always defined the credit union experience.
Q. What's been some of the latest developments in the Shared Branch network?
Romero: The network is constantly innovating to meet evolving member needs. Recent highlights include the launch of IDCheck in May, which has already improved fraud prevention, and the rollout of enhanced ATM and branch locator tools. We're also developing an API layer that will simplify fintech integration and create a marketplace of connected services, making it easier for credit unions to offer new solutions.
Winninger:The network stays closely connected to trends in fintech and digital currency. We don't innovate in isolation; we build alongside our credit unions, using their feedback to guide development and ensure new solutions make a real impact. We're also continually exploring opportunities for collaboration – whether through partnerships, integrations or outsourcing — to keep the network relevant and responsive to the changing needs of members and credit unions.
Q. What's the future look like for the Shared Branch network?
Romero: The future of the Shared Branch network is "phygital" — blending physical and digital experiences into one seamless journey. The network remains focused on integration, innovation and inclusion, connecting credit unions through modern APIs and next-generation tools that make transactions safer and more efficient. The goal is to keep modernizing while preserving the personal connection that has defined the network for 50 years, and will continue to define it for years to come.
Q. Anything else you'd like to add?
Romero:As we celebrate 50 years, this is both a milestone and a turning point. We're honoring a powerful legacy while looking forward to the next era of innovation and impact.
Winninger: The network is a turnkey national footprint for credit unions. Sign up, and your members instantly gain access to 5,500 branches across the country, in every state and even internationally. It gives credit unions the ability to compete with the largest financial institutions overnight, while the network itself continues to grow and evolve, creating even more opportunities for both credit unions and their members.
