In an increasingly digital age, it’s refreshing to see aspects of our lives where the convenience of technology and the personal nature of human interaction can still co-exist. And when it comes to being personal, there aren’t many things more personal than our financial affairs.

But a trend toward brick-and-mortar branch consolidations and closures, and increased pressure for consumers to go digital-only, risks minimizing the personal touch in personal banking. Many of us, myself included, still have a need and sometimes even a preference for conducting business in person, even as some financial institutions are going in a different direction.

The experience of walking into a branch, taking care of our banking needs face-to-face, and taking a few extra minutes to get to know the person on the other side of the counter has the ability to transform what would otherwise be an ordinary transaction into a meaningful interaction. After all, in a community like Redmond, these are the very same people we cross paths with at the grocery store, dog park, or our kids’ soccer games.

There’s no question that digital banking has firmly rooted itself in society, particularly following the pandemic when in-person services were not always available. Like many other businesses, financial institutions have an obligation to keep up with evolving behaviors and demand, and so these digital options remain not only convenient for some, they are often necessary.

The ability to deposit a paycheck or transfer funds from our phones 24/7 is a convenience we can all appreciate. But there are some things, ranging from simple everyday transactions to more complex matters, like deciding whether a cash-out refi or HELOC makes more sense or getting a teen started with their first debit card, that many still like to handle in person, regardless of their ability to do so digitally.

For those occasions and more, it’s nice to know you can still walk into a branch to take care of your banking needs, trading notes on the Redmond-Ridgeview football game in the process. And that some financial institutions, including local, member-owned community credit unions, still prioritize people over profit, keeping their focus where it should be — on strengthening the community.

After all, there are more important ways to gauge success than the bottom line, whether through awarding college scholarships to local seniors, sponsoring and volunteering with area nonprofits, supporting the local 4-H club, or making financial education more interesting (and maybe even fun) for students and young adults. And while a community’s trust doesn’t show up on a balance sheet or in an earnings report, for some that’s the ultimate bottom line.

Banking digitally versus in person doesn’t have to be an either-or proposition. We can have the best of both worlds when it comes to choosing when, where, and how we interact with our financial institution. And it’s reassuring to know that personal banking — whether in person or online — is still personal to some. In that regard, there’s no question that community banking is not only surviving but thriving right here in Redmond.

— Tim Dizney is the branch manager of SELCO Community Credit Union’s North Redmond branch, which opened May 9.