The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG-Last week saw the demolition of the building located at the junction of Highway 12 and Highway 124 in Waitsburg. The building, which was formerly owned by Richard Lybecker, was purchased by Freedom's Northwest Credit Union (FNWCU) as the future site of a Freedom's Outpost.

Freedom's Outpost sites benefit both travelers and community members, said FNWCU CEO Scott Garrett.

Each "community-friendly" site is outfitted with a bench, bike rack, water dispenser, wi-fi, free air, and a charging station in addition to a deposit-accepting ATM. He said park-like landscaping includes lit curbing and an American flag.

"Someone can pull into town on a bike, rest, charge their phone, fill their water bottle, get cash and check in with family," Garrett said.

As for locals, the Freedom's Outpost is a way for community members to take advantage of FNWCU services.

"We have the highest deposit rates in the region. This is a mid-stop option that allows people to conduct business with us. We can conduct almost every part of banking through the site or via phone or email," Garrett said.

Another community perk is free community signage. Each outpost is outfitted with a scrolling LED sign, but the sign content is left to the community to determine.

"It's your community, it's your sign," Garrett said.

Communities simply send an email with the community service, event, or public notice that they would like to have displayed on the sign.

Freedom Northwest Credit Union was established in Kamiah, Ida. in 1963 and operated under the name Kamiah Community Credit Union until 2016. The company has full-service branches in Kamiah and Kooskia, Idaho, with a loan processing center in Lewiston.

Garrett said FNWCU currently has Freedom's Outposts in Clarkston, Colfax and Grangeville. The Waitsburg Outpost will be one of five new Outposts planned for this year.

Garrett said he regularly noticed the site on his travels between Kamiah and Portland, Ore. and thought it would be a good Outpost site.

"We like to have our messaging on a major thoroughfare and we also like to be available to an underserved community that becomes the primary usage of the Outpost. We recently put a Freedom's Outpost in Uniontown, which just lost their only bank," Garrett said.

"Sometimes, we're the only way that people can get banking services. In some communities the old teller-model doesn't make sense financially," he added.

Garrett said FNWCU views the Outposts as a complementary part of the entire operation.

"We decided to spend our human capital on problem solving. If someone has a card that doesn't work, needs a loan or wants to make sure they have the right insurance coverage, they can call and we'll help with that. We can let the machines dispense the cash," he said.

Garrett said a grand opening will be planned when the Freedom's Outpost is complete, and staff will be on hand to meet the community. He also said staff members are assigned to each Outpost and will visit the community regularly.