More financial services are coming to the Route 9 Corridor in New Castle County thanks to a community initiative to end the so-called “banking desert” there.
Del-One Federal Credit Union cut the ribbon on a new ITM, or interactive teller machine, at the Rosehill Community Center south of Wilmington Wednesday.
The addition brings some banking services to the Route 9 Corridor, where many residents, like Tarik Wheeler, rely on liquor stores to cash paychecks.
“The bank’s not really near our way anyway, and most people are either on bikes or walking, so it’s out of range,” said Wheeler, after cashing a check with his partner at a liquor store Friday. “So we just work with the liquor stores, and that’s how they make their money off of us.”
Officials from Dover-based Del-One say they were attracted to the Route 9 Corridor through the grassroots “Banking Desert Initiative,” led by Larry Lambert of Claymont and Route 9 resident Ronald Handy, Sr. The initiative aims to bring a banking institution to the underserved corridor.
Del-One CEO Ronald Baron says the Rosehill ITM operates like an ATM, but with the option to interact with a live teller. Del-One staff will also visit the community center 3pm-7pm on Wednesdays and 9am-12pm on Saturdays to answer questions and enroll those who qualify into the credit union.
Baron says Del-One also plans to open a branch at the building that formerly housed Elbert-Palmer Elementary School in Southbridge, Wilmington.
