By Jen Wilkinson, FEO, June 11, 2026, Volume 7, Issue 20

Meridian Credit Union’s decision to close its Stevensville branch has left many local residents disappointed and searching for answers about the future of banking services in the community.

The closure, announced to members earlier this spring, has prompted concerns among residents, particularly seniors and those who rely on in-person banking services. A community petition opposing the closure has also begun circulating.

Seeking clarification on the decision, the Fort Erie Observer contacted Stevensville Branch Manager Karrie Haynes. Questions were subsequently directed to Meridian’s Head of External Relations, Erick Bauer, who provided a statement on behalf of the credit union.

In its response, Meridian said the closure is part of broader changes occurring throughout the financial services industry.

“Meridian regularly reviews its branch network to ensure we are meeting the evolving needs of our members while continuing to operate sustainably as a member-owned organization,” the statement said.

The credit union noted that more members are choosing to bank digitally, resulting in reduced demand for many in-person services.

“Like many financial institutions, we are seeing a continued shift in how Members choose to bank, with more day-to-day transactions happening digitally and less reliance on in-branch services,” Meridian stated.

Meridian said Stevensville members will continue to have access to nearby branches and that accounts will automatically be transferred to the closest location based on members’ home addresses. The credit union also stated that support will be available for members who require assistance, including seniors and those needing help navigating digital banking services.

Meridian further indicated that its priority is to retain employees currently working at the Stevensville branch by identifying opportunities elsewhere within its network.

While the statement addressed the transition process, it did not provide specific details regarding how long the closure had been under consideration or whether alternatives to a full closure had been explored.

For local business owners Darryl and Margaret Rocky, of Mae’s Place, however, the closure presents practical challenges beyond simple inconvenience.

While some of their banking is done online, they regularly rely on the Stevensville branch for cash deposits and obtaining change for daily operations.

“Many businesses like ours have small staff operations and cannot leave one person to run the business while another drives a 40-minute round trip to get change,” said Darryl.

The couple stated that they have banked with Meridian for 27 years and expressed frustration with the decision.

“We’ve been banking here with Meridian for 27 years. They just don’t care,” Margaret said.

In response to a request for comment from the Fort Erie Observer, Mayor Wayne Redekop shared details of a conversation he had with Meridian Chief Operating Officer Wade Stayzer following the announcement.

Redekop described the closure as both “surprising” and “disappointing,” particularly given the continued growth taking place in Stevensville.

According to the mayor, Meridian cited several factors behind the decision, including increased use of digital banking services, declining demand for in-person transactions, a lack of growth in the branch’s customer base over the past five years, and a relatively small number of local mortgage holders.

“I expressed that I had heard that local customers are not happy, have been circulating a petition for Meridian to reverse its decision and that the closure is curious when the Town, and Stevensville in particular, is growing significantly,” Redekop said.

The mayor said Meridian acknowledged that some members may choose to leave the credit union as a result of the closure, but indicated that its Fort Erie branch has the capacity to serve customers who decide to remain.

Redekop also asked whether Meridian would reconsider its decision.

“I asked whether the MCU would reconsider its decision.” The answer he received was ‘No.’

According to Redekop, Meridian intends to sell the Stevensville branch building and has already received interest from potential buyers, including one that could bring a new business to the community.

The mayor noted that the Stevensville closure follows other reductions in local banking services over recent years, including the closure of the Bank of Montreal branch in Fort Erie and the consolidation of services by other financial institutions.

“This is now the third financial institution that has reduced its presence in or left Fort Erie,” said Redekop. “The loss of any business in town is a cause for concern, particularly when residents rely on that business for regular, important services.”

For residents who prefer face-to-face banking, the closure will likely mean travelling farther for services or considering other financial institutions.

For many Stevensville residents, the closure represents more than a change in banking location. It marks the loss of another longstanding local service and raises broader questions about how smaller communities will continue to access essential services as more organizations move toward digital-first models.