Inside USF Credit Union’s Unique Tampa General Hospital Branch

At one of Florida’s largest hospitals, you'll find something you might not expect: a USF Credit Union branch built around the people who work there.

Our Tampa General Hospital branch primarily serves healthcare workers - nurses, doctors, technicians, staff and others who spend their days caring for our community.

And because it's a smaller branch, we’re able to slow down, get to know our members and understand what's really going on in their financial lives.

"So it's not just transactional necessarily, quick in and out," Branch Manager Austin A. says. "We really see like, okay, what is going on? Where are you at in your financial life right now? What can we do to help or educate you?"

That's the personal touch that makes this branch different.

Banking That Fits Into the Workday

Healthcare workers don't always have the luxury of stepping away from work to take care of their finances.  That's where being inside the hospital makes a difference.

"These people don't necessarily have the chance to go to a traditional branch because they're at work," Austin says. "Being able to pop in here and get that information while they're on a quick break makes a huge difference."

A quick stop can be all it takes.

It might be an opportunity to save money on an auto loan, explore a certificate or simply learn about a financial option they didn't know was available.

You Start Seeing the Same Faces

There's another benefit to being a smaller branch: the team gets to know its members.

Austin noticed the difference after moving from the much busier Fletcher branch.

"At Fletcher, you know, you're so busy. There's so many different people that come in and out," she says. "Here it's different because I'm seeing the same people for years now."

Those relationships have become part of everyday life.

"I will, you know, go to the bathroom, go buy a soda, and I'm saying hi to five different people that are members that we see all the time."

Kyle S. sees the same thing.

"I have members that come in here every day just to say hello, stop by," he says. "They knock on the glass there and they just wave at me. And they keep going about their day."

Sometimes, members even call just to find out if Kyle is working that day.

"I love it here," Kyle says. "The connection we have is not normal. It's not a normal thing that you can get at any other job, which I appreciate."

That's what happens when banking becomes personal.

When Members Need a Little More

Knowing your members also means being there when life doesn't go according to plan.

Austin remembers a member who came in after a storm caused a tree to fall on her house. She needed an emergency loan to cover a $1,000 insurance deductible.

"At first I didn't think we were going to be able to assist her," Austin says. "But we really dove in, looked at what else we can pay off to make this work."

The team found a way.

They paid off a couple of credit cards and were able to provide the $1,000 she needed—all in the same day.

"That was a huge help," Austin says.

That's the difference between simply processing a request and taking the time to understand the person behind it.

Sometimes, It's Just About Being There

Not every interaction involves a loan or a major financial decision.

Sometimes, members just need a little help with everyday life.

Kyle remembers helping a member pay his rent, even though the transaction involved sending money from another bank.

"He was sending a Zelle from another bank to another person," Kyle says. "I helped a member pay his rent."

It's a small moment, but it's exactly the kind of interaction that happens when members feel comfortable asking for help.

"When you first hear bank in a hospital, you think doctors and, you know, maybe high dollar amount things," Kyle says. "But working here, you really get a little bit of everything."

Part of the Tampa General Community

The Tampa General team isn't simply located inside the hospital. They're part of the community there.

They participate in orientations, attend breakfasts and other events, and look for ways to support the people they serve.

During Nurses Week, the team set up a special lunch with several food trucks to give nurses a chance to grab a meal and take a break.

For Austin, being present is part of what makes the branch feel connected to the hospital community.

"I feel part of the community here because... I'm so present all the time," he says. "We do different events. We do the orientations. We attend different breakfasts and stuff like that."

When healthcare workers discover there's a credit union branch right where they work, the reaction is often immediate.

"When they find out we're here, you can see how they like the ease, the convenience of knowing, oh, I can just go to the bank when I'm at work," Kyle says. "They love it."

Banking Where You Are

At our Tampa General Hospital branch, we're not just conveniently located.

We're part of the community we serve.

And that's Better Banking for All.

Please note that the Tampa General Hospital Branch is exclusively accessible to TGH staff and patients and is not open to the general public.