Honor Credit Union customers and employees will receive an early holiday present next week, as the bank plans to open its “new” Dowagiac office on Monday, Dec. 23, only a couple days before Christmas.

The credit union has spent the last several months renovating its Dowagiac branch, located at 56337 M-51 South, revising the facility from the ground-up to give it a more modern and open feel. From the teller booths to the drive-through window, everything about the office has been rebuilt, with Stevensville design firm Brooks Architectural providing design plans for the new structure.

“One of the key features of this new building is its use of windows,” said Kaylee Williams, a spokesperson with Honor. “We designed it around the concept of openness, so that our customers can clearly see what is going on, both inside and outside the building.”

Nearly every element about the new building follows this design trend. Bank tellers will now be stationed at pod-shaped desks, which are designed to make customer interactions feel more relaxed, Williams said. The building will also feature new coffee stations, which are more accessible to visitors.

“Our customers will be able to make themselves right at home,” Williams said.

The credit union decided to remake the old office to bring the building more in line with its Stevensville and Benton Harbor locations, which have a similar “open” design.

“They all share a similar aesthetic, which is the look that we’re aiming for with the new Dowagiac office,” Williams said.

During the months that the building was undergoing construction, the Dowagiac branch was temporarily relocated to the building next door, which presented a number of constraints for both staff and customers. Most significantly, customers were forced to go inside for all their banking needs, as the temporary office lacked a drive-through window.

While the new building takes many of its design cues from other branches, the designers also carefully considered the unique

needs of the credit union’s Dowagiac customers when drafting up plans for the redesigned structure.

“When it came time to figure out the different features of the building, we looked at the needs of the community and how we could best improve on their experience,” Williams said.

One decoration that won’t be discarded in the transition is the building’s old wood burning stove, which will retain its prominent position within the office.

“The staff won’t be getting rid of it in the move,” Williams said. “A lot of people were concerned about that.”

The credit union plans to host a grand opening for the building sometime in mid-January, Williams said. However, both old and new customers are encouraged to visit the new location when it opens next week.

“Our customers will experience the same friendly faces, in a newer, fresh facility designed for their convenience and needs,” Williams said.

The Dowagiac Honor Credit Union is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m until 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Friday.