News Photo by Crystal Nelson Diane Cordes, manager of Calcite Credit Union’s Posen branch, works at her desk on Thursday.

POSEN — In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, employees at Calcite Credit Union’s Posen branch continue to serve members happily.

Overseeing the handful of employees at the branch is Manager and Plastics Specialist Diane Cordes, who started at the bank as a part-time teller nearly 20 years ago.

Cordes took a chance on the credit union because there was room for advancement. She volunteered to work nearly every job that became available. She said she quietly worked her way up through the ranks, but being in the right spot at the right time helped.

“It has become a job I truly love,” she said. “Even in today’s atmosphere, it’s still fun to come to work every day.”

Cordes said her coworkers make the work atmosphere fun, and that she always feels fulfilled when she helps a customer resolve problems with their debit or credit cards.

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Jenna Hincka, teller and loan processor at Calcite Credit Union’s Posen branch, on Thursday wipes down the tube used to service drive-thru customers.

“It’s a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day, that you’ve helped somebody in that situation,” she said. “They’re usually pretty upset and scared when that happens, and you’re able to talk them through it and provide an easy resolution.”

While she looks forward to seeing her customers each day, coronavirus-related restrictions have caused changes in day-to-day interactions, including limiting business to the drive-thru.

“It’s been really different because we don’t have the face-to-face with members,” she said. “The girls up there do see them in the drive-thru all the time, so they are still able to interact with members.”

Internally, the bank has put protocols in place to keep both customers and employees safe, Cordes said.

The tellers clean the drive-thru tubes, clipboards, and pens with sanitizing wipes after each customer. Employees also have access to hand sanitizer and all of the surfaces in the bank, such as countertops and desktops, are cleaned at the end of each day.

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Diane Cordes, manager of Calcite Credit Union’s Posen Branch, opens the door of the Calcite Credit Union’s branch in Posen.

Cordes said employees work in separate spaces, with two tellers spaced apart at the drive-thru and two other employees working in separate offices.

Calcite Credit Union CEO Barb Mills said some staff have transitioned to work from home, while others learned to help members in a different way. She said the credit union already offered many online services, but the biggest challenge is getting its 9,000 members to use those services.

“We adapted very quickly,” Mills said. “Our members adapted very quickly.”

Mills said the credit union has adopted “a wait-and-see approach” on reopening its lobby.

She said the next milestone she is watching for is what happens on June 12, when the governor’s order that Michiganders stay home unless absolutely necessary expires.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.