Sandia Area adds two branches as Albuquerque region grows.
The New Mexico credit union is expanding in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque’s South Valley, with both locations expected to open in late 2027.
Sandia Area Federal Credit Union is adding two branches in the Albuquerque area, expanding its physical network as it seeks to serve growing communities in Rio Rancho and the city’s South Valley. The Albuquerque-based credit union broke ground this week on the locations, which are expected to open in late 2027.
The new branches will bring Sandia Area’s network to nine locations. Both will include drive-through service.
The Enchanted Hills branch will occupy 4,120 square feet at 4551 Safelite Blvd. NE in north Rio Rancho, near the intersection of U.S. 550 and Safelite Boulevard. The 3,487-square-foot Westgate branch will be at 1105 Snow Vista Blvd. SW in Albuquerque, near Snow Vista and DeVargas.
The projects reflect the credit union’s continued investment in face-to-face service, said Kevin Todd, Sandia Area’s president and chief executive.
“We believe there is still value, in an increasingly impersonal world, in a welcoming space, staffed with friendly people and smartly designed to help foster collaboration,” Todd said. The new branches, he added, are designed around members and the experiences they want when visiting.
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Sandia Area is also reopening its Coors branch after months of renovations. The updated location is intended to provide a more comfortable and accessible setting for members who prefer to conduct their banking in person.
Founded in 1956, Sandia Area serves members in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales and Santa Fe, as well as communities across 10 New Mexico counties. It is the state’s fourth-largest credit union.
The institution had $1.4 billion in assets and 72,160 members. It earned $12.6 million in the first three quarters of 2026, down from $13.2 million in the same period a year earlier, according to National Credit Union Administration call report data.
The expansion will extend Sandia Area’s reach in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe region, where it already serves a broad area that includes Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties, among others.
“We believe there is still value, in an increasingly impersonal world, in a welcoming space, staffed with friendly people and smartly designed to help foster collaboration.”
Kevin Todd
President & CEO
Sandia Area Federal Credit Union
Ken McCarthy is manager of marketing communications at Tyfone, where he monitors the credit union industry and contributes to conversations shaping its future. He previously covered credit unions and community banking for American Banker and S&P Global Market Intelligence. He holds a journalism degree from Point Park University and has more than 15 years of experience covering financial services. He is also the author of three literary fiction novels.
