LorMet Opens headquarters in Amherst

by JOHN LASKO

News-Times reporter

In May, the city of Amherst became home to LorMet Community Federal Credit Union's new 29,000 square foot corporate headquarters at 2051 Cooper Foster Park Road.

Construction crews put the finishing touches on the $4.3 million, two-story building, which was started in March, 2007.

"We wanted to design an organization that was going to really be open, airy and inviting where a substantial amount of the space that we have is for the membership," said Dan Cwalina, who is president and chief executive officer of LorMet.

Cwalina chose Amherst because one of LorMet's branches, which was 700 feet to the east of their new location on Cooper Foster Park Road, is one of their busiest locations within the county.

"This was a key area for what we wanted to accomplish -- one facility addressing our main branch restrictions," Cwalina said.

LorMet's former corporate office on East 28th Street in Lorain is nearly 52 years old and did not have adequate space to expand.

On top of that, their former branch in Amherst is only 2,500 square feet. Cwalina acknowledged it was difficult to do anything with the former banking center because there were no drive-through teller lines.

"One of the key aspects of this building is that we have three full service drive-throughs -- very critical -- we also (did) not have that in Lorain," Cwalina said. "Also we are going to have an independent financial agent on-site from IRG and I find many people would like to see a broker but don't feel comfortable doing so whether it's to discuss their 401K program or other planning in the future. It's something that has been asked about for years."

Cwalina said LorMet's nearly 22,000 members see the same employees in the Amherst branch they had come to know.

"It was very important to us to be able to invite members of the community in for seminars that we're going to host on credit building, education, estate planning, financial planning. These are the things that so many other financial institutions don't do and we want to be more then just an organization where you deposit your funds or cash checks," Cwalina said. "That was the thought process behind this building. It's not a cookie-cutter design. It was a vision we had and we drew around that vision and the end result is here."

The atrium lobby features a waiting area with a 52-inch television mounted to the wall, which Cwalina says is turned to one of the various cable news channels.

Another 52-inch television hanging over the teller line displays the bank's updated services and rates on such products as CDs, checking accounts, savings accounts, car loans and mortgages.

There is also space behind the receptionist desk where local car dealers will be invited to display one or two of their new vehicles.

"It would be neat to see one or two small convertibles in the lobby. It's intriguing because you just don't see that type of thing happening inside other financial institutions," he said.

Cwalina has also leased space to Elie Moussa, owner of Rubin's Deli in Elyria, to include an Arabica coffee shop inside the lobby.

Moussa purchased an Arabica franchise and this will be one of many locations throughout the county.

"Banking does not have to be a chore, it should be fun," Cwalina said. "I think it is going to be appreciated, I think it is going to be value added and I've had more comments about people saying 'wouldn't it be nice if I stopped in for a coffee,' plus whether they are a member, or a customer, or they are a drive-by and they want to stop in for a coffee."

Cwalina credits John Dietrich, the president of Amherst city council, as the man who steered the company to two acres of land in front of Amherst Plaza.

In March, 2003, LorMet purchased the land from the plaza owner.

"This building is a culmination of what we have accomplished and that we're an organization of people, not dollars," Cwalina said. "We're only as good as the people who are rendering the services on site."

LorMet was originally chartered as a steel mill credit union in 1936. Because of this, Cwalina, along with the board of directors, thought it was very important to utilize a contractor from Lorain County.

The company hired Twinsburg- based Town Center Construction -- a construction management firm, which allows the company to pick their own subcontractors, as opposed to a general contractor who selects their own work force.

"We're here for Lorain County, we're here because of Lorain County," Cwalina said. "We did something that most financial institutions don't do. We balanced this work force true to our heritage -- union and non-union -- it's a balanced project and we're investing in our own labor force and the residents and the families of Lorain County."

Cwalina has a degree in accounting and he is also a licensed attorney.

In 1987, he began his career in the banking industry in Cleveland and has spent a total of 11 years as present and chief executive officer of LorMet.

In addition to Amherst, LorMet has branches in Lorain, Elyria and Wellington.