Minford's gain is partially New Boston's loss, as a new branch of Desco Federal Credit Union opens in Minford while the New Boston branch closes its lobby, offering drive-thru service only.

“What I've been told, for four of five years the majority of the growth of the credit union has come from the Minford area. That's the reason they decided to build a location there,” said New Boston Branch Manager Chester Barber.

The Minford branch will open on June 11, moving all but three of their New Boston employees to the new location. Of the three, two will stay to serve the New Boston drive-thru, and one will move to Portsmouth, Barber said.

“There might be some transition time, but I don't know. They might just have us move over the weekend,” he said.

He said he doesn't believe this will cause harm to New Boston members, saying most use the drive-thru already.

Drive-thru hours also could change in the near future, Barber said, but for the moment they will remain the same.

The new location will have a night deposit, safety deposit boxes, drive-thru service and all modern facilities. Barber will move to the Minford branch as its branch manager, and the remaining drive-thru tellers in New Boston will report to Portsmouth managers.

Desco opened as the Detroit Steel Company Credit Union in 1963, Barber said, serving the area steel mill where the new Wal-Mart site is being constructed. In 1972, Desco opened the New Boston location on Vine Street.

The New Boston building, soon to be nearly vacant, could possibly be used for administrative offices in the future, and Barber said it could someday reopen if the market supports a need.