Redwood Credit Union (RCU) recently reinforced its commitment to the region by celebrating the entrepreneurs who drive local economies and expanding its physical footprint to better serve its members. By focusing on relationship-driven banking and modern convenience, the credit union continues to position itself as a vital partner for both individual and business community growth.
Recently, during the recognition of Small Business Month, RCU highlighted the impact of local makers and innovators. One standout example is the Southgate Flex Building in Napa. Created by Linda Parks, the former owner of Lixit Corp. and Equitex, this 50,000-square-foot warehouse was recently transformed from a factory into a vibrant co-working and light industrial space for artists and small businesses.
Parks noted that RCU’s support was instrumental during her transition, providing competitive certificate and money market account rates, business insurance services, and a commercial real estate mortgage. “Redwood Credit Union is different,” Parks shared. “I can pick up the phone and get help whenever I need it… switching to RCU was a breeze.”
The spirit of community referral also plays a major role in RCU’s growth. Parks was referred to the credit union by Napa business owners Laurie and Alonso Corona, who co-own Equitex and Napa Canvas alongside Ben Mendoza. The Coronas turned to RCU when forming an LLC to purchase their businesses—Equitex, which creates custom products for the high-end equestrian industry, and Napa Canvas, which specializes in residential and commercial awnings.
“Based on my personal experience, I knew RCU would take the time to understand our business and develop real solutions,” said Laurie Corona. “The RCU team consistently goes above and beyond — often suggesting products and services I hadn’t considered that ultimately save my business time and money.”
RCU’s dedication to small business is backed by significant resources. The credit union is currently the No. 1 SBA 504 lender in the Northern California Market and a Preferred SBA Lender (U.S. Small Business Administration). This designation allows for faster loan processing and local decision-making, which is critical for small business agility.
“Small businesses don’t just need financial products — they need a partner who listens and understands what they’re building,” says Steve Ward, senior vice president of business services. RCU currently serves more than 21,000 local businesses, providing a full suite of services including deposit accounts, SBA and commercial lending, insurance, credit cards, merchant services, and expert financial guidance.
In addition to fostering business relationships, RCU is recently improving member access through infrastructure upgrades across its 22 branches in the North Bay and San Francisco. A primary example is the Ukiah branch, which recently moved from its former location on S. Orchard Boulevard to a modern, full-service space at 414 E. Perkins Street in the Pear Tree Shopping Center.
The new branch features a spacious, contemporary layout designed to enhance the member experience and support easier interaction between members and staff. Notable upgrades include:
“This milestone reflects our deep commitment to this community and to our members, creating a space designed to make banking easier and more convenient,” said Brett Martinez, CEO of RCU.
The Ukiah team continues to offer comprehensive banking solutions, ranging from high-yield savings and free checking to no-haggle auto-buying services and free financial coaching. Whether through supporting industrial co-working spaces in Napa or opening modern retail branches, Redwood Credit Union continues to demonstrate that personal service and modern technology can go hand-in-hand.
