Albuquerque, New Mexico — Thursday, April 2 — After opening late last year, Sunward Federal Credit Union welcomed members, employees, local businesses, and the community to a celebration of its new South Valley branch on Saturday.
Sunward first opened its South Valley branch, located at 1625 Rio Bravo Blvd. SW, Suite 6, in early November 2025 after announcing the new branch the month prior. A grand opening celebration scheduled earlier this year was postponed due to inclement weather.
The new branch helps Sunward more directly and personally serve its members across the South Valley, a community with a thriving culture and entrepreneurial spirit.
“We’re here in the South Valley because it reflects who we are and where we’re going,” said Steph Sherrodd, President and CEO of Sunward. “We’re redefining the cooperative spirit by showing up differently and creating better experiences for our members and communities. The South Valley is the heart of New Mexico: vibrant, resilient, and full of opportunity. We’re proud to invest here and grow alongside this community.”
Already, in the first few months since opening, Sunward has assisted new members and business owners in setting up personal and business accounts, while supporting existing members in services including consolidation and refinancing.
For instance, one member was able to help their spouse retire after consolidating several loans. Another member saw their interest rate lowered by nearly 20% compared to what it was before refinancing with Sunward at the South Valley branch.
“We’ve been open for a few months now, and the excitement I hear from folks is what really inspires me day-after-day,” Ivan Olvera, Sunward South Valley Branch Manager, said during the celebration. “This community is why we do what we do. We’re open and ready to meet our members where they’re at, for whatever they need.”
The South Valley branch is Sunward’s tenth to open in the Albuquerque metro and 16th to open across New Mexico, Colorado, and California.
The South Valley branch opening followed Sunward’s expansion into Durango, Colorado, in May 2025, its first location in that state.
In February, Sunward announced further expansion plans, with its Ladera branch set to open on Albuquerque’s Westside near Coors Boulevard and Ladera Drive in fall 2026. The Ladera branch will be Sunward’s 17th total branch and 11th in the Albuquerque metro area.
Sunward Federal Credit Union is one of New Mexico’s largest credit unions, serving over 173,000 members and managing more than $4.6 billion in assets. Formed in 1948 by employees of Sandia National Laboratories, Sunward’s footprint spans 16 branches across the Southwest and California.
Sunward has been named one of America’s Best Regional Credit Unions by Newsweek and Albuquerque’s Best Bank by the Albuquerque Journal’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Anyone can apply to open an account, and members can enjoy access to checking, savings, mortgage, auto, credit card and investment services.
Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender. For more information, visit gosunward.org.
