Spokane-based United Health Services Credit Union plans to construct a new branch office in Spokane Valley.

Chuck Zeller, the credit union's CEO, says in a press release that the branch will be located at 16402 E. Sprague. The branch office will be a stand-alone, 3,700-square-foot structure with a drive-thru area.

Longwell+Trapp Architects PLLC, of Hayden, Idaho, designed the project. No contractor has been announced yet.

United Health declines to disclose the project value. Spokane County records show the credit union bought the nearly 1-acre vacant lot at the southeast corner of Sprague and Conklin in 2008 for $435,000.

Mike Turbak, Spokane Valley permit center coordinator, says the project is in the predevelopment stage of the permitting process, and building permit applications haven't been submitted to the city yet.

The new location will provide more convenience for current United Health members who live and work in Spokane Valley and the surrounding area and will provide the credit union an opportunity to increase membership, Zeller says.

The new branch will have a staff of four or five people, including the manager, he says.

The full-service branch will originate loans, handle new accounts, and offer teller transactions, as well as safety deposit boxes.

United Health has about 9,000 members. Its roots here date back to 1960, when employees of Sacred Heart Medical Center formed a credit union.

Today, membership is open to anyone who lives, works, or worships in Eastern Washington, the credit union's website says.

The Spokane Valley branch will be United Health's third branch. Its corporate branch is located at 603 S. Washington.

It also shares facilities with Spokane Federal Credit Union and Progressions Credit Union, at 1212 W. Francis, on the North Side.

United Health reported $99 million in assets of as of June 30, up from $97.4 million a year earlier, documents filed with the National Credit Union Administration show.

Deposits and loans also had increased modestly year over year. The credit union reported, however, that its second quarter net income was $130,721, down from $354,200 in the year-earlier period.