Looking back, Jack Westerfeldt says the board of directors of what's now Complex Community Federal Credit Union made a wise decision in 1995, en it expanded its membership to all of Odessa. Previously, it had been open only to employees of the Odessa Petrochemical Complex.

"We were looking ahead," said Westerfeldt, who has been on the board since 1994. "Even though we didn't think this would ever happen out here, in other locations credit unions were having problems."

 Those problems hit home last year, when Flint Hills Resources announced it would be closing the complex. But although few people work at the 52-year-old plant anymore, the credit union that took its name from the complex isn't planning on going anywhere.

Now, the credit union has 27,000 members and serves 11 Permian Basin counties, said Jason Berridge, the bank's chief executive officer.

While Berridge said the lobby of the credit union's branch near the chemical plant was usually packed on paydays, it no longer relies just on employees there. But he is concerned about the loss.

"I hope it doesn't have a major effect on the credit union," he said. "But when you lose 500 jobs, it's going to have an effect, you just don't know what the end result will be."

The future of the location near the petrochemical complex is the "million-dollar question," Berridge said. Though the credit union plans to keep it open for now, whether it stays open will depend on whether traffic in the area remains strong.

Among the factors weighing in to the branch staying open is whether REXtac LLC, formerly Orion Pacific-Orrex, is able to go through with its plans to keep one of the plant's production lines - and 101 jobs - nearby, Westerfeldt said. The complex being redeveloped is also a factor.

"Long range, we'll have to see how the economics work," said Westerfeldt, a Complex Community member since 1967.

But the credit union is continuing to expand elsewhere. A new branch is under construction in Andrews.

Berridge said the branch, which should open in early August, has been planned for more than a year, before the local economy followed the national downward.

"Andrews is a good little community," he said. "We're excited to give the people of Andrews another choice in their financial services."

Complex Community now has three branches in Odessa, two in Midland and one in Monahans.

The credit union is just now seeing some of the effects that have brought down financial institutions worldwide, Berridge said. But he said it still has fewer delinquencies than comparable institutions and continues to loan money.

"The short and simple thing I can tell you is God is smiling on us," he said. "I don't think it's near the volume or the weight of what they're having in other parts of the country."

Westerfeldt said the credit union remains one of the largest between Dallas and El Paso.

"And in my opinion, we're the best," he said.

Counties where membership to Complex Community Credit Union is allowed.

>> Ector.

>> Gaines.

>> Andrews.

>> Martin.

>> Winkler.

>> Midland.

>> Ward.

>> Crane.

>> Upton.

>> Reeves.

>> Pecos.