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Mike Tucker, president and CEO of the West Virginia Central Credit Union, speaks Thursday during a groundbreaking ceremony in Vienna. The credit union will begin construction on its third facility by the end of the month, hoping to better expand services into Vienna, Boaz and Williamstown.

VIENNA - Officials broke ground Thursday morning on the third office of the West Virginia Central Credit Union.

The office will be located at 1701 Grand Central Ave. and will be the group's first location in Vienna. The credit union has offices in north and south Parkersburg.

Officials said they hope to have construction on the Vienna site started by the end of the month.

"I believe we are opening a new chapter of our story, our credit union story," said Mike Tucker, president and CEO of the credit union. "Now we are going to come into the Vienna area and this will allow us to become more accessible."

Tucker said the credit union serves nearly 18,000 customers, but only about 1,400 of those members live within the Vienna, Boaz and Williamstown areas. Having a branch located within Vienna will allow the credit union to provide better service to those members while bringing in new customers.

"This location will be key," he said.

Members of the West Virginia Central Credit Union's staff, board of directors, charter members and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley and the city of Vienna were on hand to help with the ceremony.

The groundbreaking event also coincided with International Credit Union Day, and the West Virginia Central Credit Union will celebrate its 40th anniversary later this month.

Ken Watts, treasurer for the credit union, said International Credit Union Day provides " a time to reflect on the traditions of credit unions, the philosophy of credit unions and the hard work of their founders."

More photos of the groundbreaking event can be found at cu.newsandsentinel.com/we/.