Wells Fargo opened its second Westwood Village location Monday in an effort to bring more banking services closer to campus.
The new branch is located in the Holmby Hall clock tower building at Le Conte Avenue and Westwood Boulevard, about half a mile closer to campus than the branch on the first floor of the UCLA Wilshire Center. The new location is about a 10-minute walk from campus.
Wells Fargo spokesperson Fabiola Brenes-Gonzalez said the bank chose to open a new location closer to campus because a large number of its clients are UCLA students.
The new branch, which will be staffed with nine staff members, is about four times smaller than the one on Wilshire Boulevard, said Brenes-Gonzalez. This is the 14th Wells Fargo branch to open within the last year, she added.
The bank will offer similar services to other branches such as loans, credit lending and one-on-one consultations, Brenes-Gonzalez said. It will also feature two indoor ATMs and a mural of old UCLA and Westwood photos, she said.
Wells Fargo also has six ATMs on campus and three ATMs on Kinross and Gayley avenues outside Bel Air Camera.
Some students who bank with Wells Fargo said they think having a branch closer to campus is convenient for students who may need to use the bank’s services, while others said they prefer using on-campus ATMs.
Victor Shiau, a graduate student in public health who uses Wells Fargo, said he thinks having more Wells Fargo ATMs is convenient for students when they need cash to shop in Westwood Village.
He added he would have preferred another ATM instead of a bank, so another retail store could occupy the space.
Chris Walthers, a postdoctoral student who uses Wells Fargo services, said he doesn’t plan to frequent the new location because the ATM in Ackerman Union is more conveniently located.
He added he thinks other students might find the new location useful because they can more conveniently access full bank services that ATMs cannot provide.
Brenes-Gonzalez said the bank will host a media day to welcome the new branch to the Village Oct. 13. The event will feature an appearance from a Major League Soccer player.