The Downtown Fresno branch of Noble Credit Union reopened at 2440 Tulare St. in 2017. Photo contributed by Noble Credit Union.

Noble Credit Union, formerly known as Fresno County Federal Credit Union, is preparing to relocate from its Downtown Fresno home at Merced and Van Ness avenues, where it has been located since 1988.

Last week, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted for the assessor-recorder’s office to enter escrow to purchase the office for $2.4 million.

Paul Dictos, Fresno County assessor-recorder, said the building will house his office, where people come daily to pickup birth certificates or record real estate documents.

It will provide nearly 70 dedicated parking spaces — something the previous office in the Hall of Records did not, Dictos said.

Keri Bennitt, chief marketing officer for Noble Credit Union, said the credit union previously had no plans to relocate the office. But when it was approached by the county about a possible sale, credit union officials felt it would be a good opportunity to help serve the public.

“They can truly better utilize this space better than we did,” Bennitt said of the assessor-recorder’s office.

The new credit union location will be across the street from the Robert E. Coyle Federal Courthouse at 2440 Tulare St. It will be located on the ground floor next to a Westamerica Bank office as part of the Civic Center Square development. The new facility will feature about 6,000 square-feet of public banking space, comparable to the current office.

Bennitt anticipates the new branch will open in the beginning of 2018. She said the new branch will allow for better parking options, “something members have been requesting for years.”