That means when you’re heading into work early, swinging by after dinner, or cashing that last-minute check, you can take care of your finances on your own time.
📅 Easy options every day of the week
No more rearranging your lunch break to run errands.
Weekday branches stay open late, and on Saturdays and Sundays, you can visit a teller or use Coastal’s Personal Teller Machines to deposit checks, withdraw cash, make transfers, and more — all while talking to a real human.
🎟️ Local perks that add up
The member benefits don’t stop there, either. From special-priced tickets to Carolina Hurricanes games to exclusive presale and discounts for concerts at Coastal Credit Union Music Park, you’ll start noticing more and more places where it pays to be part of team Coastal.
Love visiting the NC Zoo? There are discounts there, too, for even more wild adventures.
Start exploring more member perks, or visit a nearby branch to learn more about the process from a friendly face.
Step aside, Can Opener — you’ve got some competition at RDU. Earlier this week, a box truck wedged itself under a bridge and snarled airport traffic. Our guide to RDU covers just about everything, but not yet bridge heights. (The News & Observer)
Holiday
The City of Raleigh has free Christmas tree recycling starting the day after Christmas to be turned into mulch. Residents can leave their trees out with their trash as usual or drop them off at select community centers.
Eat
Whataburger is set to open its first Triangle locations, including Raleigh in 2026. If you haven’t been already, read a Texan’s guide to ordering at the iconic fast food joint. Our tip? Don’t skip the Fancy Ketchup. (The News & Observer)
Cause
Designed for Joy, a nonprofit that provides job skills to at-risk women, announced it will wind down operations and close at the end of July 2026. The nonprofit paid $1 million in living wages to over 200 women over eight years.
Shop
Sephora is coming to North Hills, and the new store is set to open in February. The new location will be near the Renaissance Hotel in the former home of boutique Copper Penny. This store will join Raleigh’s three other Sephoras at Village District, Crabtree, and Brier Creek. (The News & Observer)
Try This
Dutch Bros opened its first Triangle location in Morrisville this fall, and Raleigh is next up. The coffee drive-thru spot is planning a location off New Bern Avenue in east Raleigh in Edgewater Commons. (Triangle Business Journal)
Coming Soon
A new multi-purpose arts space is coming to South Salisbury Street with 4,500 sqft of cafe space, a gallery, a vinyl lounge, and a game room. The Artist Lounge is coming from arts community members Reggie + Georgia Tardy, and construction has already started near Death & Taxes. (Triangle Business Journal)
Asked
Want in on The Brief, RALtoday’s new weekly business newsletter? Take a quick ~2-minute survey to help shape it — and if you’re interested in an exclusive launch partnership, email rjohnston@6amcity.com. Only five spots are available, so grab yours before they’re gone.
Real Estate
Thinking about a new home in the new year? Let us save you some scrolling: These contemporary Chapel Hill new-builds next to the Carolina Forest feature warm, inviting spaces with wide windows and plenty of room for hosting. Take a peek.*
If you’re a Costco shopper, you know about the $1.50 hot dog. But are you in on these other 10 lesser-known hacks all Costco shoppers should know about? We’re talking deals on everything from travel to tires.*
Category
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Last-minute gift picks
Including pjs and a fun card game. | Graphic by 6AM City
Behind on holiday shopping? We’ve all been there. These thoughtful gifts should arrive just in time.
Genuine leather wallet | $31.88 | Upgrade their worn-out wallet to this stylish + functional one that boasts RFID blocking technology.
Owala FreeSip | $29.98 | This 4.7-star rated water bottle is loved for its patented FreeSip design.
Herd Mentality card game | $24.99 | This udderly hilarious + family-friendly card game is a perfect stocking stuffer.
Art is one of the best distractions. | Photo courtesy of NC Museum of Art
Whether the kids are off school or the grandkids are in town, you might be in need of some kid-friendly activities that are winter approved, too. Don’t fret — we’ve got plenty for you.
Raleigh Little Theater
The Raleigh Little Theater offers plenty of kid-friendly shows, plus theater arts classes for youths. Kids will remember discovering their love for the theater here.
Indoor adventures
Boxcar Bar + Arcade
Kids are allowed in before 8 p.m. on weekdays and 7 p.m. on weekends. Play classic and modern games like pinball and air hockey. Kids will remember falling in love with the classics.
ParTee Shack
Choose from three mini-golf courses or take a swing at virtual golf and multi-sport simulators. Kids will remember playing zombie dodgeball.
A 2026 planner to keep track of your events, to-dos, goals, and more. We love this best-selling weekly option that includes 12 months of monthly and weekly pages for easy planning + scheduling. Or, opt for this flower-adorned daily planner with monthly tabs, metal cover protectors, and a page for expense tracking.
If you didn’t know, I grew up in Dayton, Ohio, which gives me some complicated feelings about NC claiming First in Flight. That said, I loved this article about the Wright Brothers from WRAL.
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