PSFCU Opens First Staten Island Branch

Damage By Hurricane Sandy Delays Opening, But Credit Union's New Branch Rebuilds And Debuts

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Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union

Jan 14, 2013, 10:26 ET

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- One week prior to the planned opening of its first branch on Staten Island, the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, like others on the island, experienced the wrath and destruction of Hurricane Sandy.

Working quickly to repair its damaged building, while simultaneously helping its new neighbors recover from the storm, the nation's largest ethnic credit union finally debuted a gleaming and modern branch, December 15, at a grand opening ceremony attended by credit union officials, local religious leaders and local business owners.

Originally scheduled to open November 5, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Hylan-Seaver Mall, located at 1919 Hylan Blvd., where the new 1,000-square foot branch is located. This marks the credit union's first Staten Island branch, and its 6^th branch in New York City. In total, the PSFCU boasts 16 branches throughout the metropolitan New York City area and Chicago.

"We have long set our sights on Staten Island and its strong and growing Polish population," said Ms. Iwona Podolak, second vice chairperson of the PSFCU board of directors. "We try to be near wherever there is a large Polish community, and this part of the city is a natural fit for our organization. The hurricane may have slowed down our opening, but it certainly helped make us a stronger community, and a stronger Polonia."

While the credit union was working to rebuild the new branch in Sandy's aftermath, it actively began collecting and dispensing necessary clothing and other items for hurricane victims. All items were donated through local parishes and community organizations. The credit union's mobile branch also moved from location to location where branches were inoperable so that members could access their accounts.

Accompanying Ms. Podolak for the grand opening was Agnieszka Poslednik, interim CEO and Chief Operations Officer of the PSFCU, and members of the Board of Directors. Rev. Jacek Wozny, pastor of the St. Stanislaus Kostka parish in Staten Island, performed the traditional consecration of the branch.

About the PSFCU
Founded in 1976 by a group of Polish immigrants to help other ethnic Poles obtain mortgages, the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union now has 16 branches in New York, New Jersey and Illinois, and an operations center in Fairfield, NJ. The credit union also has a Mobile Branch, which is used at community events and an Online Branch accessible through their website, www.psfcu.com. The 35-year-old credit union, with more than $1.5 billion in assets, serves more than 78,000 members of the Polish and Slavic communities. The union, which is the largest ethnic credit union in the United States, also operates an ATM at the National Shrine at Doylestown, PA.

SOURCE Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union