A message from the President.
I hope you had a joyous holiday season! As we embark on a new year, I wish you all health and happiness.
I am proud to lead a fantastic team, and together, we are excited to kick off 2024 with one goal in mind – continue to make Bethpage a great place to work and bank. We value the feedback we get from our teammates and members and are using it to continually improve so that your experience with Bethpage is easy, convenient, and helps you achieve your goals. We also remain committed to our partnerships and programs that positively impact the communities we serve.
Bethpage is constantly working to provide members with more ways to access our products and services. In 2023, we were happy to expand our physical footprint into Queens, with a new branch in Sunnyside. There’s more to come in 2024! This year, we are excited to announce branches will be coming soon to Ozone Park, Ronkonkoma, and Forest Hills in New York and Cherry Hill in New Jersey. On page 4, you can learn about our expansion into these new communities and the reasons behind Bethpage’s growth.
In another step towards greater convenience and accessibility, we recently introduced the Bethpage Mastercard® Contactless Debit and Credit Cards. The upgrade to contactless means a secure and faster way for our members to pay for everyday items while on the go. Learn more on page 6.
As many of you know, Bethpage has a strong commitment to community engagement. We are proud to continue to enrich more lives with our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, offering free income tax preparation services to families with low to moderate incomes. You can learn more about this year’s VITA program and other community engagement programs, including Bethpage Difference Makers and Adopt-a-Family, and view the ground-breaking results of our 15th Annual Turkey Drive on page 7.
I want to express my gratitude for your ongoing membership and my excitement to serve you for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Linda Armyn
President & Chief Executive Officer
We’re expanding because we care about what you care about.
In 2023, Bethpage opened our first Queens branch in Sunnyside. And that was just the start!
We have exciting plans in store for 2024, with branches coming soon to Ozone Park and Forest Hills in Queens, Cherry Hill in New Jersey, and another Long Island branch in Ronkonkoma. As we continue to expand our physical footprint, we want to share the reason behind our growth, which is really quite simple – we care about what you care about.
We care about better banking products and services.
As a credit union, Bethpage is dedicated to offering products and services that help members achieve their goals. When we expand into new markets, we’re able to provide this value to a broader group of people.
We consistently receive member feedback expressing the need for more locations, which is why our expansion into Queens is a natural next step in Bethpage’s growth. The Sunnyside and Ozone Park branches meet a much-desired need of convenience for our growing membership.
“Our first location in New Jersey will draw people in from numerous surrounding communities. These are communities that we know will benefit from the products and services Bethpage provides,” says Emilio Cooper, SVP/Chief Deposit Officer at Bethpage. “It allows us to expand our presence and diversify our product offering in ways to benefit all members.”
We care about communities.
For over 80 years, Bethpage has been helping the communities we do business in grow and thrive. We make it a priority to give back to our communities through employee volunteering, charitable giving, and more.
With each new community we enter, our mission is to continue to expand on that positive impact, and the opening of our Sunnyside branch allowed us to do just that. Bethpage’s Business Development, Business Banking, and Community Development teams have partnered with local businesses, community members, and neighborhood officials to ensure we are meeting the community’s needs. Our involvement in the Sunnyside community can already be felt (and seen!) thanks to our partnership with Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District, volunteering with Street Tree Care cleaning, and relationship building with the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
We can’t wait to see the positive impact our Ozone Park, Cherry Hill, and other new branches will bring to their communities in 2024!
We care about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Bethpage is committed to building a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). So much so that being inclusive is one of our core values. We strive to foster a diverse workplace where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued as their authentic selves. By doing so, our teammates are empowered, engaged, and have a sense of belonging.
“With our footprint expanding into new markets, DEI is important because we champion equitable opportunities for growth and development,” says Dennis McCue, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager at Bethpage. “We want everyone to see that Bethpage understands the importance of diversity and the proven value it adds to attracting, serving, and retaining our teammates, members, and the communities we serve.”
Did you hear the news?
Bethpage is a Certified Great Place to Work®!
This means our employees feel respected, take pride in their work, and care about each other.
It gets even better – we’re hiring! A career at Bethpage could be in your future.
To view our open positions and apply today, visit lovebethpage.com/careers.
Paying off debt.
Welcome to 2024!
As each year brings new resolutions and goals, this could be the time to focus on paying off debt. If you’re struggling with where to begin, here are some ways to help relieve some of the stress of debt.
Personal loans
If you’re paying high-interest rates on credit cards or need to pay off a large expense such as medical bills or an unexpected emergency, a personal loan could help you get out of debt faster. Personal loans often have lower interest rates than credit cards and offer an easy way to consolidate your finances into one convenient monthly payment at a fixed rate.
The right credit card for you.
You can take control of your finances by seeking a credit card with no balance transfer fees. Automating your payments is also helpful to ensure your credit card bill is paid on time so you can avoid racking up additional costs in late fees.
Consolidating debt.
Debt consolidation takes your high-interest debt, like credit card balances, and rolls it into a single payment at a potentially lower interest rate to make your payments more manageable. Simplifying your finances in this way could help you chip away at the balance, which will ultimately reduce your total debt.
Home Equity Line of Credit.
A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) is an open line of credit based on the equity in your home and often has a lower interest rate with flexible terms. A HELOC can be a useful option for paying down high-interest debt and can simplify your finances by consolidating multiple payments per month into just one.
Set a budget.
A budget can organize your finances and manage your money to help pay off debt quicker. Various tools can be used for budgeting, such as spreadsheets and budgeting apps. A helpful strategy may be the 50/30/20 budget rule, in which 50% of your money goes towards necessary expenses (mortgage/rent, food, utilities, etc.), 30% goes towards wants, and 20% is used for paying off debt. This rule can help you draw up a reasonable budget that you can stick to over time to help you get out of debt faster.*
For more information on how we can help you, please speak with a representative today by stopping in your local branch or calling 800-628-7070. You can find additional information by visiting lovebethpage.com.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide investment, financial, legal, tax, or accounting advice, nor intended to indicate the availability, your qualification or applicability of any Bethpage Federal Credit Union (“Bethpage”) product or service to your unique circumstances. Bethpage is not responsible or liable for any errors in the content that may occur. You should obtain advice from a qualified financial professional, including a tax advisor, about your unique circumstances. Neither Bethpage, nor any of its representatives may give legal or tax advice and only licensed Bethpage employees may provide financial investment services.
Mastercard® and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.
*Source: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/nerdwallet-budget-calculator
Employee Spotlight.
Adnan Khan
Branch Manager, Sunnyside, Queens
Branch Manager, Sunnyside, Queens
What is your favorite thing about working at Bethpage?
The sense of belonging and unity that comes from being part of a community that genuinely cares, both about its members and its employees.
Three words that describe Bethpage?
Community, trustworthy, inclusive.
Ruddy Daville
Branch Manager, Ozone Park, Queens
Branch Manager, Ozone Park, Queens
How do you Enrich Lives?
We will enrich lives by being present for the residents and businesses of Ozone Park, providing a welcoming environment in and out of the branch. By doing this, we’ll ensure that our members and teammates are being positively impacted each day!
Three words that describe Bethpage?
Welcoming, outstanding, growth.
Board nominations.
The Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors of Bethpage Federal Credit Union has placed the names of the individuals listed in nomination for a board position in 2024. Nominations for the Board of Directors may also be made by petition signed by at least 500 members, if received by 5 PM on April 10, 2024. The election will be held at the Annual Meeting on May 21, 2024, and will be conducted by ballot unless there is only one nominee for each position. Each nominee by petition must submit a statement of qualifications and biographical data with the petition. The statement of qualifications and biographical data will be published and made available to the public.
For more information or to file a petition and statement for a nominee, contact Lynda Nicolino at 899 South Oyster Bay Road, Bethpage, NY 11714, or call 516-349-6945.
Vincent Scicchitano
Vincent Scicchitano held both management and senior management positions at Emblem Health Plans between 1992 and 2008, and has extensive experience in strategy, business development and finance. Vincent received his Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Buffalo. He joined Bethpage Federal Credit Union as a volunteer on the Supervisory Committee in 2011 and is currently Chairman of the Board.
Marie Ann Hoenings
Marie Ann Hoenings is currently Of Counsel to the Wagoner Firm, in Albany, NY, as well as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. Previously, Marie was General Counsel for Gramercy Group, Inc., of Wantagh, NY. Marie received her law degree from Hofstra University and immediately thereafter became an Assistant District Attorney for the New York County District Attorney’s Office. Marie is admitted to the New York and New Jersey State and Federal Courts, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court. She has also served as a member of Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee.
Adam Silvers
Adam Silvers serves as the Managing Partner of Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C., a full-service business law firm, and is also a member of the firm’s Corporate & Securities Department. Adam regularly counsels both private and publicly traded companies on a variety of legal issues. Adam currently serves as Treasurer on Bethpage’s Board of Directors and previously served on the Board Supervisory Committee.
Contactless Debit Card
In a step towards greater convenience and accessibility, you can now Tap & Go® to pay for the things you need every day with a Bethpage Mastercard® Contactless Debit Card.
In a step towards greater convenience and accessibility, you can now Tap & Go® to pay for the things you need every day with a Bethpage Mastercard® Contactless Debit Card.
This upgrade means a faster way to check out while at your favorite coffee spot, grabbing a bite with friends, and more.
Please note: If you recently received a new Bethpage Mastercard® Contactless Debit Card in the mail, your old card will continue to work until the new one is activated.
Tap & Go® is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
The Contactless Indicator mark, consisting of four graduating arcs, is a trademark owned by and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC.
Look for the contactless symbol anywhere you shop.
Tap your Bethpage Mastercard at the top of the terminal when you’re ready to pay.
Mastercard doesn’t require a signature at checkout, but merchants may still request one.
Community updates
Free tax return preparation.
The 21st annual Bethpage Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is here!
Thursday, February 1 – Thursday, April 11, 2024
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help for individuals and families with low-to-moderate income (generally $60,000 or less), persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance preparing their own tax returns. IRS VITA/TCE certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
For more information, please visit lovebethpage.com/vita, call (516) 349-4288 or email community@bethpagefcu.com.
The IRS manages the VITA/TCE program. The program is operated and staffed by volunteers who are not tax professionals.
Empowering our youth.
Is your child ambitious and looking to effect change? The Bethpage Cares Difference Makers program supports student volunteers who are focused on improving the
communities we serve.
Bethpage aims to make a difference by empowering young individuals to come together and become more involved by linking their passions with the needs of local communities.
Difference Makers is designed to invest in our kids — ages 13 to 21 years old — with grants ranging from $250 – $5,000.
Funds can be used for special projects, including:
- Starting a peer mentor program or anti-bullying campaign at a school
- Painting a mural in a school
- Planting a community garden
- Organizing a beach cleanup
- Food pantry
Visit lovebethpage.com/differencemakers to fill out an application.
Adopt-a-Family
Throughout the year, Bethpage works closely with two
non-profit organizations – EAC Network (Empower, Assist & Care) and Options for Community Living – to help make a positive impact in underserved communities across Long Island. EAC Network is a not-for-profit social service agency that helps people in need through programs that protect children, help seniors, and empower individuals to take control of their lives. Options for Community Living receives wish lists during the holidays from families in their programs and pairs them with community volunteers like Bethpage.
In 2023, Bethpage adopted 60 families in need. Bethpage is proud to support this great program for the holidays by helping to provide these families with toys, games, clothing, and other items.
15th Annual Bethpage Turkey Drive
We would like to extend our gratitude to all who donated to our 15th Annual Bethpage Turkey Drive benefiting Island Harvest and helping those facing food insecurity on Long Island.
With your generosity we collected:
• 4,425 turkeys
• 36,637+ pounds of food
• $56,131+ in donations
Thank you again for your support!
