Bethpage Federal Credit Union celebrated the grand opening of its newest branch location in Cherry Hill, New Jersey this past Saturday, June 16. With music, giveaways, and special guests abound, it was quite the introduction to their new community, in which South Jersey’s newest credit union is already making an impact.
“It’s part of our DNA,” branch manager Jonathan Jacobs told Metro of the credit union’s care not only for its current members but also for its new neighbors. “What attracted me to Bethpage was a really a continuation of how I’ve always seen how financial institutions should treat their members, and that’s to listen to them, to give them as many options and also inform and educate.”
Located at 56 Haddonfield Road, this branch is Bethpage’s first in New Jersey and its first outside of New York, and members are already thrilled to have it.
“I’ve been a member for over 15 years now,” said Mr. Johnson, a longtime BFCU member. “I still bank with Bethpage even though I moved down here to South Jersey [from New York] eight years ago. My wife and I have accounts here, our four children have accounts here… I’m just happy they’re here.”
Mr. Johnson was not the only former New Yorker, now Jersey resident, who stopped by the festivities to welcome Bethpage to the area as their members made it a point to show how excited they were for the new location. How does BCFU maintain such loyalty across state borders?
“The fact that we’re in our communities to better serve our members,” said Kimberley Ruiz, Bethpage community engagement and new markets manager, of what separates the credit union. “I think through all the work that we do, Bethpage embodies that, and it starts with taking care of their employees. It’s a really good organization to work for. My teammates are truly people that I respect, value and trust. And I think that synergy really makes us so different than any organization.”
That level of care pours into how Bethpage serves its community, from the members who walk into their branch each day to their local area at large through charitable giving, volunteer work, and partnerships. Bethpage Difference Makers is one such program that looks to inspire young individuals to become more involved with the needs of their local communities by utilizing their passions.
“I think the youth is the future,” Ruiz said. “If you’re starting to invest in the youth from an early age, that’s going to be ingrained in them to care about where they come from and where they’re headed. So it only makes sense to empower students in order for them to be able to see projects come from the idea, the inception, all the way to the fruition and seeing the results of putting an effort into something and caring about something more than yourself.”
Speaking to both employees and members, one thing quickly became crystal clear: Bethpage cares, and they’re here to help.
Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s Cherry Hill location is now open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. For more information, visit lovebethpage.com/nj.
