Polish American credit union growing in strength

The organisation has almost 100,000 members, and the value of its assets has just exceeded USD 2 billion, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s Washington correspondent reported.

The Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union has become a leading sponsor of events important to the Polish American community in the United States, according to Polish Radio’s Marek Wałkuski.

The credit union was founded in 1977 by a group of Polish immigrants in New York.

Forty-two years on, it has 19 branches and prides itself on being the largest ethnic financial institution in the United States.

In addition to growing business, the credit union supports hundreds of Polish American initiatives every year, including cultural events, scholarship programmes and charity campaigns.

"Above all, we are a financial institution that serves the Polish community in the United States,” the CEO of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, Bogdan Chmielewski, said.

“However, thanks to our financial condition, we can support initiatives that build the strength of the Polish diaspora in America,” he added.

Last year, his organisation supported a total of 480 Polish American events of all kinds, according to the Polish public broadcaster's US correspondent.

Chmielewski told Polish Radio that membership in the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union was on track to exceed 100,000 this autumn.

The organisation has offices in four US states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

The Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union early last year launched a campaign to thank America for its contribution to Poland regaining independence a century ago.

(gs)

Source: IAR