Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by spotlighting services for Hispanic community on Long Island
OCEANSIDE, NY (September 29, 2023) — With Hispanic Heritage Month in full swing, Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union (OFFCU) in Rockville Centre, NY is sharing a spotlight on its services to the Hispanic community of Long Island.
“The Hispanic population on Long Island is one of the fastest growing in the Catholic community,” said Joseph Tedesco, President and CEO of Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union. “According to a study from the Pew Research Center, a majority of Latinos (58%) say their personal financial situation is in only fair or poor shape. At Ocean Financial, we strive to be a trusted partner for our members and our community. As part of that community, we want to provide the Latino population of Long Island with the right financial tools that will lead them to success.”
With branches in Oceanside and Seaford, Ocean Financial offers on-site, online and virtual assistance to the Hispanic community on Long Island:
· If members have questions and would like to speak to a representative, they can visit
one of OFFCU’s branches to speak with one of five bi-lingual member service representatives or branch managers or reach out to the 24/7 Call Center where customers can receive assistance in Spanish.
· If members choose to visit one of OFFCU’s branches, brochures, forms and a new Credit Builder Loan to help those that are trying to build their credit or rebuild their credit after bankruptcy, flyers are all available in Spanish.
· On OFFCU’s website, focused sections including Auto, Checking and Youth, Applying for a Loan, the Who We Are, Credit Builder Loan and a listing of our bilingual reps is currently being translated into Spanish.
In addition to providing resources on-site, Ocean Financial works with non-for-profit organizations, parishes and local universities across Long Island to provide financial education and services to members of the Latino community.
In August 2023, OFFCU announced a partnership with Hispanic Brotherhood, a non-for-profit organization that provides a wide range of resettlement services, such as housing and employment counseling, translation, immigration, and legal assistance, naturalization, citizenship counseling, and emergency food to the Latino Community.
Our Lady of Loretto in Hempstead also partners with Ocean Financial to provide financial services to their largely Hispanic congregation. OFFCU represents a regular presence in their Social Ministry Office and will work with parishioners to open accounts and set them up for financial well-being going forward.
In addition, OFFCU sponsors Mentoring Latinas Program at Molloy University, as part of a five-year partnership with the university. The program is specifically designed for Latina students at participating high schools to expose them to university life and engage them in relevant activities, including visits to academic departments, financial workshops, and athletic and cultural events. For the 2023-24 academic year, OFFCU is looking to expand the sponsorship to include additional financial workshops for the students involved, as well as the parents of the high school students involved with the program.
“From our staff to our leadership, to our Board of Directors, the financial well-being of our members is of utmost importance at Ocean Financial,” Said Sergio Bedoya, Oceanside Branch Manager at Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union. “We are invested in providing the Hispanic population of Long Island the best financial services possible to ensure future success.”
About Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union
Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union was formed in 1969 by a group of Father Joseph O’Connell Knights of Columbus members looking to provide financial services to Brother Knights and their families. Over the years, the credit union has evolved in name and in the field of membership, while maintaining ties to their Catholic roots. Today, Ocean Financial has grown to over $359 million in assets, serving members of the Knights of Columbus in New York State, the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and any Catholic interested in the credit union. Inspired by their Catholic values, Ocean Financial provides exceptional products and services to the Catholic community. The credit union takes pride in having Catholic values you can bank on. Ocean Financial promotes these values throughout the entire organization, down to the logo. To learn more, visit https://www.oceanfinancial.org
