Bethpage Stages Interactive Marketing Campaign

LongIsland.com

New Website Challenges Long Islanders to Say No to Checking Fees! www.freecheckingforlongisland.com

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Do you wish you could give your big bank a piece of your mind? Are you unwilling to agree to restrictions to keep your free checking account free? If you answered yes to any of the above, Bethpage wants to know about it!

As part of a multi-faceted, interactive marketing campaign, Bethpage Federal Credit Union announces the launch of an interactive micro site, www.freecheckingforlongisland.com, inviting Long Islanders to voice their frustrations about the big banks' addition of new fees on their existing checking accounts.

The site includes links to relevant news stories, details about Bethpage Bonus Checking - Bethpage's new free checking account launched this past summer, and motivational information to help encourage consumers to fight back!

The demand for a free checking product is high on Long Island. Consumers are looking to save money wherever they can and are not used to paying for what used to be a free checking account. Since its launch, more than 33,000 members are now benefiting from Bethpage Bonus Checking. With no hidden fees or restrictions, it's simple and free and consumers like that, said Gerard Schmitt, Vice President, Marketing, Bethpage Federal Credit Union.

Bethpage Bonus Checking is completely free. It features no monthly service or maintenance fees, no minimum balance requirement, no per check charges, free VISA Check card, free online and mobile banking, and free online bill pay. Plus, it offers an added bonus of 1.00% interest for each month the member meets basic transactional requirements.

When members sign up for online banking with eStatements, arrange for monthly direct deposit into their account, and have 15 point-of-sale debit card transactions per month, they will automatically earn interest each month with their Bethpage Bonus Checking account. Long Islanders have the opportunity to earn interest with every new month. If transactional requirements are not met to earn interest for a particular month, there is no penalty, and the account is still completely free.

In this economy, we are able to offer consumers some relief from the constant nickel-and-diming that takes place in the banking arena, said Schmitt. Many Long Islanders understand Bethpage as a strong alternative to traditional banks. This interactive marketing campaign will surely help educate the others.

Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative, existing solely to serve its members and has experienced rapid growth in recent years to become a strong alternative to banks. Bethpage was approved for the largest federal community charter in the U.S. in 2003 and now is Long Island's largest credit union and leading community financial institution with over 180,000 members, 22 branches and 60 shared service center locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. As a financial cooperative, Bethpage offers better rates, lower fees and a full menu of personal and commercial financial services.

Bethpage maintains branch locations in Bay Shore, Bethpage, Central Islip, Commack, Elmont, Farmingdale, Freeport, Glen Cove, Hempstead, Huntington, Levittown, Lynbrook, Massapequa, Melville, Mineola, North Babylon, Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Seaford, Smithtown, Roosevelt and Westbury with over 250 surcharge-free ATMs in King Kullen, 7-Eleven, Walgreen's and Costco locations throughout Long Island. For more information, call 1-800-628-7070 or visit www.lovebethpage.com.