“Best Of Long Island” Awards Partner Bethpage Federal Credit Union & Long Island Press

Sept. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Bethpage Federal Credit Union, New York State’s largest credit union, announced today its partnership with Long Island Press, one of the nation’s largest weekly newspapers, for the award-winning Best Of Long Island competition.  The new “Bethpage Best Of Long Island” Awards, which this year features more than 5,000 unique nominees in 450 categories, will name more than 900 Long Island winners in January 2013.  Voting for the competition, which last year received more than 1.2 million votes, begins October 1, 2012.  The Bethpage Best Of Long Island Awards gives Long Islanders the unique opportunity to annually cast their vote on the best businesses and people on Long Island.

“Thanks to Long Island Press’ great job of building the Best Of brand, being nominated or winning the Best Of Long Island competition has grown to become a highly valuable distinction for Long Island businesses,” said Kirk Kordeleski, President and CEO, Bethpage.  “Bethpage is a committed supporter of Long Island’s small business community and looks forward to working hand in hand with Long Island Press to further expand this valuable brand.”

“Our organization has spent the past seven years building and refining the Best Of Long Island program into one of the largest regional contests of its kind,” said Jed Morey, Publisher, Long Island Press.  “Establishing a partnership with Bethpage Federal Credit Union allows us to take the Best Of Long Island brand to another level entirely -- the power and credibility of the Bethpage name is immeasurable.”  

Now in its eighth year, the Best Of Long Island competition began as a small, editor’s choice arts and entertainment program.  Last year, in 2011, the program recorded 320,000 submissions and more than 1.2 million page views – an increase over 2010’s 50,300 submissions and 239,000 page views.  UpickEm, the national contesting platform company, awarded Long Island Press’ Best Of Long Island program as the number one “Best Of” competition in the nation.  “Bethpage brings added exposure to the contest and a certain cache that cannot be overstated,” said Felice Cantatore, Long Island Press Executive Vice President.

Recently, Long Island Press introduced the Best of Long Island 2012 iPad and iPhone App, to help share Long Islander’s top picks on the best of everything Long Island has to offer.  This convenient and comprehensive information source can be downloaded from iTunes.  

“Bethpage is excited to be partnering with Long Island Press for this multi-year agreement,” concluded Kordeleski.  “Together, we can help foster pride among Long Islanders and celebrate all the reasons that Long Island remains such a remarkable place to live, work and play.”  

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 205,000 members, 26 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, Bay Shore King Kullen, Bethpage, Central Islip, Commack King Kullen, Elmont, Farmingdale, Freeport, Glen Cove, Hempstead, Huntington, Levittown King Kullen, Lynbrook, Massapequa, Melville, Mineola, North Babylon, Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Seaford, Smithtown, Roosevelt, West Babylon and Westbury with over 425 surcharge-free ATMs in King Kullen, 7-Eleven, CVS Pharmacy and Costco locations throughout Long Island.  For more information, call 1-800-628-7070 or visit www.bethpagefcu.com.