Bethpage Federal Credit Union Opens Bilingual Branch In Patchogue
PATCHOGUE, NY (WCBS 880) - Bethpage Federal Credit Union has opened a bilingual branch on East Main Street in Patchogue where in 2008, Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero was murdered.
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"[We were] hurt by the hate crime," said mayor Paul Pontieri. "We are a diverse community. But Bethpage coming in and saying they are going to really market themselves to that area is very important."
Bethpage Federal Credit Union spokesperson Linda Armyn said the bank began focusing on bilingual branches because the demographics on Long Island are changing.
"Latinos deserve to have the same banking needs and fulfill their needs the same way anybody, any other ethnicity does," Armyn said.
"We all know, that in today's age, everyone needs to be able to do banking transactions. We help everybody," she added. "So, if you have $15 with us, you get the same rate as somebody that has $15,000 with us."
Seven teens either pleaded guilty or were found guilty in Lucero's death.
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