‘Best Of L.I.’ Awards Partners with Bethpage Federal Credit Union

Voting begins Monday, Oct. 1 for the 2013 Best of Long Island contest. Cast your ballots here!

Bethpage, New York – 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 L.I. competition. The new “Bethpage Best Of L.I.” Awards, which this year will feature more than 5,000 unique nominees in 450 categories, and 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 Oct. 1, 2012. The Bethpage Best Of L.I. Awards gives Long Islanders the unique opportunity to annually cast their vote for 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 L.I. competition has grown to become a highly valuable distinction for Long Island businesses,” said Kirk Kordeleski, president and CEO of 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 L.I. 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 L.I. brand to another level entirely—the power and credibility of the Bethpage name is immeasurable.”

Now in its eighth year, the Best Of L.I. competition began as a small, editor’s choice arts and entertainment program. Last year, 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 L.I. program as the number one “Best Of” competition in the nation.

“Bethpage brings added exposure to the contest and a certain cachet that cannot be overstated,” said Felice Cantatore, Long Island Press executive vice president.

Recently, Long Island Press introduced the Best of L.I. 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 for free from iTunes.

“Bethpage is excited to be partnering with Long Island Press for this multi-year agreement,” says 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 more than 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 more than 425 surcharge-free ATMs in King Kullen, 7-Eleven, CVS Pharmacy and Costco locations throughout LI. For more information, call 1-800-628-7070 or visit BethpageFCU.com.

A MESSAGE FROM KIRK KORDELESKI

Dear Long Island Press Readers:

Bethpage is thrilled to present the annual Bethpage Best Of L.I. Competition.

The competition provides Long Islanders, and especially you, the readers of the Long Island Press, with a unique opportunity to celebrate all of the reasons that Long Island remains such a remarkable place to live, work and play.

Because of the Long Island Press’ great job building the “Best Of” brand, being nominated or winning the Best Of competition has grown to become a highly valuable distinction for Long Island businesses. Although Bethpage Federal Credit Union will no longer be participating in the program as a nominee, we take great pride in having been voted Long Island’s best financial institution for the past four years. Thank you for that recognition and for the confidence you place in us every day.

As a credit union, Bethpage has two primary goals: First and foremost is to provide the best value and service to the more than 200,000 people from across Long Island who bank with us. Second is to improve the quality of life for all Long Islanders. These are the same qualities that drive all the Best Of winners, from those in the medical field to retail, education, the arts and entertainment. With 5,000 nominees from 450 categories, this year’s competition promises to cover the full spectrum of people, places and businesses you interact with every day.

Bethpage is committed to Long Island and the Long Island small business community. We look forward to working hand in hand with the Long Island Press to further expand this valuable program.

Sincerely,
Kirk Kordeleski
President and CEO
Bethpage Federal Credit Union