News Release - Mayor Thomas S. Richards Welcomes Lexington Federal Credit Union to Joseph Avenue

City of Rochester

News Release

(Wednesday, June 5, 2013) — Mayor Thomas S. Richards joined City Neighborhood and Business Development Commissioner R. Carlos Carballada, City Council President Lovely A. Warren, New York State Senator Joseph E. Robach and Suzanne Nasipak-Chapman, Rochester Market Executive of First Niagara Financial Group, and Charles I. Casaceli, Chief Executive Officer of Lexington Federal Credit Union today to celebrate the grand opening of Lexington Federal Credit Union’s new branch at 762 Joseph Ave.

“This was truly a collaborative effort,” said Mayor Richards. “The City, together with City Council and the Joseph Avenue Business Association all worked together to find a way to continue providing city residents in the northeast with essential banking services.”

“Last year, I worked with First Niagara after they acquired HSBC to ensure that our inner-city neighborhoods would continue to be served,” said Council President Lovely A. Warren. “Today, we cut the ribbon on the Lexington Federal Credit Union which will allow some of our poorest and most underserved residents access to a strong and stable financial institution.”

Originally established to serve the employees of Rochester Products (now GM Component Holding) in 1956, Lexington FCU received a charter expansion in 2002 to include people who live or work in Rochester. The new branch is the second location for Lexington. Following the announcement that the First Niagara branch at this location was slated to be closed last spring, Council President Warren—who represents the North East District, the City’s Department of Neighborhood and Business Development, and members of the Joseph Avenue Business Association worked with the bank to find a new owner to continue providing banking services at this location. First Niagara worked extensively with management at Lexington to make the transfer happen and donated the property to Lexington FCU. The City provided a $30,000 grant for the project to help pay for new equipment.

“Lexington Federal Credit Union is excited to join the City of Rochester, with the assistance of First Niagara Bank, to serve the residents of Joseph Avenue and the 14621 neighborhood,” said Lexington CEO Charles Casaceli. “We are committed to helping our new neighbors in a way that larger financial institutions simply cannot.”

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News Media: For more information contact Neighborhood and Business Development Commissioner R. Carlos Carballada at 428-6883.