Ceremonial ribbon cutting: From the left: Irena Marchaj, PSFCU; Wojciech Mleczko, PSFCU; Pawel Pachacz, PSFCU; Ira Brief, PSFCU; Tomasz Bortnik, PSFCU; Michael Fryzel, NCUA; Krystyna Myssura, PSFCU; Edward Pierwola, PSFCU; Elzbieta Baumgartner, PSFCU; Ron Cullen, Illinois Credit Union League; and Kaja Sawczuk, PSFCU.
The 72,000-member Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Brooklyn, N.Y., continues to find eager members in the suburbs of Chicago.
The $1.4 billion credit union, the largest primarily ethnic CU in the country, had already opened two other branches in the expansion into the nation's largest ethnically Polish community.
NCUA Board Member Michael Fryzel attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Bridgeview on May 5, as he had for the openings of the two previous branches, the CU reported.
"It was an honor to be able to commemorate this day with the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union and share in their grand opening celebration," said Fryzel. "Polish & Slavic clearly understand their membership and provide services that are catered to their demographics. They have continued to provide quality services and branch out into new areas to reach those that qualify for membership. Their continued community involvement reiterates the credit union motto and serves as an example to all credit unions."
Two days later, Fryzel, who is the first Polish American to serve on the NCUA board, marched with PSFCU in the Polish Constitution Day Parade, which honors the historic Polish Constitution of 1791–the first democratic constitution in Europe and second in the world only to the United States, the credit union announced, noting that the event was a big opportunity to draw more potential members.
