UsNet Adds Two Credit Unions to its Shared Branching Network

Great Erie FCU and People's Alliance FCU Members Will Now Have More Flexibility

ALBANY, NY (05/31/2013)(readMedia)-- Universal Sharing Network (UsNet) is pleased to announce that Great Erie FCU, headquartered in Orchard Park, N.Y. and People's Alliance FCU, headquartered in Hauppauge, N.Y. have joined its shared branching network. Shared branching offers credit union members more choice and flexibility when making financial transactions.

Both credit unions joined UsNet as an issuer and acquirer, meaning their members will be allowed to perform transactions at credit union service centers and both will open certain branches to members from other shared branching participants for financial transactions.

"Having both Great Erie FCU and People's Alliance FCU join our shared branching network is exciting news for us and great news for credit union members in Western New York and Long Island," said UsNet's Chief Operating Officer Marc Inger. "Shared branching is a cooperative effort, one that goes to the heart of credit unions' ideals and their 'people helping people' philosophy. We are extremely pleased these two outstanding credit unions are now part of UsNet."

Great Erie FCU was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Orchard Park, N.Y. It serves over 7,000 members and has assets of $67 million. Great Erie will operate its main office in Orchard Park as a CO-OP Shared Branch facility.

Great Erie FCU President and CEO Robyn Young said, "Great Erie is very pleased to be able to offer shared branching to our members as well as open our doors to other credit union members. Cooperation is at the very heart of the credit union movement and we are excited to join UsNet."

People's Alliance FCU was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Hauppauge, N.Y. It serves over 38,000 members and has assets of over $225 million. People's Alliance will operate branches in Hauppauge, Yonkers, Brooklyn and Miami (F.L.) as CO-OP Shared Branch facilities.

People's Alliance FCU President and CEO Carol Allen said, "Being able to bring shared branching to our 38,000 members in New York and Florida is an exciting development and we are very happy that our members will now have access to these services. We are equally as excited to help others by opening up four of our branches as shared facilities."

UsNet (Universal Sharing Network, Inc.) has provided credit unions with a gateway to the national shared branching network since 1993. They are partnered with CO-OP Shared Branching which offers participating credit unions and their members' access to more than 5,000 CU Service Centers both nationally and internationally. For more information about UsNet, visit www.universalsharing.com.

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