Polish President Lech Kaczynski Pays Historic Visit to Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union

Polish President Lech Kaczynski Pays Historic Visit to Polish & Slavic Federal
Credit Union
Head of Polish Republic Recalls Importance of U.S. Credit Unions To Poland's
Development 20 Years Ago;

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Of all the official events and
ceremonies Polish President Lech Kaczynski attended last week during the
opening of the United Nations General Assembly, none could quite compare to
the uplifting and inspirational visit he paid to the Polish & Slavic Federal
Credit Union.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091008/NY89286 )

This marked the first time that an acting head of state had met with
executives and employees of the 33-year-old credit union, and toured its
Brooklyn headquarters. But his appearance was more than just a typical 'meet
and greet,' as the Polish president shared stories of his credit union roots,
and the role U.S. credit unions played in Poland's march toward democracy 20
years ago.

"This is undoubtedly the greatest tribute we have even been awarded," said
Bogdan Chmielewski, CEO of the PSFCU. "I cannot express the level of pride
that all our employees and our 70,000 members are experiencing as a result of
this visit. This visit is a testament to our success as the largest financial
institution outside of Poland, and the work we do toward improving the lives
of so many Polish-Americans."

President Kaczynski's official visit also yielded a small - yet important -
rise in membership: The Polish President was awarded an honorary membership in
the PSFCU.

Accompanying the president on his visit to headquarters of the nation's
largest ethnic credit union were: First Lady Maria Kaczynska; Andrzej Towpik,
Polish Envoy to the U.N.; and Robert Kupiecki, Polish Ambassador to the U.S.

In his speech to PSFCU guests and employees, President Kaczynski remarked how
prideful he remains as having been the first chairman of the Polish Credit
Unions Foundation in Poland, and the role that U.S. credit unions played in
the emerging Polish government a generation ago.

"The Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union is an institution that has been well
known to me for years," Pres. Kaczynski commented. "As a matter of fact, 20
years ago, a group of my 20-year-old associates left for the United States,
and brought back the idea and the knowledge of credit unions. They decided to
establish such a movement in Poland, and truth be told, it is the largest
Polish social/financial success since 1989."

The PSFCU's Mr. Chmielewski told his honored guests that the Brooklyn-based
credit union's members retain strong ties to Poland, and that the credit union
itself continues to work closely with the Polish Cooperative Savings and Loan
(SKOK) organization.

President Kaczynski echoed that fact by stating the much of the initial
success of the SKOK can be attributed to the assistance yielded by its
American counterparts.

On hand from the PSFCU to welcome the president and the assembled dignitaries
were Krzysztof Matyszczyk, chairman of the board of directors; Malgorzata
Wadolowski, first deputy chairwoman; and Mr. Chmielewski. Also in attendance
were Slawomir Skrzypek, chairman of the National Bank of Poland; and his
deputy, Piotr Wiesiolek.

At the conclusion of President Kaczynski's visit, representatives from the
PSFCU board of directors presented the Polish leader with a commemorative
statuette - a silver and gold replica of the PSFCU membership book, which
grants him an honorary membership.

"You are a movement that's very dear to me," said Pres. Kaczynski before
departing.

About the PSFCU
Founded in 1976 by a group of Polish immigrants to help other ethnic Poles
obtain mortgages, the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union now has 13 branches
in New York and New Jersey, and an operations center in Fairfield, NJ. The
33-year-old credit union, with more than $1.2 billion in assets, serves almost
70,000 members of the Polish and Slavic communities throughout New York and
New Jersey. It is currently in the process of expanding into the Chicago
area, where four branches will be fully operational within the next year.

SOURCE Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union

Marian Ponanta, +1-718-610-3980, ext. 6328