Conversation with Carol A. Allen
President & CEO PAFCU
BY JEFF YAPALATER
Carol Allen is President and CEO
of the People Alliance Credit Union
(PAFCU) since 2011. She shared some
thoughts about the company’s mission,
its people and history about
PAFCU at JFK Airport. PAFCU is celebrat3ing
the 80th year anniversary
of the credit union with an offi ce at
Building 14 at JFK and is serving its
customers throughout the pandemic.
Ms. Allen has over 25 year’s progressive
experience with PAFCU and held
titles of Accounting Manager, Vice
President of Finance, Chief Financial
Offi cer, and Executive Vice President/
COO.
PAFCU, People’s Alliance Federal
Credit Union is a full-service fi nancial
institution has been a JFK stakeholder
since 1940 with the current
location at the administration building
West Wing 4A. Allen said that the
union began with many Pan Am Employees.
” We have always had a footprint
at JFK. We started with many
members during the Pan American
Airways days in the 1950s.Currenty
we have over 1000 airport members
from 400 different companies different
People’s Alliance
Federal Credit Union
Cash Services Located in the JFK Airport
Building 14 West Wing • Room 4A
www.pafcu.org • (718) 656-1774
AIRPORT V 14 OICE, DECEMBER 2020
company from our nine location,
“ Allen explained.
She said that what has has always
made PAFCU different is that “ we
are a member owned, non-profi t cooperative,
no stockholders and nocost
to employees of an organization
to be a member. As a not-for-profi t
cooperative, PAFCU’s earnings are
returned to members in the form of
higher dividends paid on deposit accounts
and lower interest rates on
loans.
“It is all about convenience for the
airport workers. As such we have excellent
rates with popular credit and
debit card programs, lower rate loans,
remote electronic services, a mobile
app to conduct business and to deposit
checks anywhere. She added that they
are part of a shared transactions network
with other credit unions around
the country. Employees can use any
location, and there is and the Bank at
Work program.
With our offi ce at JFK, a number
of members visit during their lunch
hour and we can assist with our products
to fi ll their needs. It is a convenience
that we offer to our members
she said.
Asked how they have serviced
their members during the pandemic,
Allen replied that they have held
their own. “ We have not had to furlough
or layoff and workers. During
this time we have assisted our members
which is the core of our company.”
While the number of members
visiting their locations has dropped
due to the pandemic, the offi ce at JFK
is open to continue to assist during
this pandemic. She said that the services
offered such as remote banking
and Bank At Work are very popular
as more people are staying hoe during
the covid crisis.
According to Allen, there is no one
stage in life where the PAFCU cannot
help. “ “Since the Pan Am days,
we continue with family values. We
assist through all stages of life, from
savings accounts to the fi rst car, to
buying a home, investments to retirement
services.” She added.
Discussing the 80th Anniversary
celebration, Allen said they did not focus
on the pandemic but rather on the
anniversary and helping their members.
She said that all the employees
have been great despite the lack of
“normal” real life celebrations. Coinciding
with International Credit
Union Day, the company help spirits
up by providing lots of employee activities
giveaways, $80 anniversary
gift cards, and thanked them for their
work during these trying times.
She said that there’re are other locations
through out Long Island with
the another close to JFK, located at
the Greater Allen Cathedral of New
York, on Merrick Road in Jamaica.
Their main location is in Hauppauge
with another in Miami, which was
opened to service the many Pan Am
who also worked there.
PAFCU is also supportive of with
support of the Pal-O-Mine Equestrian
Center, and by providing an annual
scholarship.
As a fi nal comment, CEO Allen
said, “I hope everyone and their families
are staying safe and healthy. I
would like to thank our members for
trusting PAFCU to meet their fi nancial
needs. We strive to continue offering
you outstanding service as we
assist you in reaching your fi nancial
goals
To the JFK Airport employees who
are not yet People’s Alliance members,
I encourage you to reach out to
us and see how you and your family
members can take advantage of the
many benefi ts of PAFCU. We are here
to assist our members she said.
We Put People First, Even In Our Name!
Brooklyn, NY • Brooklyn, NY • Hauppauge, NY • Jamaica, NY
(718) 643-4506 (718) 797-2988 (631-434-3500 (718) 206-4600
x 3037
Miami, FL • Ronkonkoma, NY • Westbury, NY • Yonkers, NY
(305) 261-1255 (631) 580-3702 (516) 832-8100 (914) 963-1370
/www.pafcu.org
/www.pafcu.org