For Immediate Release:
October 21, 2011

For more information, contact:
Francine Patella Ryan
ESL Public Affairs Manager
fpatella@esl.org
585.336.1089 or 585.261.6220 (cell)

ESL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION LAUNCHES PREPAID GIFT and RELOADABLE CARD PRODUCTS

Cards Offer Ease, Accessibility and Alternative to Cash

Rochester, NY, October 20, 2011... Looking for another way to monitor your teen's spending? Assist an elderly loved one with payment of expenses? Give a gift? Or travel with ease? Once again, ESL Federal Credit Union can help. As of Monday, October 24, the locally-owned credit union will launch its new suite of pre-paid gift and reloadable card products.

"Our member demand for these products is great," said Celeste Kier, ESL's vice president/director, marketing. "They will add to the options already available in our card product line and provide an alternative for our members."

ESL Visa^® Gift Cards are prepaid Visa^® debit cards that have a specific dollar value and can be used for purchases anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Gift cards may not be reloaded and have a $500 maximum limit.

Reloadable cards are prepaid Visa^® debit cards, which allow members to spend up to the value placed on the card anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. ESL offers travel, family and prepaid cards in its suite of Visa reloadable cards. Members can shop in stores, online, over the phone and by mail order. Members also have the ability to get cash from any Visa ATM worldwide. Each time a member makes a purchase, the amount of that purchase is automatically deducted from the card. Members have the ability to add funds to the card.

According to Kier, prepaid cards offer members a great number of benefits: they are safer than carrying cash; help members budget their money and avoid overdraft fees; prevent overspending; provide online tracking; help provide financial education for teens and; offer an alternative to members who are credit challenged and would like to have a Visa Card to make purchases. Cardholders also enjoy Visa's zero liability policy.

"We offer a variety of products, which meet all of our members' needs," said Kier. "The reloadable ESL Visa Family Card is an ideal option for parents to share with their teen or college-age children. This option promotes financial responsibility and greater freedom with little risk. Our ESL Visa Prepaid Card provides members the opportunity to manage their money in a different way without the risk of overspending, overdrawing on their accounts, or paying credit interest. If a member is traveling, our ESL Visa Travel Card is a great, safe alternative to carrying cash or Traveler's Checks. And, gift cards just make a great gift."

Members may purchase prepaid cards at any ESL branch location, the ESL Contact Center, 585-336-1000, or online at esl.org.

Founded by George Eastman in 1920, ESL Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution with $4.0 billion in assets. ESL employs more than 600 people locally and has about 300,000 members world-wide. The company was recently ranked 16th as one of 2011 Best Small and Medium Workplaces in America by the Great Place to Work^® Institute and presented by Entrepreneur^® - the second consecutive year the company was named to the list. Access to the credit union includes 19 branch locations and more than 40 ATM locations, a Contact Center, and Internet and online banking channels. The company is headquartered at 225 Chestnut Street, in Rochester, and can be found on the Internet at esl.org.