This October at Great Erie!

October is a special month for Great Erie, as it is National Co-op Month and includes International Credit Union Day on October 15th! In this month's article, we explore what it means to be a cooperative, highlight partnerships in our community, and share a face that unites them both. We also have updates on security features on the way to better protect our members and the local causes we support. Here's what's worth knowing this October. 

Meet Michael, Teller of our East Aurora Branch

October 15th is International Credit Union Day and the month of October is National Co-op month. Great Erie is proud to have been a cooperative for 74 years and counting. Our values are founded in the philosophy of cooperation and its central values of equality, equity, and mutual self-help. Through our seven principles, we strive to have people working together to achieve a better life for themselves and their community.

Stop in our branches October 15th for some fall goodies!

Principle 6 is Cooperation Among Cooperatives. While every day this normally implies that we have 5,000+ shared branching locations, Great Erie also works alongside other cooperatives in the non-financial space. Our East Aurora Branch, in fact, is located at the East Aurora Co-op market.

Founded in 2009, the East Aurora Co-op is a community-owned grocery store in the village of East Aurora featuring local, organic and seasonal produce, natural groceries, house-made baked goods and fresh prepared foods. Open to everyone! If you haven't been there before, check it out and consider becoming a member today to support the cooperative movement!

October is also Cyber Security Awareness Month

Scammers are always finding new ways to steal information. At Great Erie, we are proud to thwart these attempts every day. Within the last month, our security protocols blocked user access and unauthorized fund withdrawals through our watchful eyes. HELOC's are especially being targeted as a way to take large amounts of money.


What can we do? Passwords have flaws—they can be guessed, hacked, or shared by mistake. We encourage all members to switch to passkeys, which are more secure and can't be given away accidentally. More information on passkeys will be shared soon. 

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to make your accounts as secure as possible. 

Help Us Share the Warmth

Great Erie is proud to support Benzinger's Community Coat Challenge this October. Benzinger's is collecting new and gently used winter coats for children and families across the Southtowns, now through October 31. Every coat is professionally cleaned before it reaches a neighbor in need. If you'd like to pitch in, you can drop off a coat at either of our Great Erie branches -- East Aurora (591 Main Street) or Orchard Park (4000 N. Buffalo Road).

Great Erie is once again the main collection site for the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc Chapter NY 7 - We Care Package Drive to support our troops.

Members can drop off supplies and write cards (provided in the lobby) to go in the care packages. We hope to have all collections in by October 31st to ensure they arrive by Christmas.



Thank you for your support!

Fall Into Low Rates!

Whether you're buying or refinancing, now's the time to shift into savings during our Fall Auto Loan Sale. Great Erie is offering rates as low as 2.74% APR for new vehicles (2026–2027) and 2.99% APR for used vehicles (2021–2025), with auto pay, for terms up to 60 months. Offer valid Sept. 17–Oct. 31, 2026; loans must be booked by Nov. 7, 2026.

Supporting Breast Cancer Research

This month, our Great Erie Gives donation goes to organizations finding a cure and providing support to families across Western New York that are battling Breast Cancer. Cancer always strikes close to home and we at Great Erie are honored to support Breast Cancer Research in the fight for a cure.

Thanks for being part of Great Erie.

The Great Erie Team

Great Erie Federal Credit Union is a proud member of the Orchard Park, East Aurora, and Hamburg (Southtowns) Chambers of Commerce.