From the Blog

Our Birthday is October 18

Posted by Samira Rajan @Oct 24 2020

After months and months of gathering signatures, creating a business plan, winning a half million dollars in start-up grants, and hiring a skeleton staff, Bushwick Cooperative Federal Credit Union was awarded a charter on October 18 2000.  WHOO HOO!

Since then our journey has been spectacular in all senses of the word. So many memories! Turning 20 was beyond anyone’s expectation during that first year, much less reaching $40 million in assets.

This year has been awful for pretty much everyone, making this particular anniversary especially welcome. I had hoped to throw a GIGANTIC party, as we did on our 10th, but that will have to wait until next year.

In the meantime, enjoy some throwback photos while you take a minute to appreciate one really good thing this year: Brooklyn Coop is 20 years old and is the strongest it has ever been. 

All of us (except Cathie)!
Above: Our first office!!  We were at 1475 Myrtle Avenue for our first 5 years.

Below: An early Bushwick Coop Board meeting at Hope Gardens. Pictured left to right are Wilson Badillo, Jack Lawson, Andrew Friedman, Ronique Thompson, and Joy Cousminer. 

All of us (except Cathie)!
All of us (except Cathie)!
All of us (except Cathie)!
Above: Bushwick Coop’s original staff members celebrate CDFI certification. From left: Mildred, Jack, Jennifer, and Cynthia.

Below: Mayor Bloomberg’s visit in May 2009 was a highlight.

Last photo:  Jack and Samira in 2008 just before he departed for the West Coast.

All of us (except Cathie)!
All of us (except Cathie)!

Samira Rajan is the longest-serving employee of Brooklyn Coop and currently the Director of both the credit union and Grow Brooklyn. She started here as an Americorp*VISTA for a single year of service back when we were Bushwick Coop in 2001, got hooked by the challenge of building a community financial institution, and hasn’t left.