Questions and Answers for Berkshire Branch Customers

The Account Conversion is expected to commence on or about September 13, 2024. There should be no impact to your ability to use your account up to this date.

While HVCU converts your Branch Deposit Accounts and Branch Loan Accounts to HVCU’s computer system, which is tentatively scheduled to occur between Friday, September 13, 2024 and Monday, September 16, 2024, there will be limited access to your accounts.

Yes, your account number will change. Your new account number and any other changes, such as the names of products and services, will be sent to you in a separate mailing.

HVCU's routing and transit number is 221979363.

Following the Account Conversion, you will need to contact any business that you provided your account information to for ACH payments or deposits and provide your updated routing number: 221979363.

HVCU’s fee schedule will be provided in a separate mailing. While you may notice different terminology and intervals at which fees may be charged, it is HVCU’s goal to keep total fee amounts the same or less than what was historically charged.

Yes, new debit cards will be sent to replace existing Berkshire Bank-branded debit cards prior to the Closing. More information about when to begin using the new debit card will be provided in a separate Welcome Packet.

Berkshire Bank checks will continue to be honored for 90 days following the Account Conversion. After that 90 day period, Berkshire Bank checks can no longer be used and will not be honored for payment. New HVCU checks will be mailed to you, free of charge and in advance of the Account Conversion.

You will continue to make loan payments to Berkshire Bank until the Account Conversion. HVCU offers various options for electronic loan payments, including online and mobile banking, which will be available to you following the Account Conversion. Registration instructions will be provided in the Welcome Packet. If you prefer to mail your payments, the new mailing address will be included in the Welcome Packet and on the loan account statement.

Prior to Closing, you will receive account statements as usual from Berkshire Bank. Following Closing, account statements will be from HVCU. You will receive a final account statement in the old format providing account history for your Berkshire Bank accounts from the date of your previous statement up to and including the Closing Date. After the Account Conversion is complete, your account statements will utilize HVCU’s format and come from HVCU. Your first statement following the Account Conversion will serve as reference to verify balances and other information.

All certificate products will retain their structure and term when converted.

Any previously designated beneficiaries will follow the account when integrated with HVCU’s system.

Following the Account Conversion, you will be able to use any branch or ATM within HVCU’s network. You may also use any credit union participating in the Co-op Shared Branch Network. The Co-op Shared Branch Network allows credit union members to access their account and conduct transactions at more than 5,600 credit union locations nationwide. You may also use more than 85,000 surcharge-free ATMs in the AllPoint, Co-op, and Presto ATM Networks. A full list of HVCU branch locations and hours, and ATMs will be provided in the Welcome Packet. You may also view HVCU branch locations, ATMs, and nationwide Co-op Shared Branch Network locations, by visiting www.hvcu.org/locations.

Yes, HVCU offers 24-hour telephone banking, an audio response system that allows access to account balances and history. HVCU Contact Center representatives are available from Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm ET, and Saturday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET, by calling 800.468.3011.

Beginning on or about September 13, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET, Berkshire Bank’s current online and mobile banking platform will no longer be accessible to you, but online banking services will be available at www.hvcu.org and on the HVCU Mobile Banking app. Instructions regarding account access and initial log in will be mailed separately.

To learn more about lobby and drive-thru hours at HVCU’s branch locations, please click here. The information will also be included in the Welcome Packet.

Website: hvcu.org

Facebook: facebook.com/hvfcu

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hvcu

Twitter: twitter.com/HudValleyCU (@HudValleyCU)

Instagram: instagram.com/hudsonvalleycu (@hudsonvalleyCU)

YouTube: youtube.com/c/hudsonvalleycreditunion (@HudsonValleyCreditUnion)

Anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers, or attends school in the New York State counties of Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Ulster, or Westchester is eligible for membership.

If you do not wish for your deposits and/or loans to be transferred to HVCU, you may opt out of the transfer by completing the Opt-Out Notice attached to the letter that was mailed to you on August 7 and returning the Opt-Out Notice to Berkshire Bank by August 30, 2024, as instructed on the Opt-Out Notice. If Berkshire Bank receives your Opt-Out Notice by August 30, 2024, your deposits and/or loans will remain at Berkshire Bank, and you will be able to continue using any Berkshire Bank branch of your choice that is not subject to the Branch Sale. Set forth below, for each Transferring Branch, is the nearest Berkshire Bank branch that is not being transferred to HVCU as part of the Branch Sale: