Horizons FCU is now a division of Empower FCU

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Horizons Federal Credit Union of Binghamton has merged its operations with Syracuse–based Empower Federal Credit Union in a deal that took effect Oct. 1.

The signage at the four current Horizon branches and the one Empower location in the Southern Tier on Oct. 1 changed to Horizons, a division of Empower Federal Credit Union.

The boards of directors of both organizations approved the deal, Empower FCU announced in late August. It didn’t disclose any financial details of the merger agreement.

The merger of Empower and Horizons offers expanded services to Horizons FCU members and expanded branch and ATM access to Empower FCU members.

About the organizations

Empower FCU provides savings, loans, and other financial products to members in eight counties throughout New York. Empower operates 21 branches across upstate New York, per its website.

In 2007, the nonprofit resulted from a merger between Power and Empire credit unions to create Empower Federal Credit Union.

Horizons FCU — formerly the U.S. Employees Federal Credit Union — was established in Binghamton in 1937 for postal employees, per its website. In the early years, only federal employees and their immediate families were allowed to join. Since that time, the credit union added smaller credit unions through the merger process.

The name was changed to Horizons FCU in 1999 to “better identify us with our community and the diverse group we serve,” its website says.