Bethpage Federal Credit Union said 2012 was a record year for New York State's largest credit union.

The 212,000-member Long Island institution said this week its year-end results include record net income of $57 million, a 38% increase compared to 2011 and deposit growth of $536 million, 13% over 2011.

“2012 was a memorable year for Bethpage as we maintained our position as the largest credit union in New York State and also grew to become the largest credit union in the Northeast, with asset growth reaching an all-time high of $5.1 billion,” said Kirk Kordeleski, Bethpage FCU president/CEO.

“As we enter 2013, and certainly following the wrath of Hurricane Sandy, now is a pivotal time for Long Island to get back on its feet.  The outlook is good and I expect Bethpage's growth to continue,” he said.

Kordeleski said lending has been particularly active, driven in part by record low mortgage rates. 

“We've seen demand in home equity borrowing and refinancing, in auto loans, and in our commercial lending business, illustrating to me that consumer confidence is growing and people are overall, more positive about the economy,” he said. 

Last year, the credit union funded $1.9 billion in loans, a 30% increase over 2011, and included mortgages, consumer loans, business lending and commercial real estate. 

“Lending is the primary revenue source for Bethpage and mortgages were responsible for half of our annual income,” Kordeleski said. Bethpage also funded $176 million in auto loans in 2012, an 80% increase compared to 2011.  

Bethpage said it also continued to expand its growing commercial lending business, which in 2012, represented 10% of its loan production, or $195 million, a 15% increase over 2011. 

Following on Bank Transfer Day, in 2012, 33,440 new members joined Bethpage, a 26% increase compared to 2011. 28,064 new checking accounts were also opened, a 22% increase over the previous year, the credit union said.

The credit union said it plans to add nine to 12 branches over the next three years to its 26 now operating throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.  In 2012, Bethpage also increased the number of its surcharge-free ATMs, now totaling more than 425, on Long Island alone.  Bethpage FCU was approved for the largest federal community charter in the U.S. in 2003.