January 2022

The beginning of a new year offers the opportunity to reflect on all that we overcame, and also to share all that we accomplished the previous year.  Collectively, we spent much of 2021 continuing to navigate the uncertainty that the pandemic keeps presenting—and yet throughout the challenging and often stressful journey, we celebrated moments of light and hope.

For me, those moments came from the entire Reliant family: our team, our volunteers, and YOU, our valued members.  I cannot express enough the gratitude I feel to each and every one of you for walking with us through another difficult year.  While uncertainty remains, Reliant is better positioned to face new challenges because of all we have learned and experienced throughout the last nearly two years.

One important way we learn is when you let us know what’s on your mind.  We listen to all of your feedback; it is an important factor in our daily decision-making, and it keeps us informed about our performance.  We send out surveys after member transactions, and we monitor feedback sent via email or social channels.  We appreciate the insight you’ve shared throughout this pandemic, helping us to adapt and grow.  We look forward to continuing the conversation with you in 2022 and beyond.

Early on in COVID communications, we focused on promoting our remote service options.  This continues to be a priority, not because we don’t want to see you, but because no one knows what lies ahead.  The many nuances involved with pandemic-related protocols mean that staffing continues to be a challenge for us, as it is for so many businesses.  Know that we always strive to create an environment that’s safest for you and for our team.  We thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to comply with ever-changing regulations and expectations.

That said, we’re sure you’re tired of hearing COVID-related communication from us, and we’re eager for that not to be a focal point, too.  While it isn’t going away, we also aren’t letting it hold us back.  We’ve taken time the past few years to make thoughtful and strategic moves that focus on growth and increasing the services that we offer you.

With that in mind, I am very pleased to announce that we will begin construction this spring on a new branch in Farmington, NY!  The expansion into Farmington aligns with our mission to provide you with excellent service, financial success, and convenience.  The new state-of-the-art branch will be located near the corner of Route 332 and Route 96 and will feature the latest innovative banking technologies.  We are so excited to join a community that many of our members already call home, and to help even more members pursue and achieve financial success.

Thank you, as always, for your membership, and for your loyalty as we continue to navigate through challenging times.

Here’s looking forward to brighter days ahead!

Pamela Heald
President & CEO