High Point Federal Credit Union Awards Scholarships to Collegebound Seniors.

Olean, NY – High Point Federal Credit Union has granted $2,000 in college scholarships to four high school seniors to assist them in funding their higher education.

The recipients, who are members of High Point FCU, were selected based on their exceptional academic and extracurricular accomplishments.

Richard Yeager, President & CEO, said that presenting these scholarships each year is a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the ambition and accomplishments of local students. He shared that helping them take the next step toward their goals reflects the credit union’s belief in “people helping people,” and shows how supporting education can make a lasting difference in the community.

The high school seniors who were honored with the scholarships include Robert Childs and Brett Bergstrom from Hinsdale High School, Maggie McGraw from Cuba Rushford High School and Ali Haynes from Portville High School.

High Point FCU is the second largest credit union in Western New York, with assets over $400 million. The credit union currently serves over 21,000 members with five locations, 1201 Wayne Street in Olean, 180 West Main Street in Allegany, 160 S. Main Street in Portville, 1035 East Main Street in Bradford, and 100 Fair Oak Street in Little Valley.

Planning a Summer Getaway? Watch Out for Vacation Rental Scams

Summer is here, and for many of us, that means it’s time to start planning a getaway. Unfortunately, it’s also a busy season for scammers, especially when it comes to vacation rentals.

One of the most common scams we see this time of year involves fake rental listings that can look surprisingly real.

Here’s how it usually works:
A scammer posts a vacation home online using photos and details copied from a real listing. The price is often a great deal, most times too good to pass up. When you reach out, they’ll push you to book quickly, saying dates are filling up fast.

Then comes the catch: they ask you to send payment outside of the website, often through a wire transfer or payment app. Once the money is sent, the listing disappears, and so do they.

A few red flags to keep in mind:

  • The price seems unusually low for the area
  • You’re asked to pay outside the booking site
  • The listing has few or no reviews
  • The person won’t answer questions or seems rushed
  • The photos look perfect but feel generic

Simple ways to protect yourself:

  • Stick with well-known booking platforms and use their payment systems
  • Be cautious of anyone asking for payment through wire transfers, gift cards, or unfamiliar apps
  • Do a quick online search of the property address or photos
  • Take your time, scammers rely on urgency

We’re here if you need us
If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. And if you think you may have sent money to a scammer, reach out to High Point FCU right away. The sooner we know, the more we can do to help.

We want all our members to enjoy a safe, stress-free summer, where the only surprise is how relaxing your vacation is.

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