the consummate Community Bank. We started our existence doing residential mortgage loans back in 1913. In 2024 that has morphed into not just residential, which we are still very committed to, but the full array of what you would expect from a full-service community bank.” MEETING CUSTOMER NEEDS IN CHALLENGING TIMES Wallkill Valley Federal Savings and Loan has built a reputation for strong customer service and community support. In the face of inflation and a shifting housing market, Horodyski emphasizes the bank’s commitment to providing fair rates on savings and mortgage loans. “I don’t have a lot of impact in regards to what it costs my customers to fill a grocery basket and how much more that costs every day,” he acknowledges. “We are just continuing to be that steady financial resource for them.” Inflation may have eased somewhat, but Horodyski points out the ongoing impact of housing prices on Wallkill Valley Federal’s community.“In our particular market, we had a huge COVID influx of people that came in and really changed the demographic of what were our bread-and-butter homeowners. A lot of what we would consider our typical customer is just priced out of the market—even on rents now.” While this poses a challenge, Wallkill Valley Federal Savings and Loan continues to prioritize affordability and fairness in its mortgage lending practices. “We are always committed to making sure we do not put people in homes they can’t afford,” he stresses. “We are always fair in our rates. We’re not trying to gouge.” Unlike many mortgage brokers and larger banks, Wallkill Valley Federal keeps its fees minimal, avoiding what Horodyski describes as the “fluff” often associated with loan processing.The only fees customers typically encounter are those necessary to cover essential services, such as appraisals and credit reports. “Our hope is we will make the loan. And we live off the difference between what we got that money at and what we lent it out at.This doesn’t change whether it’s a low-rate environment or a 77 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 11 WALLKILL FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN
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