UNIONDALE, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flushing Financial Corporation (the “Company”) (Nasdaq:FFIC), the parent holding company for Flushing Bank (the “Bank”) announced that Maria Grasso, Chief Operating Officer of the Bank, has been named Chair of United Way of Long Island’s Board of Directors.

John R. Buran, President and Chief Executive Officer stated, “Maria exemplifies a philanthropic spirit through her involvement with many charitable and not for profit organizations over the years. She has been a member of the Board of The United Way of Long Island for over 15 years. In her new role as Chair, they will continue to benefit from her tireless commitment and outstanding leadership.”

Ms. Grasso is Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Flushing Bank with 30 years of experience in the commercial banking industry. She is an advocate of volunteerism and has volunteered for the March of Dimes, Long Island Care, Bias Help of Long Island, Women’s Fund of Long Island, the American Cancer Society, and Long Island Association for AIDS Care and Long Island Network of Community Services.  In addition, she has raised thousands of dollars for organizations such as the American Kidney Foundation, Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, Harbor Child Care, Long Island Museum and the YMCA of Long Island. 

Ms. Grasso is a former chairperson of the Retail Banking Division Committee for the New York Bankers Association.  She is currently a member of the National Board of the American Kidney Fund. Ms. Grasso recently received the Distinguished Volunteer Leadership Award at the Monsignor Hartmann Humanitarian Luncheon sponsored by ACIT.   In 2013, she was honored by the American Kidney Fund, the Long Island Conservatory of Music and The Italian Board of Guardians. In 2011, Ms. Grasso was named Outstanding Executive by Adelphi University.  In 2010, she was selected as a co-honoree at the Go Red for Women Luncheon benefiting the American Heart Association.  In 2009, she was named as a Who’s Who in Banking by Long Island Business News and honored as a 2009 Women Achievers Against the Odds by The Long Island Fund for Women and Girls.  Ms. Grasso has also been honored by Cancercare of Long Island, Harbor Child Care, Long Island Museum, the YMCA and the Center for Business and Professional Women.  She was also selected as one of the top 50 Long Island women and one of the top 10 Business Women of the Year in Queens. Ms. Grasso received an MBA from Adelphi University in 1989 and a BBA from Hofstra University in 1986.

About Flushing Financial Corporation 

Flushing Financial Corporation is the holding company for Flushing Bank, a New York State-chartered commercial bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Bank also operates an online banking division, iGObanking.com®, which offers competitively priced deposit products to consumers nationwide. The Bank also serves consumers, businesses, and public entities by offering a full complement of deposit, loan, and cash management services through its 19 banking offices located in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Nassau County. 

Additional information on Flushing Bank and Flushing Financial Corporation may be obtained by visiting the Company’s website at http://www.flushingbank.com.  

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this Press Release that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and in other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expects", "plans", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "forecasts", "potential" or "continue" or similar terms or the negative of these terms. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Contact: 
Maria A. Grasso
Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer 
Flushing Bank
718-961-5400