In response to criticisms from Municipal Credit Union members unable to access their cash andaccounts, MCU's President/CEO Kam Wong is emailing a letter to340,000 members Thursday to explain what the credit union is doingto restore services and is prepared to do to help members in anyway it can.

“ManyMCU branches have reopened and the MCU team has been workingaround the clock to get our remaining branches open,” Wong wrote.“Some of our branches are located in the hardest hit areas and weare working as quickly as possible to get them operational. MCUmembers also can access their funds at ATMs bearing the NYCElogo.”

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MCU, which reopened 10 branches Wednesday, also said Thursdayits website isoperational and members can now do transactions on it.

However, an MCU member responding to an MCU article Wednesdaysaid he/she went to three NYCE ATMs and still cannot access accountinformation.

“It (ATM) says access denied and I think it's horrible that theyhave no emergency location set-up to try and assist people duringthis time of devastation,” wrote “Disappointed customer” in thearticle's comment section on Wednesday. “The 800 # they set-up onlytells you about the branches that are open, but how do you knowpeople can get to the branches. You have to have a back-upplan in place when you hold people's money and their livelihood inyour hands.”

Sherry Goldman, a spokesperson for MCU, responded: “From what Iknow, members can access funds through the NYCE network of ATMs,but I don't know if any ATM network gives the ability to check onaccount balances on accounts from different banks/CUs.

Municipal's situation is notable in part because of its size butalso because the credit union was one of those especially hard hitby the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, which significantly impacted thecredit union's headquarters.

The credit union at the time also allowed members to overdraw their accounts via ATM withdrawals. The vastmajority of the credit union's members who did so made good theiroverdrafts, but Municipal wound up prosecuting a few members whohad refused to make up their imbalances, and the credit unionhas faced questions about its emergency preparedness.

Wong said in his letter that MCU is here to help in any way itcan “one member at a time.”

“If you or someone you know was affected by the severe stormsand floods, our Membership Assistance Program can help,” he wrote.“You may qualify to:

• Receive emergency credit line increases on your existing MCUVisa card.
• Modify or extend payment on loans, credit cards or lines ofcredit.
• Receive special assistant with lost, missing or late loan andcredit card payment.
• Receive a refund on any returned items and or non-sufficientfunds.”

Wong also encouraged members to check MCU's website, nymcu.org,or call 1-888-220-0320 for information updates.

MCU said it will reopen other branches when power isrestored.

In a statement released early Thursday morning , Con Edison, NewYork's primary power provider, said it expects to makesignificant progress restoring electricity over the next two daysdue to Wednesday's damage assessment and field work planning.

Additional crews from around the country continue arriving fromas far away as California to assist New Yorkers. Cargo planes areunloading their equipment and will be assigned throughout thearea.

ConEd reported approximately 676,000 customers have noelectricity. That included 227,000 in Manhattan, 103,000 in Queens,59,000 in Brooklyn, 83,000 in Staten Island and 36,000 in theBronx. In Westchester County, the company reported 166,000customers out of service.

“The last several days have been tough for many of our membersand their families and we hope you are safe,” Wong wrote in theletter to members. “Our hearts go out to the communities that havebeen hit the hardest by this historic hurricane. We want to assureyou that MCU is standing with you now as the recovery effortbegins”