Winter Oregon Storm Shuts Portland CUs Down

PORTLAND, OR – Heavy snow followed by freezing rain forced numerous credit unions throughout the area to shut down or curtail operations Jan. 7. The Credit Union Association of Oregon was among the businesses in the city that were forced to close. Forecasters said the storm west of the Cascades was the worst in a decade. The storm shut down most of the city, including businesses, restaurants, schools and the Portland International Airport. Power was knocked out to about 45,000 customers in Sandy, Oregon City, Eagle Creek and Molalla. “I think pretty much everybody is closed,” said Michelle Forespring, an employee at Advantage Northwest Federal Credit Union, which was handling only drive-through services with the three employees who made it to work. The state’s largest credit union, Portland Teachers CU, was closed due to the extreme weather conditions. First Tech in Portland was also shuttered, although its branches elsewhere remained open. Oregon Telco Community CU closed early on Jan. 6 but reopened for business the next day. “It’s not pretty,” Forespring said of the weather. “I wanted it to snow. Now I want to go home.”