ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The NCUA Board announced that it has assembled a task force to address the fallout of Hurricane Katrina on credit unions and their members in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. A toll-free number and e-mail addresses have been established to allow credit unions, their members and vendors to inquire or provide information on the status of credit union operations in the affected areas. The hotline will begin service immediately and operate daily until further notice, the agency said. Toll-free number: 1-800-827-6282 Extensions: Alabama, Mississippi: x3049 Louisiana: x4049 Data Processing: x8049 E-mail addresses: Alabama: [email protected] Louisiana: [email protected] Mississippi: [email protected] Additionally, NCUA notified federal credit unions that they may be able to assist other credit unions and non-members in the area affected by Hurricane Katrina under certain conditions: 1. A federal credit union may provide services to persons who are members of another credit union under their correspondent services authority. 2. Emergency financial services for non-members, including check cashing, access to ATM networks, or other services to meet short-term emergency needs of persons in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, can be provided under the authority to engage in charitable activities. Federal credit unions providing services on a charitable basis cannot charge more than their direct costs. -

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