Southeast Corporate's Katrina Efforts Top $150,000

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -Southeast Corporate estimates that its support for credit unions affected by Katrina has topped $150,000. The board approved a cash donation of $75,000 that is being directed by the Mississippi Credit Union League to assist credit unions and their families in need. “Charles Elliott and the Mississippi League are doing a great job leading the effort over there to help folks. What families need now is money to provide the necessities and help them get back on their feet,” said Southeast Corporate President & CEO Bill Birdwell. Southeast has also been matching donations that its employees have made to the relief effort. In addition the corporate has been working directly with the smaller number of its affected credit union members in Alabama and Louisiana to lend support. Southeast made direct grants to affected member credit unions in the Mobile, Ala. area and Louisiana. Earlier in the month Southeast drove a truckload of operational support items to Mississippi and then began to focus on assisting affected credit unions with their liquidity needs. The corporate has also waived all fees to these credit unions for the months of August and September and absorbed significant costs to make emergency cash available to these members.