For the third straight day, the snowstorm and blizzard conditions across a broad swath of the Mid-Atlantic and lower New England regions kept credit unions closed once again.
Credit union executives relied on an array of disaster vehicles and remote electronic devices to stay in touch with members and employees.
"I'm home again today and it's still snowing with 26 inches on the ground and 7 inches last night," said Anthony Walker, president/CEO of the $137 million NARFE Premier FCU of Alexandria, Va. in recounting how the CU, closed today, has operated with a skeletal staff from its two Virginia offices.
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Fortunately, said Walker, the Virginia CU has been able to service its national member base on loans and other transactions "with live bodies" under its 24/7 agreement with a call center vendor, Lending Solutions Inc. of Elgin, Ill. LSI reported a 25% spike in business from some 35 snowbound CUs in Virginia, Maryland, New York and New Jersey.
Elsewhere, state league offices from Connecticut to Pennsylvania remain closed as staffers once again managed to conduct semi-normal business from home using e-mail and cell phones.
"We were able to conduct a press conference yesterday on a Consumer Federation announcement and I have two conference calls later today," said Mark Wolff, CUNA vice president of communications, speaking from his home in Gaithersbug, Md.
NAFCU, too said, it was remotely fielding calls from members "and we had 50 compliance calls we handled yesterday on everything from private student loans to Reg. Z," said Patty Briotta, public relations manager. "Thank God for today's electronic technology."
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