The $11 million CalPoly Federal Credit Union would have beenpowerless from Dec. 27 to Dec. 30 this past year, but it was savedby some of the relationships it has made throughout the years.

CalPoly, located on a Pomona, Calif., university campus that wasre-wiring and shutting off electricity while students were home onbreak, was expected to be open for business – even if theuniversity was not – over those few days by its faculty, staff,students and former students.

“It was an interesting problem,” said CEO Barbara Bean. “Not everyone is eager to go the distance for you during Christmasweek when there are so many other things going on.”

Instead, she said, the CU's data processor, CU*NorthWest, was there to offer a seamless transition oftechnology. The campus police – most of whom are members of thealmost 3,000-member credit union – had an emergency generator andoffered the five-person staff a home for the holidays.

Nearby Inland Valley CU also offered a workstation at theirfacility and since both credit unions use the same core processor,it was simple.

“We both use CU*NorthWest for data processing and the softwarelends itself to these kinds of collaborative efforts,” said ChuckPapenfus, CEO at the $37 million Inland Valley. “There was nomoving of computers or re-loading software or anything likethat. They just came and logged in through the networkcommunity.”

Because they had effectively gotten the word out about thetemporary relocation, members made an extra effort to check it out,Bean said.

“That Friday was payday and we had lines,” she said. “Evenpeople who normally use our online banking features from theircomputer or smart phone, stopped in to see us. I thinkeveryone enjoyed the novelty of visiting their money at the copshop.”

“The Christmas spirit brought out some really goodcollaboration,” she added with a smile.