One of the key reasons people bank at credit unions is for the human touch. They tend to be smaller than many banks, often tied to a local community or profession, and are not-for-profit. So when their members are afflicted by natural disasters – from wildfires in California to hurricanes on the East Coast – credit unions have the ability to connect on a very human level to offer assistance and help people put their lives back together. The last thing a homeowner needs following a disaster is to get a call from a nervous lender asking if they're still able to make that month's payment.