ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The CEO of a credit union that has branches located near where riots and other disturbances have recently taken place in Baltimore urged CUs to recognize there are many people in such communities who need their help.
Rod Staatz, who heads of SECU, which is based in South Baltimore but which has branches elsewhere in the city, said it’s important to see beyond just the TV images.
“I think the thing I’d like to stress is that with any situation like that there are some really good, hardworking people who live in those areas,” said Staatz, who offered his comments at the annual meeting of CSCU, where he is chairman. “And whether it’s our CU or yours, if you’re ever around a situation like that we have to find ways to help the very good people who live in those places. You saw the bad stuff on TV, but I hope you also some of the good stuff that was being done. There are a lot of good people there, and we will strongly support people there.”
Among the things credit unions can do in such communities, he said, is providing education, especially to children, in both financial and personal responsibility.