WILMINGTON, N.C.–Credit unions across the Carolinas and southern Virginia have either closed branches or announced plans to do so as Hurricane Florence approaches. The storm has winds of up to 115 miles per hour, and forecasters are predicting a significant storm surge for coastal areas, and heavy rains and flooding in other areas.
State Employees Credit Union announced 27 of its branches will be closed today, including five in Wilmington, N.C., and those branches will be closed Friday, as well.
More than one-million people have been ordered to evacuate coastal areas.
The Carolinas Credit Union League and Carolinas Credit Union Foundation said they are tracking closing and “preparing to support any credit union facilities, staff, and volunteers affected by the storm.”
The Foundation added it is prepared to disburse aid to disaster-stricken credit union employees and volunteers through its disaster relief grant application process. It said it is also accepting contributions to its Disaster Relief Fund.
CUNA Mutual Group said it has activated its disaster team, which will contact credit unions in the Carolinas that may be affected, provide information on how to report a claim, and follow up regarding the storm.
NCUA is also offering a hurricane information webpageand said it is prepared to assist with maintaining or restoring operations and can provide urgent-needs grants of up to $7,500 to low-income credit unions that experience sudden costs for service restoration.