LA CROSSE, Wis.––Marine Credit Union said it is committing more than $5 million to COVID-19 relief, including giving $50,000 per month for employees to provide local COVID-19 relief. It noted it will also continue to pay all of its employees and has also formed a Compassion Task Force.
Marine Credit Union said its “COVID-19 Community Commitment” will deliver relief through the following programs:
* Employment & Pay Commitment: All 450+ Marine employees will continue to be employed and receive their full pay and benefits, regardless of ability to work normal hours during this crisis.
* Pandemic Relief Program: Existing Marine members who have been affected may be eligible to defer loan payments.
* Emergency Relief Loan Program: Existing Marine members and employees who have been impacted may be eligible to receive relief loans with six months of no payments and interest. Marine said it is making up to $5 million of the loans available.
* Compassion Task Force: According to Marine CU, a team of dozens of employees are forging connections with members in need (e.g., the elderly, people celebrating birthdays) through outbound Compassion Calls
* Community Support Dollars: $50,000 total per month given to front-line teams serving members in branches and offices for local use to support area businesses and non-profit organizations impacted by COVID-19.
‘Committed to Compassion’
“We are committed to showing compassion to our employees, members and communities during this uncertain time,” said CEO Shawn Hanson, in a statement. “Our mission is to advance the lives of people from a place of financial need to a life of ownership and giving back in our communities. Our mission compels us to respond to this crisis with courage. We want to help people remain on their feet and have money to spend in our communities.”
“Our employees are passionate about supporting small businesses in each of the communities we serve,” Hanson continued. “Whether it’s restocking food pantries, ordering from a local sandwich or coffee shop, or donating to a charity who had to cancel their fundraiser, our employees know who needs the most help.”
The $857-million Marine Credit Union has approximately 77,000 members.
Maine’s CUs Change Advertising Message
According to the Maine league, it is temporarily pausing its “Own It” campaign in favor of a new campaign is said is more “appropriate for the current environment.”
The new ads, which Maine’s CUs have used in the past, are themed “Maine’s Credit Unions Are Here For You.” The MCUL said the ads will appear in the sentence, “We’re all in this together, and Maine’s credit unions are here for you.” The league is encouraging Maine’s credit unions to use this or similar language in their own advertising.
The ads can be found here.
CU Helping to Feed Kids
In Lewiston, Maine, Maine Family FCU said it has partnered with Val’s Drive-In to provide free meals to any child under the age of 13 through April 30. Meals will include a cheeseburger, hot dog, grilled cheese, or chicken nuggets, French fries, soda or milk.
“We recognize that many families are finding it increasingly difficult to put meals on the table and wanted to find a way to help,” Rachel Caron, CEO at Maine Family Federal Credit Union, told the Maine CU League, which first reported the news. “Our credit union is thrilled to be working with Val’s Drive-In, a wonderful local business, to help feed children in our community during these difficult times.”
Val’s Drive-In is open for take-out service only.
First Tech Supports Food Banks, Offers 2:1 Match for Employee Giving
First Tech FCU said it is contributing $50,000 to food banks in Washington, Oregon and California to help feed families and individuals in need. “We are in contact with our partners across our footprint and are continuing our grant making programs, and working with communities to identify critical needs,” the credit union said. “We’ve empowered our employees to give back even more during these times. Employees are able to use their 16 paid volunteer hours to support neighbors in need, observing public health guidelines and safety measures, grocery shopping for seniors and reading with children home from school using teleconferencing solutions. We’re also increasing our matching gifts and have activated a 2:1 match for employee giving, up to $1,000 per employee, to food banks, shelters, hospitals, and other critical service nonprofits.
CCUA Distributes Hand Wipes
In Massachusetts, the Cooperative Credit Union Association said it received a shipment of 500 Anti-Bacterial Hand Wipes packets that had been ordered for the organization’s 2020 CU Marketplace Experience. Because the event was postponed to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the CCUA offered the wipe packets to its small credit unions to augment their efforts to protect their employees and members.
In all 51 CUs across the four states the CCUA serves accepted the Hand Wipes.
Indiana League President Appears on Morning Show
Indiana Credit Union League President John McKenzie was a guest on the WXIN FOX59 morning show where he talked about how credit unions are helping members during the coronavirus pandemic.
During the program McKenzie reminded viewers that credit unions follow the model of people helping people and putting people before profits.
“Credit unions are reaching out to their members, seeing what their needs are, offering new types of loans with payments not due for many months, changing terms on existing loans, waiving fees, just a number of things,” he said.
McKenzie encouraged people to contact their own credit unions to see what options are available that can specifically help them, and also reminded CU deposits are safe and insured.
“While we all face concerns with health and the medical areas of our lives, in the financial area of their lives, for credit union members, credit unions are there for them as they always have been,” he said.
Indiana’s 151 credit unions service approximately 2.6-million residents of the Hoosier State.