PLANO, Texas–Some CU employees are now living at the credit union itself, according to early stories from CEOs at credit unions in hurricane-ravaged Texas.
According to the Cornerstone Credit Union League, Craig Rohden, president/CEO of the $78-million Space City Credit Union, said many of his employees had to abandon their homes while other employees were trapped in their homes surrounded by water.
At least one employee, his wife and their two young children waited for 18 hours before they were able to jump on a boat to escape the rising floodwaters, the league reported. A bus transported them to the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston that is being used to shelter thousands of flood victims.
“Our credit union is about one mile from the convention center, and I also happen to live nearby,” Rohden was quoted by the CCUL as saying. “Our chief operating officer, Nikki Moore, who has been keeping in touch with all 30 of our employees, was able to relay this information to me. I was able to drive to the convention center and pick up our employee and his family and provide shelter at our credit union. There, they will have much more privacy, be able to take a hot shower and clean up, get some food, and figure out their next move.”
Several other Houston credit unions also reported their employees had to abandon their homes or had their homes damaged by the flood, the CCUL said.
“We (my management team, board and I) are keeping in touch with all staff daily and more often as needed,” Keith L. Kearney, president/CEO of the $187-million InvesTex Credit Union, told the Cornerstone league. “As you might imagine, it is not safe for staff or members to be on the road. We prepared well with all our staff and notification to our members, however, mobility is severely restricted. We are doing what we can, when we can and focusing first on safety.”
The league reported that many credit unions report their employees who are able to work remotely from their homes are posting ACH transactions and running other back office operations that are supporting online and mobile banking demands. Houston credit union CEOs also reported that their ATMs are functioning though many do not know yet if the flood has damaged their branches, the league said.