PURCHASE, N.Y.—Mastercard, CUNA Mutual, CO-OP Financial Services and Catalyst Corporate are among the companies that have both announced large donations to relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey.
Mastercard has donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, while CUNA Mutual and Catalyst Corporate, which is headquartered in Texas, have each donated $50,000 to the National Credit Union Foundation’s CUAid fund.
CO-OP Financial Services has also donated $10,000 to CUAid, organized to help credit unions and their members in Texas impacted by Tropical Storm Harvey. The donation augments the nationwide CO-OP Shared Branch and CO-OP ATM networks used extensively in credit union business continuity and recovery during times of disaster, the company said.
In addition, Mastercard said that together with its issuing banks, “We are waiving any interchange related to donations through Sept. 30, 2017” to specific charities including, Americares, American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, World Vision, and World Food Program USA.
“Mastercard will match every employee donation through our Mastercard Cares portal,” the company stated. “We are supporting the hundreds of thousands of citizens of Texas and Louisiana whose lives, homes and livelihoods have been devastated by the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Our priorities as community members become clear during times such as these. Just as so many Americans are reaching out to offer assistance, we’re eager to do what we can to help.”
CUNA Mutual reminded credit unions can make additional donations at cuaid.coop.
“Tropical Storm Harvey has dramatically reminded us that natural disasters can come upon us with amazing speed,” said Todd Clark, president/CEO, CO-OP Financial Services. “We have been proactively contacting clients in the impacted areas to assess needs and determine where we can help. The $10,000 donation on behalf of our client credit unions is one expression of that outreach, and available at all times to members of participating credit unions is our vast networks of branches and ATMs, ensuring access to accounts for those displaced by the flooding.”
At Catalyst Corporate, CEO Kathy Garner said, “Our hearts go out to credit union employees, their families, credit union volunteers and members in the areas that have experienced such devastation. We know their needs are great and from everything we’ve heard, will continue to grow. We will monitor the situation through the next few days, keeping an eye on credit unions in our neighboring states.”
To assist credit unions in the area, Catalyst Corporate said it also extended its daily share draft return deadline to 7 p.m. CT through Friday, Sept. 1. For additional storm-related announcements, Catalyst Corporate has set up a special information page on its website. Credit unions experiencing operational challenges because of the storm may contact Member Services at 800.442.5763, option 1, or email HarveyHelp@catalystcorp.org.