5 Great Ways Credit Unions Responded to COVID-19
Community
2
min read
08 Apr 2020
Many credit unions around the country are ensuring they remain open to keep serving their members in the safest way possible. Being a pillar of support is what we do best, after-all. Offices nationwide have implemented social distancing, encouraged online and phone banking, tailored opening hours to ensure the well-being of their members. They’ve also urged members facing any financial difficulty to call and discuss the options available.
But what else are credit unions doing to go above and beyond, how else are they supporting their community? From vulnerable care to volunteering, we’ve listed some great responses below – and there are many more happening around the country. Why not check out your local credit union, here, to see how they might help you.
1. MFCU Redeploy Staff as Volunteers
Member First Credit Union, like credit unions across the island, has been significantly impacted by Covid-19. The credit union has temporarily closed a number of offices and reduced opening hours in others. In addition, many of the services offered by the credit union are not being availed off and thus, the roles of various staff members have been significantly reduced.
On the 25th March, MFCU announced that it was redeploying a number of these staff members in order to help vulnerable people within its community. The staff members are available to offer community service of any kind. In addition, the credit union’s van is available to transport goods or make deliveries as required. Members were encouraged to contact the credit union to request support or to advise of an elderly or vulnerable person within the community who might need some direct assistance.
2. Altura CU Unlock Christmas Savings
Like many credit unions, Altura Credit Union in Wexford offer a Christmas Savings club. Members squirrel away some money during the year into a dedicated account, which is made available at Christmas time. For many members, this helps them to manage at what can be a very expensive time of the year. As well as the Christmas savings club, the credit union also offer a deposit account which means that members money is locked away for a period of time.
Given the huge impact which Covid-19 has had on members, Altura Credit Union made the decision, on 25th March, to open up both its deposit account and Christmas account and enable members to access these funds for a two-week period. This will inevitably provide much needed financial relief to people at a critical time.
3. Putting the Vulnerable First
On 24th March, the Government in ROI ordered that non-essential retail outlets be closed. In a subsequent statement, it was confirmed that credit unions have been listed as an essential retail outlet which is welcome news. Those that remain open must adhere to social distancing guidelines. It is also recommended that they, where possible, adjust their practices to cater for older or vulnerable members.
A number of credit unions are implementing preferred hours and other measures for older and vulnerable members. Ballygall Credit Union has found that a number of older members are reluctant to come inside the credit union. As they had sufficient space in front of the building, a consultation desk has been set up outside the credit union to enable older members to speak to a member of staff
St. Anthony’s and Claddagh Credit Union has extended the opening hours of its Westside branch in order to cater for HSE and other frontline workers, The office will now be open at 7am -9.30 am Monday - Saturday over the coming weeks for such workers.
The credit union shared the information with members via its social media channels on 25th March. The measure was very well received by members, including healthcare staff. Indeed, a healthcare worker showed their appreciation to the credit union by dropping in some flowers as a small token of their appreciation.
4. Utilising CU Creative Material for Families
Given that school children are working for home, there is a huge demand for content and activities aimed at helping children to learn and keeping them busy. First South Credit Union are utilising the Finn colouring sheet and encouraging parents to download the colouring sheet, get their children to complete it, and then email or share it with the credit union on social media. This is a great way to engage with the community and provide worthwhile content.
5. Promoting Social Distancing
Many credit unions are utilising their social platforms to share key information on social distancing and additional measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Bishopstown CU (@BishopstownCU) ran a Twitter competition (with a prize of €250) for a voluntary group who shared insights into how they are communicating social distancing and the HSE guidelines to their communities. This is a great way to connect with your local community, as well as helping to share positive messaging about measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
If you would like to get in touch with your local credit union, if it's to speak to them about any financial difficulty you might be having, or just to see how they are working with the community, you can find your local credit union here.