SAN DIEGO -
San Diego is just one of many communities affected by the fires, but it has been the hardest hit. As of press time, the California CU League had confirmed five credit union members in the state had lost their homes: one house belonged to a member of Fontana FCU and, ironically, four belonged to members of San Diego Firefighters CU. Other damage reports are expected. A relief fund is accepting donations at www.cuaid.coop.
Here is a compilation of some of the many stories of fires affecting credit unions and their members:
* Cabrillo Credit Union and its partners, Sharp Credit Union, and Carlsbad City CU, are offering a "recovery loan" in amounts up to $10,000 at 0% APR for 10 weeks. The loan is available until Nov. 30. "San Diegans have really come together to help those most in need and we want to support these efforts in any way we can," Robin Lentz, Cabrillo's CEO, said in a statement. The $162-million Cabrillo has experience in helping disaster victims after earlier fires and energy crunches.
* Any current California Coast CU member whose primary residence was destroyed by the recent wildfires can receive a $1,000 donation per family/household from the credit union, part of a $100,000 Fire Relief Fund it has created, according to CEO Jim McPheters. All requests must be received by Nov. 30. The $875-million CU will also provide members affected by the fires with information about delaying or reducing loan payments for existing loans, priority loan processing for any cash needs, increasing credit lines, penalty-free early withdrawals from certificate accounts, and free replacement checks, ATM cards, credit cards and check cards. As is the case with Cabrillo CU, California Coast likewise aided the community with its previous fire relief efforts, including over $70,000 in donations to members who lost their homes in the 2003 wildfires. The credit union said it also provided financial relief to victims of the 1985 Normal Heights fires.
* The $1.1-billion Arrowhead CU, San Bernardino, Calif., said it joined with the cities and counties of San Bernardino and Riverside in making a $20,000 corporate contribution to assist with fire relief efforts. Overall, more than $250,000 has been raised.
* Valley CU ($307 million) in San Jose has reintroduced a disaster relief loan it first created to assist with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, The rate is below VCU's standard signature.
* Los Angeles Firemen's CU ($790 million) set up the Fire Family Foundation, which it said will help firefighters and their families in times of crisis, fund firefighter training programs, provide firefighting equipment to fire departments around the state, and support other firefighter-focused charities. "Finally, we will have a way of directing funds to California firefighters and the departments they serve on a consistent, organized basis," Pat Engel, Battalion Chief of the Los Angeles City Fire Department and member of LAFCU's board of directors.
* CUNA Mutual Group has been advising credit unions to warn their members about online scams related to the California wildfires. CMG said Websense, a web filtering and desktop security software provider, reported its security research team has discovered suspicious online scams designed by criminals to steal money from those donating to the California fire effort.
In addition to that information, available at www.cunamutual.com, the company has also added a link from its website to www.CUAid.coop, the online fundraising vehicle from the National Credit Union Foundation.
* The Missouri CU Charitable Foundation is pledging $1000 to help CUs employees affected by the fires, and the Pennsylvania CU Foundation is also accepting donations.
