FERGUSON, Mo. — All around Alliance Credit Union's office here, businesses have broken windows, knocked-down doors, and one has even been burned to the ground amid the riots that have followed the deadly shooting of a local young black man by a white police officer.
But the $215 million CU's branch has been untouched, and Human Resource Director Frank Evans thinks it is because Alliance is seen as an integral part of this low-income community.
"Our Jennings office is on the intersection of the two cities, Ferguson and Jennings. Right outside our building is where the trouble started," Evans said.
Evans explained that the Jennings office touches the border of Ferguson, and that the chase between police and 18-year-old Michael Brown began in the street outside the CU's doors. The shooting happend just two blocks away.
"Our building, remarkably, is unharmed," he said.
Clashes between protesters and police here have prompted Alliance and St. Louis Community Credit Union to temporarily close some of their offices.
Fenton, Mo.-based Alliance closed its Jennings branch on Monday and Tuesday.
St. Louis Community closed its Jennings location on Monday and its Dellwood office on Monday and Tuesday.
There have been four nights of rioting, with protestors angry over the shooting of unarmed Brown on Saturday. Clashes have been marked by patrolling helicopters, barricaded main roads, gunshots, stun grenade explosions, burned stores and tear gas.
Alliance's office reopened Wednesday, only because staff — relocated to other branches — wanted to get back to work and help the community.
"We held a conference call Tuesday with all of the Jennings staff," Evans said.
"We asked them what they wanted to do: open the office or stay closed," he said. "Every employee said they wanted to open."
Each morning has stood in stark contrast to the nights, with people peacefully assembling and volunteers taking to the streets with trash bags and shopping carts to clean things up, Evans said.
Published reports indicate that there are no signs of the demonstrations letting up.
Protesters have demanded that police release the name of the officer involved. After initially promising to make the name public, police backed off because of what they said were threats on social media.
Sixteen people were arrested, and two police officers were injured during the latest round of clashes, according to published reports.
As the rioting continues, Alliance is concerned about the impact on the lives of residents and local businesses.
"Our employees are fortunate. They can go to other branches and work," Evans said.
"A lot of mom-and-pop shops around here are not so lucky," he said.
As for the CU itself, so far, so good, Evans said.
"I will be happy if our building gets through this weekend OK," he said.
