Ongoing Military Deployments Also Ongoing Challenge For CUs Serving Troops

SAN DIEGO - Ongoing deployments overseas are only increasing the challenge to credit unions serving the U.S. military in keeping the troops from making poor financial decisions. Still, most CUs have shown they are up to the task, according to Roland “Arty” Arteaga, director of the Defense CU Council. “There is an issue of financial readiness, which is also an issue of quality of life,” said Arteaga. “The constant deployments make it quite difficult for many troops to handle their finances, and when the troops come home we do urge their commanders to push financial education.” The goal is to keep the troops from being preyed upon by payday lenders. For CUs located on base, it’s a special challenge, said Arteaga, who praised the $72-million Geovista CU at Fort Stewart in Georgia for the job it has done serving the Third Infantry, which has been deployed three times. “My hat is off to these folks. They know that when the troops are coming home they are going to need that help.” (c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved.http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com