Pentagon FCU Eases Way For KatrinaRefugees

WASHINGTON - (09/07/05) -- More than 400 elderly veterans fromGulfport, Miss., are getting acclimated at a new home in thenation's Capitol, where they were transported after last week'shurricane, thanks to assistance from Pentagon FCU. The Pentagon FCUFoundation is buying refrigerators, wheelchairs and clothing forthe elderly veterans, who were moved to the Soldiers and SailorsHome in Washington, D.C. The nation's fourth-largest credit unionis working to raise $60,000 through its charitable arm to financethe post-hurricane assistance, according to Margot Szeliga,spokesman for the credit union. The credit union, which ran anational ad with Navy FCU in USA Today last Friday offeringassistance to affected areas, has also taken a number of steps toease the financial burden on members in the three affected states.They are: extended payment schedules; low interest emergency loans;waiving prepayment penalties on early withdrawals of CDs;refinancing of car and home loans at 100% loan-to-value ratio; andallowing affected members to skip a payment on loans.