Southwest Corporate Launches ReliefEffort

DALLAS - (09/02/05) -- Southwest Corporate FCU, whichserves hundreds of credit unions in the Gulf coast states, hasassembled a Disaster Recovery Team that is working to contactaffected credit unions and provide operational guidance. "We areslowly but steadily making contact," Jody Beck, vice president,told The Credit Union Journal. "We put messages out on our web siteand are able to communicate with some credit unions through ourproprietary TranZact system. In other cases, information istraveling by word of mouth-one credit union at a time." SouthwestCorporate, has pledged $100,000 to the Louisiana CU Recovery Fundand is waiving the fees for wires and Western Union transfers thatare directly connected to getting money to members affected byHurricane Katrina. Since implementing the Disaster Recovery Team,Southwest Corporate said it has heard from several-dozen creditunions, including Coastland FCU in Metarie, La., which neededassistance in getting updated balances its ATM system; LouisianaNational Guard CU, in Arabi, La., and Michoud CU, which needed helpin developing an alternative methods for delivery of ACH files,since their Internet service was disrupted. Affected credit unionsare urged to call Southwest Corporate's toll free number at1-800-442-5763 and ask for the Disaster Recovery Team. The team canalso be reached by e-mailing: memberservices@swcorp.org.