Texas CUs Go Above And Beyond FinancialServices

WASHINGTON - (09/21/05) -- From San Antonio to Houston, creditunions in the Lone Star State are going far beyond providing loansand deposit services to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, whoare dispersed all around the state's eastern borders. "Ouremployees are out volunteering, working at shelters. several haveopened up their homes; doing whatever is necessary," said JohnWorthington, vice president at Security Service FCU, in SanAntonio, where more than 25,000 have been evacuated from NewOrleans. Security Service FCU has even given jobs to a couple ofevacuees, one as a teller and another as a loan officer. Avolunteer team at San Antonio FCU, known as 'Helping Hands,' hasdeployed throughout east Texas, manning the shelter at Kelly AirForce Base, where the $3 billion credit union was formed; sortingdonated clothing, clearing trash; helping workers in Houston'sAstrodome, according to Edward Riojas, Jr., vice president at the$3 billion credit union. "Most of the evacuees did not have cars,or own homes. Lots of them are welfare recipients and living inpublic housing. They don't have any place to go back to. A lot ofthem are going to end of staying in Texas," Riojas told The CreditUnion Journal, during NAFCU's annual Congressional Caucus. RandySmith, president of Randolph-Brooks FCU, said his credit union ishelping New Orleans evacuees who left home without checkbooksfigure out routing numbers for checks; or to get help through theFederal Emergency Management Agency.