HOUSTON -- Massive flooding and torrential rainstorms in the metropolitan Houston area -- which have flooded freeways, hundreds of homes and killed at least three people -- has led to a number of closures or delayed openings of credit union branches in the sprawling city.
But based on a survey of dozens of local CUs Tuesday, most branches appear to be open despite the weather conditions.
For example, $17 million C-E FCU said: "due to the severity of the weather last night and the resulting road conditions we are delaying our opening today, Tuesday, until 10:00 at the earliest. Our utmost concern is for the safety of our employees and members under such extreme weather conditions."
Harris County FCU, a $144 million credit union, also issued an emergency alert that due to the inclement weather and street flooding in the area, its lobby and drive-thru will not open on Tuesday, but the call center will be operational.
The $48 million Houston Metropolitan said both of its branches will be closed Tuesday, while $582 million Houston Police FCU reported that all of its branches are scheduled to open at noon, Central time.
As for the Houston Texas Fire Fighters CU, a $247-million institution, its main office in Kolb was also scheduled to open at noon, "pending water recession," while its North and South branch are open with "limited services."
Investex FCU, a $186 million-asset CU, said its branch in downtown Houston will be closed today, with all other locales opening at 10:00 a.m.
KBR Heritage CU, a $91 million entity, reported that it will be closed Tuesday and $533 million Peoples Trust's branches opened late at 10:30 a.m.
A spokesman for $138-million BP FCU said that the credit union is closed and will open next business day, "weather permitting." The $203-million C-Y FAIR CU also experienced some delayed branch openings as well as "server issues," a spokeswoman said.
Two of the six branches of Energy Capital CU, a $216-million institution, were closed on Tuesday. Two downtown Houston branches of the $546-million First Service CU, are closed today, although the other 14 are open.
Some credit unions were apparently not affected by the dangerous flooding.
A spokeswoman for the $1.9 billion JSC FCU said all of its 10 Houston branches are open as usual.
Similarly, none of the four branches of the $210-million Member Source CU, nor the nine branches of the $444-million Primeway FCU closed. In addition, all five branches of the $341 million Texas Bay Area FCU are open.
Meanwhile, the Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation (CSCUF) of the Cornerstone Credit Union League, which represents 600 credit unions across Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, said it is "poised to help those credit unions and their employees impacted by the recent storms, flooding, and tornadoes."
"In times of crisis, the Foundation is here to help our credit unions and their staff get back on their feet so that they in turn can be there for their members," said CSCUF executive director Courtney Moran in a statement.
