The Monday morning meeting at Charlotte State Bank in Port Charlotte, Fla., was far from typical this week, according to the bank's president, Charles G. Brown 3d.
The first item of business was a head count. Several employees lost their homes in the hurricane that tore through southwest Florida last week, but nobody was hurt.
The second item was a branch damage report. Charlotte State's five branches were still standing, though three had slight roof and window damage, and all five lost their power in the storm.
Finally, executives discussed how to get information out to the community. With a recently purchased generator humming gently in the background - while neighboring businesses remained dark and vacant - the executives decided to set up a desk in the lobby to provide insurance claim forms, information pamphlets on hurricane relief, and other helpful documents.
"We are really acting as a community center," Mr. Brown said. "We even have shopping teams driving out of town for food and water."
The $159 million-asset Charlotte State Bank is one of about two dozen banks in southwest Florida that are finding creative ways to help their communities recover from the storm; they are offering everything from temporary loan relief to tree removal to free barbecues.
"Everyone is trying to help out in any way, from giving customers access to fuel to being an information center for the town," said Alex Sanchez, the chief executive officer of the Florida Bankers Association.
Hurricane Charley packed winds of up to 145 miles an hour, killed at least 20 people, and caused as much as $20 billion of damage, according to some estimates.
Amazingly, Charley left most of the area's bank branches intact; a few suffered some roof damage and shattered windows.
In fact, in Charlotte County, where most homes and businesses remain without electricity, two of SunTrust Banks Inc.'s seven branches are up and running with full power, according to Susie Findell, a SunTrust spokeswoman.
The Atlanta banking company is distributing free ice and water to the community through these branches. It has set up mobile automated teller machines at the five closed branches, and Ms. Findell said it is waiving its service charge on these ATMs and its others in southwest Florida.
In central Florida, which was also hit hard, SunTrust's human resources department is providing free day care for employees, and the corporate real estate department is providing free tree removal for the bank's workers.
"I am already signed up at the top of the list," Ms. Findell said; a large tree caused significant damage to her property.
The $283 million-asset Riverside Bank of the Gulf Coast in Cape Coral, is also trying to help its employees.
Riverside's chairman and president, Vernon Smith, said that it was looking to rent motel rooms so that employees without electricity could get a hot shower. And it also has a large tank of gasoline to fuel up its employees' cars, since few gas stations are open.
Seven of Riverside's eight branches are open; one is running on a generator. The closed branch, located near Fort Myers, has lost its roof and will need major repairs. In the meantime, Riverside has set up a mobile unit at the site so local residents can still do their banking. (Riverside has no branches in Charlotte County.)
Mr. Smith said business has been brisk, particularly at the branches in the hardest-hit areas. For further enticement, these branches are providing free hot dogs and hamburgers to whoever comes by.
"With so much power out and because debit cards are not working effectively, people are relying a lot more on cash, and they need to get more cash," Mr. Smith said.
Besides accessing money, people are also looking into Riverside's new post-hurricane loan program. Riverside employees can get damage repair loans that will be interest free for two years. Customers can get loans of up to $25,000 with no interest payments for a year.
Mr. Brown of Charlotte State said the main lesson he has learned from the hurricane is to "always be prepared."
A year and half ago his bank created an emergency plan for situations like this one, he said. After much discussion, the board even bought a generator.
"We are very fortunate," Mr. Brown said. "We debated a long time about buying the generator, and it has already paid for itself tenfold."
