Thirteen years ago Community Bank of Florida in Homestead was at the center of Hurricane Andrew's devastation, and dozens of volunteers, including many bankers, helped it get its offices up and running again and meet the basic needs of its employees.
Now the $461 million-asset Community Bank is returning the favor. It has "adopted" employees of Peoples Bank in Biloxi, Miss., who lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina.
"There were so many people that were good to us and gracious to us then, and we just wanted to give back now," said Robert Epling, Community's president and chief executive officer.
The bank has given money to the American Red Cross, but employees wanted to give back "person to person," Mr. Epling said. So he started calling Gulf Coast bankers to propose the idea of adopting a bank and finally connected with Chevis Swetman, the CEO at the $648 million-asset Peoples, a week ago.
Mr. Epling and some other bankers are heading for Biloxi today in a 26-foot truck Community employees have filled with clothes, diapers, toiletries, and other items on Peoples employees' "wish lists." After spending the night in Tallahassee, Fla., they expect to arrive at Peoples' headquarters, 800 miles from Homestead, on Saturday afternoon.
Community is one of the many banks across the country reaching out to beleaguered counterparts on the Gulf Coast. Bankers from South Dakota to Virginia are offering those hit by Katrina everything from basic necessities to housing to jobs.
Some, like Community, are simply picking up the phone and calling bankers in need, while others are going through their state and national trade groups. America's Community Bankers, for example, has created a program called "Bankers-Helping-Bankers," a clearing house of sorts that matches the needs of Gulf Coast bankers with offers of assistance from bankers elsewhere.
Robert Schmermund, ACB's vice president of corporate communication, said that even though most banks are donating money to the Red Cross and other relief organizations, many wanted to do something more.
"There has been a huge inflow of bankers calling us and sending e-mails and asking how they can help and what they can do specifically to help their brothers and sisters in the business," he said. Some bankers are offering the use of mobile branches, and one banker even offered the use of a three-bedroom house in Virginia.
Michael Brown, the president and CEO of Harbor Federal Savings Bank in Fort Pierce, Fla., contacted ACB and offered to provide almost anything for banks and their employees in the affected area.
"We've corporately given to the Red Cross," he said. "But, quite frankly, we want to target money to the employees of banks and focus on the needs of those people."
Leonard R. Wolfe, the president and CEO of the $376 million-asset United Bank and Trust in Marysville, Kan., had a similar impulse. It is offering temporary employment and housing assistance to bank employees who lost their jobs to Katrina, though Mr. Wolfe said he has not found any takers.
"I've got feelers out everywhere, but we're finding that the banks down there are taking care of their employees," he said. "I know of several that are completely shut down but are still paying their people, even the hourly employees."
Mr. Wolfe said he would keep his offer open for the time being. He's posted job openings on the Craig's List Web site, informed bank group in the states hit by the hurricane, and called a number of banks directly to let them know.
"We're very sincere in our offer, but it looks like they don't need as much help as I thought they would," he said. "That's a testament to how the banks in that area are taking care of their people."
Community Bank solicited wish lists from the 42 of Peoples' 230 employees who lost their homes. Community employees then divided up the lists and bought the items. Mr. Epling said the truck is filled with new, not used, items.
"Following our storm in 1992, we witnessed a tremendous amount of waste as people donated things that were used," he said. "So we wanted to make sure we are meeting their specific needs."
The bank is also buying goods like paper plates, plastic cups, and other items that came in handy after Andrew destroyed the homes of roughly half its employees, Mr. Epling said.
Though his call came from out of the blue, Mr. Swetman did not think twice about accepting the offer. Mr. Swetman's family also lost its home in the powerful storm.
"He was asking if we had any special needs and talking about sending children's clothing in specific sizes," said Mr. Swetman, who, along with his wife and son, is now living at the bank's headquarters. "I said, 'That's wonderful!' "
Mr. Epling said, "At first I think he thought I was a con man or something, as it seemed too good to be true."
