First Commerce Credit Union (FCCU) quickly jumped into action to help feed fellow credit union and community members in the days following Hurricane Idalia. Team members hosted two cookouts, serving more than 1,000 meals in Nashville and Valdosta, Ga.
Just two days after Hurricane Idalia impacted South Georgia, First Commerce team members set up a hurricane relief cookout in Nashville, serving fresh grilled hotdogs and hamburgers, along with chips and cold drinks for free. Then, the following Tuesday after Labor Day, First Commerce set up another cookout adjacent to the insurance claims village in Valdosta. One team member shared that several people they encountered had lost their homes, and many were struggling to feed their families during widespread power outages and the financial setbacks caused by the storm.
First Commerce also took additional steps to help members focus on their own storm recovery efforts. The credit union posted $43 million in direct deposits early to ensure members’ payrolls were uninterrupted and available to assist them with storm preparation and evacuation costs. Additionally, fees for non-sufficient funds and courtesy pay were waived in the week around the storm, saving members nearly $50,000, while waiving late fees on consumer loans saved members approximately $11,000. All ATM fees were also refunded for nearly a week, which allowed members to safely access their funds from any location without having to worry about paying a fee to FCCU. Also, recognizing that many members spent funds for storm supplies and post-storm clean up, qualifying members were offered the option to defer their monthly loan payment at no charge.
“First Commerce is deeply committed to our members while investing in transforming the communities we serve,” said Cecilia Homison, First Commerce CEO. “I am incredibly proud of how our team quickly acted to demonstrate the credit union spirit of people helping people in such meaningful ways for our members and our communities.”
For more information on how First Commerce supports our members and the communities we serve every day, visit FirstCommerceCU.org.
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ABOUT FIRST COMMERCE
First Commerce Credit Union is an award-winning, full-service, #LocalStrong financial institution dedicated to supporting our communities for more than 80 years. Our not-for-profit financial cooperative serves over 70,000 consumer and business members throughout 40 counties in South Georgia and North Florida and has more than $1 billion in assets. First Commerce has 14 financial centers – Three in Valdosta, and one in Adel, Nashville, Ray City, and Thomasville, GA, as well as six in Tallahassee and one in Marianna, FL. First Commerce offers a full array of consumer and commercial products and services, as well as access to thousands of ATMs nationwide through a credit union network, and mobile banking, mobile deposit, and real-time text/email account alerts. First Commerce’s products include our Power Checking account packed with powerful perks, such as Paying Interest, Early Payday, No Overdraft Fees, and an Automatic Savings Option; our SmartStart Teen checking account as well as savings accounts, money markets, CDs, IRAs, auto loans, mortgages, home equity loans, identity theft protection, and credit cards. Commercial services include Business Checking, Treasury Services, commercial loans, and business vehicle and equipment loans. In addition, First Commerce offers a comprehensive suite of financial planning and investment services through our subsidiary Six Pillars Financial Advisors, and commercial & personal insurance through First Commerce Insurance Agency. Our FCCU Foundation is dedicated to financial literacy including free interactive online and in-person workshops on a variety of topics. For details, visit FirstCommerceCU.org or call 229.686.7444 or 1.800.533.5772. Insured by NCUA. Equal housing opportunity lender.
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