GTE's Sebastian challenges the industry to step up relief efforts for terrorist attacks

TAMPA, Fla. – GTE FCU President/CEO Bucky Sebastian is challenging the industry to step up its monetary contributions for relief efforts related to the terrorist attacks. “We did it for our political goals,” said Sebastian referring to fund raising efforts for passage of H.R. 1151, “and I think this is as important a goal.” Sebastian said GTE FCU’s board has voted to donate $1 for each of its 146,000 GTE FCU members to the United Way’s Sept. 11th Fund. The credit union is challenging its members to match or exceed the $1 donation. The CU is using technology to make it easy on its members. GTE FCU members can log into the CU’s home banking system and make an instant donation. The CU’s site also has forms that can be downloaded and the mailed or faxed to the CU with their donation. Sebastian credits his board for approving the plan and for GTE FCU’s vice president of member service Brad Baker for coming up with the idea. “We call it the Baker Plan. I think it’s just a great thing for this industry to do. With 80 million members, we could send $160 million of credit union support,” said Sebastian, whose CU also gave a $1 per member during the push to pass 1151.