Credit unions have been busy preparing for Winter Storm Juno.
The National Weather Service has described it as possibly being a historic storm that may dump more than two feet of snow to much of the Northeast from New Jersey to southern Maine, including the cities of New York City, Boston, Providence, R.I., Hartford, Conn., and Portland, Maine.
According to Paul Gentile, president/CEO of the Cooperative Credit Union Association, many credit unions across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island have announced early closures Monday in preparation for the pending storm. The association represents credit unions in those three states.
"As for us at the association, we will be operating in business continuity mode," Gentile said. "Members will be able to reach individuals remotely and we will post a note in our daily newsletter first thing."
With only a few inches predicted to fall in Albany, N.Y., the New York Credit Union Association said it will be monitoring the southern areas of the state such as Long Island and New York City closely overnight when the heaviest snowfall is expected to hit.
Many credit unions in those affected regions erred on the side of caution and closed early Monday.
For example, the $2.1 billion Municipal Credit Union in New York City, posted on Facebook that its branches and contact center closed at 2 p.m. Monday and depending on the severity of the storm, all of its branch locations may close Tuesday as well.
The $204 million Actors Federal Credit Union in New York City, also closed its New York branches early.
"It's a mess out there," Steven Sobotta, marketing director at Actors FCU, said. "When you operate in northern climates, closures due to the weather are a part of the landscape. Today, with remote access through delivery channels such as online banking, smartphone apps and use of social media channels like Facebook, it's easier to maintain constant contact with members providing the information and service they need 24/7."
The National Weather Service has forecasted that some areas could expect winds of up to 75 miles per hour and widespread coastal flooding possibly through Wednesday.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency and banned all non-essential motor vehicle travel during the approaching blizzard.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy also ordered a travel ban on the state's highways, and officials in other states have asked residents to avoid going anywhere unless it is necessary.
"You can't underestimate this storm. This is not a typical storm. It's going to pack a real punch," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference Monday afternoon. "And we have to expect heavy accumulation in a very short period of time. This is going to come in in a sudden spurt of activity. We saw some flurries this morning, and that has largely dissipated, but what you're going to see in a few hours is something that hits very hard and very fast, and people cannot be caught off guard."
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