Because the deadly Hurricane Matthew is expected to hammer Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas over the next few days, nearly 40 credit unions in these states have publicly announced branch closings for Thursday and Friday and Saturday.

Florida Governor Rick Scott signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency for every county in the state as the eye of the hurricane was just less than 200 miles from Florida's coast on Thursday morning. When the storm system reaches the state late Thursday night or early Friday morning, it is expected to gain strength as a Category 4 hurricane, according to national media reports.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency for 30 counties and order mandatory evacuation for six coastal counties Thursday. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley Wednesday ordered an evacuation of coastal areas in and around Charleston and Beaufort. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has not declared a state or emergency or ordered evacuations as of Thursday afternoon though state officials are monitoring the storm's track.