March 18, 2020
Dear Members,
As the CEO of Freedom, I would be remiss if I did not directly address you regarding the coronavirus and its impact on daily operations at the Credit Union. Given recent announcements, it is clear strong measures are being, and will be, taken to ensure the public safety. Regardless of any personal feelings about these actions or the virus, change is not only possible, but inevitable.
With that in mind, it is incumbent upon Freedom to play an active role in helping reduce the risk of exposure to staff and members, reasonably maintain services and, in general, do our part to help “flatten the curve”. For Freedom, this means restricting access to our branch lobbies and limiting transactions to the drive through, ATMs and night drop. It also means maintaining an appointment only practice when, or if, an in-person interaction is necessary. As always, we have a full range of electronic, telephonic, digital and virtual services available that will allow you to conduct your business, obtain loans, access cash, etc., and our Call Center will remain active 24/7.
Rest assured, this is not paranoia or panic, but practicality and prudence given the current climate and available information. No one likes to be inconvenienced, but I remember times when some were called to war, when curfews were instituted, when gas was rationed, etc. We’ve dealt with adversity before and I would rather inconvenience you in the short term than potentially endanger you in the long run.
I am not a pessimist. I am someone who believes strongly in the goodness of the people in our Credit Union and community; someone who believes that the best in people will come out during the worst times. People helping people is not just a slogan for Freedom. It is something we believe in, something we live, every day. It is what drives us in service of you and what will always inform our decisions regardless of the situation. Therefore, I ask everyone to be sensible, flexible, patient and understanding as we navigate these uncharted waters. Above all else, be good to yourselves and those around you. It’s the things we do now that will define us and set the example for others.
Warmest Regards,
Freedom Federal Credit Union
Michael MacPherson
President and Chief Executive Officer
