How do you say goodbye to a year that has been unlike any other? If you are like many of us, the end of 2020 could not come soon enough.
It seems like such a distant memory when we converted our computer system on March 2nd. Although there were a few miscues when we switched over, the new system has worked well and has provided us with a more comprehensive digital experience for our members. At that time, we did not know that this improved digital communication would be tested by COVID-19 after barely two weeks online.
As the disease shut down much of the local economy, our members turned to our mobile applications to conduct their business. This caught many banks and credit unions off guard as the bandwidth was severely taxed. Greenville Federal Credit Union was no different.
We quickly addressed these scaling issues and the system has responded admirably. While we examined our digital services, we recognized that the credit union might have to close its lobbies for a significant time. We looked at our internal processes and quickly determined how these could be done remotely or utilizing electronic signatures. I am proud to say that our staff responded beautifully, and we were able to conduct all of our members’ business away from our offices using both the telephone and the Internet.
When we reopened our lobbies in early June, we determined that we could not conduct cash transactions inside as it would cause too many people to be inside our facilities. We have chosen to leave it this way for now, especially with the second wave of cases. We are fortunate to have drive-thru windows at every office, but we also recognize that our service level is not always great depending on your branch of choice. We appreciate your patience and your understanding as we all navigate through this time together.
As we head into 2021, we hope and pray that this Pandemic will be going the way of all previous outbreaks and we can return to some level of normalcy. We continue to appreciate the trust you place in us as member-owners. We want to know how we are doing and what we can do better to serve you.
Happy New Year and here’s to a much improved 2021!
Paul Hughes
President and CEO, Greenville Federal Credit Union