First Service Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative based in Houston that exists to improve its members’ lives through the good times and the bad. After Hurricane Harvey brought devastating weather and flooding to Houston and the entire Southeast Texas region, the credit union wanted to do all it could to support our members and help them rebuild their lives.
Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast near Rockport as a Category 4 storm on Friday, August 25, before slowly moving eastward over Victoria, Houston, Beaumont, and then into Louisiana. It was downgraded to a tropical storm on Saturday and then drifted over the area for five days, bringing with it record rainfall and flooding. By August 31, an estimated 32,000 people were displaced in Texas shelters, and more than 210,000 people had registered for federal disaster assistance.
First Service leadership made the decision to give back to their members most affected by Hurricane Harvey and help them recover by providing emergency relief and financial assistance with discounted loans and waived fees for in the following ways:
- $237,782 given to members in fees waived
- $523,223 in Emergency Relief Loans
- $1,308,269 in discounted auto loans to replace damaged vehicles
"Even many months later, we know our community is still rebuilding, and we’re committed to being there for our members and all of Houston to help in the recovery,” said David Bleazard, President and CEO of First Service Credit Union. “We appreciate our members' loyalty and patronage which has allowed us to support those who needed it the most. And in the coming years, we will continue to look for more ways to reward and pay back our members all year long while also helping those in need."