May 8: UPDATE
Dear member,
“Be kind. Be calm. Be safe.” Dr. Bonnie Henry’s words in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic have become a simple yet powerful mantra for so many of us, including me. We’ve been striving hard to live by these words every day here at Island Savings and across First West Credit Union, in the way we serve you.
As the B.C. government and health authorities turn the conversation toward slowly easing COVID-19 restrictions and reopening the province, our credit union is going to take a very cautious, measured and gradual approach that prioritizes your safety and that of our employees. For now, our COVID-19 safety measures will remain in effect. We appreciate your patience as we work through this and want to thank you for the suggestions you’ve provided on how best we can meet your needs during this time.
In fact, I’ve heard from several of you that one of the ways we can serve you better is by letting you know which of our delivery channels are available to you for different types of transactions. For example, when must you visit a branch in-person? Which transactions are best done online? What should you call our Member Advice Centre for help with? To answer your questions, we’ve compiled a list of the most common transactions, organized according to the best delivery channel for each.
* You can also use our mobile app for these items.
† You can also call our Member Advice Centre for assistance with these items.
To apply for a Mastercard credit card, visit us online today.
You can use any automated teller machine (ATM) on THE EXCHANGE® Network to withdraw cash and perform simple transactions, free of charge. THE EXCHANGE Network has thousands of ATM locations nationwide, including the ATMs of most credit unions and some banks like HSBC. Visit THE EXCHANGE Network or ding free to learn more or to locate your nearest ding-free ATM.
Finally, if you need to sign mortgage documents, we’ve now enabled digital e-signatures so you can sign from the comfort of your own home. Speak with your mortgage advisor for more information. Visit our COVID-19 Member Resource Centre for even more information about what services are impacted and ways to bank with us – it’s chock full of helpful information and an extensive list of frequently asked questions for members.
I continue to ask you to stay home unless it’s truly necessary to come to a branch. If you do visit a branch or call our Member Advice Centre, you may experience a longer than usual wait time. I promise you that our team is working as hard as they can to get things done as quickly as possible right now. On behalf of everyone at Island Savings and First West Credit Union, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we all do our best in these challenging circumstances.
If you have any additional questions or want to share your experiences with us, feel free to respond to this email. We’re all part of the same community and I really want to know how you are doing. Connecting with our members is always important to us, and no one should feel alone.
Best wishes to you, and in the words of Dr. Bonnie Henry, be kind, be calm and be safe.
Kendall Gross | President, Island Savings
Everything is easier with a little help.
We acknowledge that we have the privilege of doing business on the traditional and unceded territory of First Nations communities.