Coronavirus Resources

December 17 – End of year updates

Vermont’s Covid-19 daily update: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19

Get the latest Covid-19 news delivered to your inbox: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/sFxLaby/covid19

New regularly updated link for the Paycheck Protection Program: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program

Current Covid-19 related scams and fraudulent activity: https://www.ftc.gov/coronavirus/scams-consumer-advice

June 2 – Reopening Credit Union Lobbies Guidance Documents

Click on any of the PDF documents below to view or download.

April 23: CUNA Mutual Group’s “Stronger Together” Covid-19 Resources

“In these turbulent times, we want you to know that you can count on us to be here when you need us most. We’ve made it through tough times before and we will get through this together.” – CUNA Mutual Group President & CEO Robert Trunzo

CUNA Mutual Group has developed this Covid-19 Resources page on their website to guide credit unions during these challenging times. The page includes multiple FAQs documents covering Annuities, Business Protection, CUNA Brokerage Services, Lending, Retirement Plans, and TruStage. Our business partner is also regularly adding Covid-19 resource links, videos, and other resources designed to help credit unions serve their members.

April 3: New Resource Added – SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program

Download the SBAs final guidance (300k PDF) PPP-IFRN FINAL gca 614

Visit CUNA’s Compliance Community blog for the in depth analysis they prepared for credit unions

Key points for credit unions as lenders are:

Small business owners can borrow 2.5x their average monthly payroll of employees earning $100k or less
Funds can be used for payroll, benefits, rent and related, interest on other debts
Applicants provide limited information
Interest rate of 1%, 2 year term, payments begin 6 months after disbursal
Any federally insured credit union may be a lender of PPP funds:
- SBA 7(a) credit unions are automatically approved to make PPP loans
- All other credit unions can automatically qualify to make PPP loans by submitting SBA Form 3506 (not yet available online)
Participating credit union loan underwriting is minimal; lenders do not have to perform any borrower verifications; no collateral or personal guarantees required
Lenders will earn:
- 5% for loans up to $350,000
- 3% for loans between $350,000 and $2,000,000
- 1% for loans over $2,000,000
SBA provides lenders a 100% guarantee
PPP loans may be sold on the secondary market

As soon as AVCU is made aware of Form 3506 we’ll make the form or a download link available here.

Although the new program broadened the definition of businesses that may qualify for a loan by adding “nonprofits,” it appears to have limited coverage specifically to nonprofits under 501(C)(3) and (c)(19), neither of which include credit unions. FCUs are exempt under 501(c)(1) and state-chartered CUs under 501(C)(14). Additional guidance from the SBA is expected which could potentially give a broader view of credit union eligibility. In addition, the Treasury Department could modify the rule, or this provision could be included in a fourth round stimulus package already being discussed by Congress. Financial industry stakeholders have sent the SBA this joint letter requesting clarity 032520_Joint Trades Letter to SBA Administrator Carranza (70k PDF).

New Resource Added – CARES Act Provisions Summary

Prepared and courteously shared with AVCU by the Compliance Department of the Northwest Credit Union Association

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Congress passed H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, 2020. President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act into law on the same day. You can view the CARES Act online here.

The CARES Act is intended as Phase III of federal government support in the wake of the coronavirus health crises and the associated economic fallout. The Act provides a package of over $2 trillion in stimulus to help combat the health crisis and send economic relief to workers and businesses affected by restrictions meant to stop the outbreak’s spread.

Click the link below to view or download this analysis of five key sections of the CARES Act (217k PDF).

CARES_Act_Provisions_Summary

Conferences and Events

The Association has rescheduled our 73rd Annual Meeting & Convention from May 15-17 to September 18-20 at Jay Peak Resort and will provide status updates via the webpage linked above throughout the coming months.

We will continue to monitor the situation and follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Vermont Department of Health, while maintaining the health and welfare of our guests as our top priority.

For more information or to discuss concerns, please email Director of Information Services John Cote or President Joe Bergeron.

Staff & Members

Take Proactive Steps to minimize risk to staff and members by increasing efforts to prevent illness:

Make sure your workplaces are clean and wiped with disinfectant regularly.
Promote regular and thorough hand-washing by employees and members: Put sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent places around the workplace.
Display posters promoting hand-washing – ask your local public health authority or download the CDC’s handwashing poster here.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask: CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.
Keep communicating and promoting the message that people need to stay at home even if they have just mild symptoms of COVID-19.
Display some or all of these CDC posters. Combine this with other communication channels commonly used in your organization or business.
Encourage members to wear gloves or provide sanitizer near ATMs.
If a branch is affected, consider re-directing members from branch to electronic banking services, ATM, telephone or conduct operations from alternative sites.
Provide those handling cash with gloves.
Implement “social distancing” techniques to minimize typical face-to-face contact.
Notify the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) or NCUA if the credit union faces an emergency or branch closing.

Your Association’s Management Minute Blog is being regularly updated with the most recent information. All related posts are tagged with the keyword “Coronavirus” … just click “Coronavirus” under “Posts By Label” for links posted to date. For a single daily email with all posts made on that day, enter your email into the box on the blog labeled “Get the Daily Email Update.”

Compliance Resources

Business Continuity

On March 6, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) announced the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) issued guidance to remind financial institutions that business continuity plans should address the threat of a pandemic outbreak and its potential impact on the delivery of financial services. The guidance identifies actions financial institutions should take to minimize the potential adverse effects of a pandemic. In additional to the recent FFIEC guidance, NCUA provides the following:

Influenza Pandemic Preparedness

Guidance on Pandemic Planning

Pandemic Preparedness and Planning

Association member credit unions may wish to access Vermont Compliance InfoSight for updated Pandemic Preparedness resources. In addition, CU PolicyPro includes a model policy: Pandemic Influenza Preparedness & Response.

If you have questions or need assistance accessing these resources, please contact John Cote.