To Our Valued Customers and Friends:
We have been carefully watching the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) around the world, into the United States, and now, into Iowa. All banks have been required for years to have a formal Pandemic Plan in place. With the emergence of COVID-19, we recently reviewed our plan to assess our preparedness and ability to provide our customers with critical financial services during what could be a serious event.
As of today, we are operating as usual and will continue to do so as long as we can reasonably protect the health and safety of our customers and staff. In the event the virus spread impacts central Iowa seriously and experts indicate additional measures are needed, we may modify our customary operating hours or procedures. If this occurs, we will let you know via our website (www.charterbanker.com). Please watch the website for important information or call the bank if you have any concerns. Our highest priorities are the health and safety of our staff, our customers, and the well-being of the communities we serve. Unlike the common flu, there are enough unknowns that caution is warranted.
For the safety of our customers and staff, and in response to the current pandemic, we are encouraging use of our drive-ups.
While not a comprehensive list, our Plan calls for:
- Increased cleaning and sanitization efforts in our public and private locations while reinforcing healthy habits for our staff, which includes not shaking hands;
- Keeping our products and services fully available to you;
- Supporting our customers and employees that are at-risk or have special needs;
- Encouraging ill employees to stay at home and not return until free of symptoms;
- Monitoring the financial markets and discussing options for customers to meet their changing financial needs;
- Limiting business-related employee travel until further notice and using teleconference capabilities instead;
- Modifying, postponing or canceling large meetings; and
- Enhanced risk monitoring and management.
While we do not anticipate any branch closures at this time, you can access your accounts and services without needing to visit a branch by using our online banking site or mobile banking app, ATMs, night drops, or our drive-up. If you have not done so, this is an excellent time to get access to each of these channels and to set up automated services such as direct deposit, bill pay, mobile deposit and others. While there is no evidence that the virus can be spread through cash, there is nothing to the contrary either. Therefore, when possible we recommend limiting your handling of cash for payments through the use of debit cards, person-person payments (Popmoney), online bill pay, etc. If you must handle cash, wash or sanitize your hands afterwards. See our product video guides for further details on our electronic products.
There is a lot of media discussion about the protection afforded by wearing masks or respirators, which is driven in many cases by misinformation, panic buying and stockpiling. According to the World Health Organization, for asymptomatic individuals, wearing a mask of any type is not recommended. Because of this recommendation, and because the wearing of masks in a bank is a security concern, masks and respirators are not allowed in the bank. If you feel the need to wear a mask please utilize our drive-up.
Here at Charter Bank, our mission of being a dependable, competitive and service-oriented bank, serving our customers and our community with a total commitment to excellence has never been more critical. Our objectives are not only an exercise in limiting business disruption, but of leadership in a time of need. We are in this together, and if there is anything that we can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to reach out to our local bankers.
As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Regards,
Matt Morris
President