Responding to Hurricane Helene

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, which caused billions of dollars in damage and killed more than 200 people, the banking industry is once again coming together to help those affected by the devastating storm including members of our banking family. ABA is donating $50,000 to each of the relief funds established by the North Carolina Bankers Association and the Tennessee Bankers Association to respond to the devastation in those states, and we encourage bankers across the country to consider contributing as well. ABA also encourages bankers to support relief efforts underway in other affected states. Below are links to those fundraising efforts as well as other ways to support storm victims in Florida, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia.

North Carolina Bankers Association

The North Carolina Bankers Association has established a Hurricane Helene Relief Fund through the NCBA Foundation to assist bank employees in Western North Carolina who have suffered losses and property damage as a result of the storm. Please consider providing relief to those in desperate need by donating to the NCBA’s Hurricane Helene Employee Relief Fund. Details on how to contribute can be found here: Hurricane Helene Relief Fund – NC Bankers Association

Tennessee Bankers Association

Several East Tennessee communities were devastated by flooding from Hurricane Helene. The TBA has already pledged $10,000 and is collecting tax exempt donations through the Fund, administered by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. TBA member banks will work with local nonprofits in the affected regions to ensure these funds go directly to those most impacted. Donate here: tnbankers.org/tba-disaster-relief

Other ways to help:

Florida: FloridaDisasterFund.org.

Virginia: United Way SWVA Regional Disaster Relief Fund

Georgia: American Red Cross Disaster Relief and Volunteer Opportunities: https://www.gavoad.org/

South Carolina: www.OneSCFund.org

Banks Respond to Helene

Below are some examples of recent bank efforts to help customers affected by Hurricane Helene. If your institution would like to be added to this list, please reach out to Mike Townsend at [email protected].

• BMO announced a donation to the American Red Cross to support affected communities following Hurricane Helene. The bank is also offering disaster relief options to support customers impacted by the events, including waiving monthly maintenance fees, non-BMO ATM transaction fees, and overdraft fees.  Payment due dates for mortgages, loans and lines or reduced credit card payment amounts will be extended
• CIBC announced it is donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
• HomeTrust Bank announced it is committed and prepared to serve its employees and customers who were affected by Hurricane Helene by providing the banking support that is needed for their homes, businesses and community.
• PNC Bank announced a $1 million commitment through its PNC Foundation to disaster relief and recovery efforts in areas of Florida and North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene. Its donation will help the American Red Cross meet immediate needs for food, shelter and other relief services in communities affected by the storm, including Florida’s Gulf Coast region and Western North Carolina, and it will also support local nonprofit organizations as long-term recovery needs in these communities are identified.
• Regions Bank in Alabama announced a series of disaster-recovery financial services to help people and businesses affected by Helene. They include waiving ATM surcharges for non-customers in affected areas, providing mortgage disaster relief purchase and renovation loans, and removing check-cashing fees for FEMA-issued checks cashed in a Regions branch. The bank also announced a $150,000 donation from the Regional Foundation to be divided among several agencies providing disaster relief.
• Synovus announced it is donating $125,000 to the American Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.
• TD Bank announced it will offer financial assistance to customers in affected areas through TD Cares, a temporary program that includes support such as fee refunds for eligible consumer and business customers. Customers seeking assistance through TD Cares should contact their bank with a request while business customers should contact their relationship manager, the bank said. The bank is also donating $500,000 to recovery efforts.
• TruPoint Bank in Virginia and North Carolina announced it has started a Hurricane Helene Relief Fund. It is accepting donations at its branches.
• Wells Fargo announced it will donate more than $1 million for urgent needs to organizations such as the American Red Cross and local nonprofits. The money will be used for shelter, supplies and other ongoing support for residents hit by the storm.