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COVID-19 Updates

The health, safety and financial well-being of our employees, members and communities are our top priority.

Kootenay Savings remains committed to providing access in the best and safest way possible through a combination of assisted and self-assisted channels.

We urge members to do as much banking as possible through online, mobile and phone banking, our ATMS or by calling our Member Service Centre. If you have not tried these banking options, please call 1.800.665.5728 and we can help get you started.

Our Member Service Centre is currently experiencing a high volume of requests. You may experience longer than normal wait times. We appreciate your patience, as we adapt to best help serve our members, our employees and our communities.

Please click on the tabs below for the latest updates and information.


Banking Options

Virtually, most of your banking needs can be done from the comfort of your home through online, mobile or phone. 

We urge you to take advantage of these banking options and ask that you only go to branch if necessary.

If you haven’t used these options, we can help get you started.

Do you receive your Old Age Security and/or Canada Pension Plan by cheque? Click here to enroll in Direct Deposit.

With these services, you can monitor and manage your accounts, transfer funds, pay bills, and deposit cheques to name a few.  We can also conduct appointments by phone and documents can be signed electronically.

For our Wealth Management clients and Small Business owners, we have support in place too. To reach a representative, simply call 1.800.665.5728 and press 5.

 

Branch Hours

We are continuing to implement health and safety actions that follow the recommendations of the health agencies and have taken additional measures. To keep our members and employees safe, we are reducing our branch hours of operation as follows:

Effective April 14

  • 10:00 - 11:00 am SENIORS ONLY.  11:00 - 1:00 pm REGULAR BANKING.
  • Fruitvale and Radium Branches are temporarily closed and will serve as satellite locations for our expanded Member Service Centre.  This allows us to increase the number of representatives available to answer phones and assist you.
  • Starting May 25, New Denver Branch will be open to members on Mondays and Thursdays only.  The branch will remain closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday to continue to serve as a Member Service Centre.
  • All in-branch appointments have been moved to phone appointments only, unless emergency.

These decisions have been made so we can continue to provide services to our members while also following the social distancing recommendations of the provincial health agencies.

Financial Relief

While it won’t be business as usual, you will be able to count on us. COVID-19 has affected all of us in various ways. If you are facing financial challenges, we are here for you. 

Financial Relief at Kootenay Savings Expand/Collapse

We're dedicated to working with our members to provide flexible solutions through hardships caused by these circumstances including:

  •  Payment suspensions and alterations up to 6 months
  • “Quick Loans” – Personal loans up to $10,000 with deferred payments up to 6 months
  • “Quick LOCs” – Business Lines of Credit up to $25,000 with interest only payments

Please call 1.800.665.5728 for assistance. Business members can select option 5, and follow the prompts to talk to a commercial lender. All other members please select option 4 to speak to a Kootenay Savings representative.

Our goal is to provide some peace of mind knowing you can continue to support yourself and your families through these difficult times.

Government of Canada Business Relief Program Expand/Collapse

The Government of Canada announced a new relief program to support businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Briefly, solutions include:

  • The Canada Emergency Business Account
  • The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Co-Lending Facility
  • The Export Development Bank of Canada Business Credit Availability Program

At this time, we are awaiting more details around the criteria and eligibility requirements, however we do know:

  • Members registered as businesses as of March 1, 2020 may be eligible to enroll for these solutions
  • The Canada Emergency Business Account will provide a $40,000 loan to eligible members

Read the Government of Canada’s Press Release here.

Self-employed or contract workers, please refer to Canada’s Emergency Response Benefit.

Please check back as we’ll have more information as it becomes available.

Collabria Visa Financial Relief Program Expand/Collapse

Our Visa partner, Collabria Financial has announced several financial measures for affected cardholders including:

  • temporary credit limit increases
  • minimum payment deferrals
  • reduced interest rate to 10.9%

As well, tap limits on transactions have been increased to $250.

For more information, please visit Collabria Financial or MyCardInfo.

Cardholders are advised to contact Collabria Cardholder Services at 1.855.341.4643 for assistance.

CEO Message

March 21, 2020 - A Message from Brent Tremblay, President and CEO

As I’m sure you have all seen in the media, things are evolving very quickly around us and changes are occurring daily. I know for myself, I have never seen anything quite like this before and I understand how unsettling it can be for you and your family. We know you are concerned and I want to provide you with an update on what we are doing at Kootenay Savings.

First, let me reassure you, there is no greater priority than the safety and well-being of our members, employees and communities.

Our steps to serve you safely and responsibly.

We are monitoring the evolving developments surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  In our branches and offices, we’ve implemented precautionary health and safety actions that follow the recommendations of the public health agencies. We are paying close attention and have a team in place ready to respond to changes as they occur.  

If you’d like to find out more about the precautions we’re taking, please Click here.

Reduced Branch Hours.

Out of an abundance of caution, and to keep our members and employees safe, we have decided to limit branch hours. As of Monday March 23, we will be open from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm until further notice.

We have made this decision so that we can continue to provide services to our members while also following the social distancing recommendations of the provincial health agencies.  

Rest assured, you can connect with us in many convenient ways.

Virtually, most of your banking needs can be done from the comfort of your home through online, mobile or phone.  We urge you to take advantage of these banking options and ask that you only go to a branch if necessary. If you haven’t used these options, we can help get you started.

With these services, you can monitor and manage your accounts, transfer funds, pay bills, and deposit cheques to name a few.  We can also conduct appointments by phone and documents can be signed electronically.

For our Wealth Management clients and Small Business owners, we have support in place too.  To reach a representative, simply call 1.800.665.5728 and press 5.

Member Financial Relief.

While it won’t be business as usual, you will be able to count on us. COVID-19 has affected many of us in various ways. If you are facing financial challenges, we’re here for you. Our goal is to provide some peace of mind knowing you can continue to support yourself and your families through these difficult times. Our team is dedicated to working with you to provide flexible solutions through hardships caused by these unusual circumstances. Click here to find out more.

If you would like to speak to one of our representatives about financial relief, please call 1.800.665.5728 for assistance.

Sincere thanks.

As a member-owned credit union, local decision-making and thriving communities are the cornerstone of who we are.  These are different times and I realize your banking experience with us will be different too. We ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to make changes to provide you with the best possible service during this evolving situation.

Finally, on behalf of the entire Kootenay Savings family, I want to thank you for your continued trust and loyalty.

Please continue to check our website and social media pages often for the latest updates and information.

We’re in this together and we’ll get through it together.  Please take good care.

Brent Tremblay
President and CEO

FAQs

We're here to help.  Here are answers to some questions you may have.


What is Kootenay Savings doing to keep employees and members safe? Expand/Collapse

We're following the directions of the provincial and federal health authorities and have implemented precautionary health and safety actions to reduce the spread of the virus.

Urging members to use our other banking options – online, mobile, phone, ATMs and Member Service Contact Centre and only come to the branch if absolutely necessary.

  • Requiring our employees to stay home if they are sick or have symptoms.
  • Requiring all employees who have travelled outside of Canada to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days.
  • Practicing social distancing by maintaining a distance of 2 metres away from others
  • Increased the intensity of cleaning across our branches and ATMs including high-touch surfaces such as door handles, countertops, and key pads.
  • Increased our supplies of hand sanitizer pumps and wipes in our branches and offices.
  • Moved all in-branch appointments to phone appoitments only, unless emergency
  • Installed Plexiglas partitions to minimize potential exposure of the virus to front line staff
  • Ensured only one public entrance to each branch is open - wheelchair accessible
  • Set up many of our employees to work from home
  • Segregated work groups to ensure everyone is following social distancing

Useful resources:
Stay informed about the facts by visiting these qualified authorities:

World Health Organization (WHO)
Public Health Agency of Canada
Government Travel Advice and Advisories
Interior Health Authority

Are Financial Institutions Considered an Essential Service? Expand/Collapse

Credit Unions have been declared an essential service under non-health essential service providers. These are the services British Columbians rely on in their daily lives. Kootenay Savings remains committed to providing access in the best and safest way possible through a combination of assisted and self-assisted channels.

We are continuing to implement precautionary health and safety actions that follow the recommendations of the public health agencies and have implemented additional measures to take care of our employees and members’ health and wellbeing.

We urge members to do as much banking as possible through online, mobile and phone banking, our ATMS or by calling our Member Service Centre. If you have not tried these banking options, please call 1.800.665.5728 and we can help get you started.

Click Here for More Frequently Asked Questions Expand/Collapse

Frequently Asked Questions

If your question is not answered here, please send us a message  and we'll get back to you.

Resources

Stay informed about the facts by visiting these qualified authorities:

Public Health Agency of Canada

Healthlink BC

Government Travel Advice and Advisories

Interior Health

Enroll for Canada Revenue Agency Direct Deposit Expand/Collapse

Direct Deposit from the Canadian Revenue Agency is now easier, faster and safer.

The Government of Canada has partnered with Canadian Financial Institutions to offer Canada Revenue Agency Direct Deposit enrollment through online banking.

Learn how you can register to have your CRA payments deposited directly to your account.

Canadian Credit Union Association Resources Expand/Collapse

CCUA has developed and launched a new public webpage here to help individuals and businesses navigate the latest COVID-19 programs and relief efforts announced by the Federal Government.