I’m doubtless stating the obvious when I say that, like everyone else in our country, I’m adjusting to a new normal. The last days and weeks haven’t been easy on any of us, but I hope you are keeping your spirits up, getting outside for some fresh air and exercise. And, above all—staying safe!
Given all that’s going on—I wanted to take a few minutes to report on what we’ve been doing on behalf of our member-family recently. And to express how proud I am to be a part of it.
First and foremost—we’ve been working hard to “get on with daily life.” We’re keeping your banking services, including branches, as accessible as possible while not jeopardizing safety by encouraging use of our remote services—Online/Mobile Banking, phone, and online-chat. Collectively, these give members round-the-clock access to banking in a safe, convenient way. If you need support using any of our remote services, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Another big part of “being there” for members is financial stability. Not only are your deposits safe here—we have an enviable balance sheet—but your savings accounts continue to provide you with excellent earnings. Despite pressure from the markets to lower savings rates, we’ve kept them unchanged at this time. Our hope is that you keep saving with confidence, to give yourself a bigger buffer against the unexpected.
Nor have we taken our eye off our obligation to improve our services to members, continuously. With this in mind, we recently moved our corporate office to two new locations for a shorter staff commute, helping us hire and retain the best employees. And I might add, we moved without any interruption to service.
Additionally, we teamed up with Zelle® to bring you a smart way to send money to loved ones—within minutes1. We also put in place a new survey tool that makes answering questions quick and engaging. Your responses are truly appreciated, and help us deliver superior member service and products.
And, not forgetting our agent-members—we introduced an excellent, free Farmers Premium Trust Account. This lets Farmers agents put a new policy into effect faster, and deposit clients’ premium cash payments at no fee.
As I hope you see from my notes, although the way we work and live might have been disrupted temporarily, our commitment to support our members is unchanged and undimmed.
I must confess—it has been a challenging period for me as for all of us. But during this time, I’ve been reminded of the true meaning of ‘family,’ and am blessed to be a part of our extended, member-family.
Take care and be safe.
Laura
President and CEO
¹Must have a bank account in the U.S. to use Zelle.
