For Xtend, Inc., the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based multi-owned cooperative CUSO, the polar vortex that has gripped most of the US over the past two months has provided the latest reminder for several credit unions on how they can leverage shared resources partners to ensure their business continuity.  The CUSO reported that during a recent four-week period, its Xtension Call Center and SRS Bookkeeping business units had provided varying levels of support for more than two dozen credit unions.

Xtend President Scott Collins called this “the busiest winter we have ever had for our business continuity support teams” in a recent statement.  “We have thirty-seven credit unions that contract us to provide daily bookkeeping services for short-term needs, and many have had more than one day this winter where the weather caused them to close.  In addition, our call center agents handle overflow and after-hour member service calls for thirty-four credit unions.  Weather-related closings has resulted in a significantly higher volume of calls during that same period.  It goes without saying that things have really been hopping in our office for the past several weeks.”

Collins concluded, “Just five short years ago we would not have been in a position to help as many of our customer-owners during these anomalies, but we have been steadily investing in both tools and people.  I am proud of the way that our entire team has stepped up, but rest assured we have our fingers crossed that spring is right around the corner.”