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thedrifter
09-02-05, 02:17 PM
Military, retiree pay on schedule despite hurricane
By Vince Crawley
Times staff writer

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service says it has processed the Sept. 1 military payroll and retiree checks on schedule and that banks affected by Hurricane Katrina have put in place emergency procedures.

For those waiting on checks or other important mail, the U.S. Postal Service is working to set up central pickup sites in the disaster area, where thousands may have been killed in Monday’s devastating Gulf Coast storm.

“Banks and credit unions in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi have implemented contingency procedures,” DFAS officials said in a statement late Wednesday.

DFAS officials said they have completed all electronic funds transfers (ETFs) for the Sept. 1 payday as of late Wednesday.

For those who either live in the area or maintain accounts there, the Federal Reserve Bank, the FDIC, and the Banking and Credit Union Associations all have implemented procedures to pull electronic fund transfer files into their alternate banking and credit union sites “where possible,” officials said.

DFAS is watching the financial institutions make each progress through their contingency plan to assure funds are available to account holders. Most banks and credit unions should have the electronic funds deposited into accounts “within the next 24 to 48 hours.”

For people expecting delivery of check or other important mail in the disaster zone, the best source of determining when mail service will resume is local information. “Central pickup locations are being planned now by the U.S. Postal Service and will be announced,” officials said.

If service members or civilian employees cannot gain access to an account in the disaster area, DFAS officials suggest contacting the home office of the bank or credit union. Local military finance offices also can help service members by providing casual pay or cash advances.

“Any payments received in cash will be deducted from future pay,” DFAS officials said.

Ellie

Kegler300
09-02-05, 03:31 PM
That's good news...