Support in a Time of Uncertainty

As most of you are probably aware, some financial institutions in our markets have chosen to close their lobbies to customers and members during these challenging times. Yes, these are challenging times indeed…

Our management team here at Deerwood believes that it is exactly times like these that our customers and communities need us most, while also recognizing that the health and safety of our staff are our top priorities. With those two beliefs in mind, management rebalances and reevaluates the bank’s responses to the current pandemic threat on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. Currently, we are promoting and supporting important protocols to delay infection as outlined by the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Minnesota Department of Health. The guidance from these organizations makes it clear that, in the absence of a vaccine, we will not be able to stop the spread of infections, but we can take steps to slow it.

We understand the importance of banking as one of the pillars of critical services in our communities, along with those industries that support our health, safety, and sustenance, particularly in uncertain times such as these. Deerwood Bank and other financial institutions  help to provide stability to our communities. It is for this reason that Deerwood Bank intends for our lobbies to remain open as long as staffing levels support our operations. As we continue with normal operations, here is what we are doing to proactively protect our customers and staff members:

• Continuously providing guidance to employees related to personal and workspace hygiene, including a daily cleaning schedule that will be posted throughout our lobbies.
• We have provided our employees with  “Special” PTO for COVID-19 related self-care or care of dependents, regardless of PT or FT status
• We are expanding our work from home capabilities where it is appropriate and feasible

As we continue to review and reevaluate guidance from the world’s top health organizations and our regulators, our plans may be revised to include lobby closures on a branch-by-branch basis, knowing that banking activity will likely need to continue through drive-up facilities. Again, it is not within the ability of any single organization to prevent the spread of the infection within our communities – our lives are too intertwined and complex to allow it – but Deerwood Bank can and has taken steps to slow the spread. By supporting each other, we will overcome this obstacle.

If you for any reason have questions or concerns regarding your current financial situation, please reach out to one of our bankers. During this difficult time, we want to support our customers as best we can.

Stay safe & healthy.

JO