Wausau, Wis.-based Peoples State Bank and the Ethiopian Community Development Council’s Multicultural Community Center in Wausau are assisting Afghan refugees by opening bank accounts for those settling in the Wausau area.
The ECDC has selected Peoples as one of the financial institutions to offer accounts in the area. “Once we were in contact with the ECDC, we quickly put into place a procedure for working with the refugees and the ECDC representative to open a Peoples Edge Checking account for them,” said Robert McPherson, Peoples vice president – risk management. “Peoples identified senior employees at our Wausau – Stewart Avenue and Eastside locations and have equipped them to assist these customers in opening their first checking account and welcome them to the area.”
Scott Cattanach, president and CEO of the $1.3 billion bank, said as Afghan refugees settle in the Wausau area, “we know how important it is for them to have a trusted relationship with a bank.”
“If it were my family, moving to a new part of the world would be immensely challenging,” he said. “We desire to work with compassion to help these newest members of our community in their adjustment.”