Michigan credit union to prohibit most masks in branches

A Michigan credit union is prohibiting members from wearing masks in some of its branches — unless those masks show the wearer's whole face.

Michigan First Credit Union in Lathrup Village notified its members on Aug. 2 that they would no longer be permitted access to its stand-alone branches if their faces are covered beginning Sept. 7. After an outcry from some members, the credit union revised its policy on Aug. 18 to allow see-through masks.

The credit union cited issues of security, but this hasn't been a major concern within the banking industry for some time. Last June, the then-acting comptroller of the currency, Brian Brooks, said that masks in branches could lead to more bank robberies, even during a pandemic, but the American Bankers Association chose to advocate for masks after major retailers went ahead with such policies.

Michigan lifted its mask mandate in June, but the $1.5 billion-asset credit union will still have to abide by the rules of retailers Kroger and Walmart, whose stores house 19 of its 28 branches. The credit union's new mask policy applies only to its nine stand-alone branches.

“Our primary concern with members wearing masks is the overall security risk that face coverings pose,” said Michael Poulos, the credit union's president and CEO. “It’s important that our team members and security cameras have a complete, continuous and unobstructed view of each individual conducting financial business with us to prevent physical and financial threats. Allowing masked individuals into a branch presents a security risk for any financial institution.”

Employees in the stand-alone branches will stop wearing masks on Sept. 7, he said. “We have asked our team members to lead by example by either not wearing masks or wearing clear face coverings in our traditional branches,” he said.

After Michigan First began posting signs about its new policy, some disgruntled members took to Twitter to express their displeasure with the policy, with a few threatening to close their accounts. The credit union received feedback from about 200 of its 185,000 members.

“As with any situation, some of the feedback has been negative, but we have also received support as well," Poulos said.

Two of the credit union’s branches are on the campus of Wayne State University in Detroit. The school Tuesday morning tweeted that a sign stating the no-masks policy that had been posted on the branch at the university’s student center had been taken down, but the school had not been given an update on the other branch on campus.

“The Auxiliary Services Department is working with all campus tenants to ensure they are consistent with campus health guidelines,” the school said in the tweet.

Michigan was one of just a handful of states in which the community spread of COVID-19 was recently labeled moderate rather than high by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The average number of new confirmed COVID cases in Michigan was about 1,185 a day over the most recent three-day reporting period, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Despite the easing of the state's mask requirement, Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services says it is safer to wear a mask in high-risk settings where many unvaccinated individuals are present, to protect vulnerable populations or when community transmission is substantial or high.

“We know that wearing a mask is a proven, effective strategy in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. We recommend all eligible Michiganders get one of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in addition to wearing masks in certain circumstances and social distancing,” said Lynn Sutfin, the department's public information officer.

In a nationwide address Wednesday, President Biden said that along with vaccinations, masks are the key to protecting Americans from COVID-19. “Vaccines are the best defense, but masks are extremely helpful as well,” he said. “And for those who aren’t eligible for the vaccine yet like children under the age of 12, masks are the best available protection.”

Poulos said the credit union provides a clean environment with a state-of-the-art ventilation system and enough space for its members and team members to social distance. In addition, it has plexiglas in place to provide an extra layer of protection between its team members.

“This is a decision we have been working on for quite some time,” Poulos said. “We took time to test clear masks and determined they would meet our security needs. This is an unprecedented situation and we have done our best throughout to adapt to the ever-changing environment.”

The new measures were not necessarily being taken in response to a security threat that was posed while masks were permitted in the branches, Poulos said. “We do not publicly discuss security matters. What we can disclose is that our policy decisions are driven by more than robbery threats,” he said.

While the state of Michigan’s COVID-19 executive orders requiring masks indoors were in effect, Michigan First temporarily adjusted its safety and security practices by allowing masks. It is now simply reverting to its long-standing policy, Poulos said.

Patty Corkery, president and CEO of the Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates and a member of Michigan First CU, said she has not heard of other credit unions in the state adopting a no-mask policy.

“But I do know from the onset of COVID, balancing security concerns and safety has been top of mind for our credit unions. I also know Michigan First, as well as most of our credit unions, have outside ATMs and drive through options for members in addition to on-line or virtual options for members that do not feel safe or have symptoms,” she said.