Board of Trustees provides COVID-19 Credit Relief through CTUIR loan program

MISSION – The Board of Trustees for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation approved CTUIR COVID-19 Credit Relief under Resolution 20-047 on May 18, 2020. The Credit Relief provides a waiver of CTUIR Credit Program loan fees through June 26, 2020. The Relief also temporarily defers Credit Program loan payments until June 26, 2020 for CTUIR members who are unemployed or furloughed due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

“The Credit Relief is designed to help CTUIR members who are experiencing financial distress due to the Coronavirus,” said Board Chair Kat Brigham. “We know, for example, many CTUIR members furloughed by Wildhorse are still having trouble getting unemployment claims processed. And they would usually make payroll deduction payments and are unable to service their loans except by direct payment.”

The Board, considered other relief options with input from the Credit Board, the Nixyaawii Community Financial Services (NCFS) Board and program staff. Given the uncertainty surrounding the reopening of Tribal enterprises and operations, the Board is protecting the viability of the Credit Program by ensuring that funds remain available for future CTUIR member loans as we navigate through the CTUIR COVID-19 response.

Current CTUIR members that are having trouble making their usual loan payments to the Credit Program should contact Credit Program Loan Officer Marlene Hale at (541) 429-7152 or e-mail at MarleneHale@ctuir.org to discuss their options.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is made up of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Tribes, formed under the Treaty of 1855 at the Walla Walla Valley, 12 statute 945. In 1949, the Tribes adopted a constitutional form of government to protect, preserve and enhance the treaty rights guaranteed under federal statute.