A Windsor Locks credit union has been forced to revise its access policies after a customer’s Americans with Disabilities Act complaint with the the U.S. Dept. of Justice.
A hard-of-hearing customer of 360 Federal Credit Union filed a complaint after the bank allegedly refused to offer a video relay service.
Under an agreement reached with the Department of Justice, 360 Federal Credit Union will pay a small, undisclosed monetary sum to compensate the individual for expenses incurred from the credit union’s failure to accept his video relay calls. The agreement also requires 360 Federal Credit Union to accept video relay calls in all of its credit union locations and amend its policies, practices, and training to ensure the removal of barriers to access at its branch offices.
Robert Aresti, credit union CEO and president, said the member went directly to the Department of Justice when refused the service. “It was something we didn’t offer,” he said. “It never came up before.” He said his credit union cooperated immediately when informed, a point confirmed by the Department of Justice.
According to its website, 360 Federal Credit Union is one of the top 10 federally chartered credit unions in Connecticut, with over 16,000 members, and over $210 million in assets. It has public branches in Windsor Locks and Enfield.
