Computer technicians and bank and credit union officials agree: The millennium will pass with few problems.

Thursday, December 30, 1999

Computer technicians and bank and credit union officials agree: The millennium will pass with few problems.

And they said consumers seem to be more at ease as well.

&uot;Lately, people aren’t as paranoid. Questions were heavier about a year ago,&uot; said Bob Lauer, owner of Uniq Data Systems. &uot;&uot;Hopefully, nothing will happen and we’ll all celebrate a new year.&uot;

Lauer said that most computers made within the last couple of years have all be Y2K compliant. The problems will arise with software. But even that isn’t a big deal.

&uot;People realize the machines will be OK. It’s the software, and there’s patches and upgrades to fix that. Upgrades are free on the Internet,&uot; Lauer said.

Other problems that might occur would be minor and easily fixed, he said.

If something were to cause a power surge, some home computers would be affected, but most consumers have surge protectors, he said. Though he hasn’t been telling his customers to unplug their computers, there’s nothing wrong with doing so.

&uot;If you’re not using it, why not unplug it,&uot; Lauer suggested.

Not only do customers seem to have more confidence in the home computers, but many aren’t fretting about their savings and checking accounts either.

Area banks and credit unions said they’re ready for Y2K. Computers and software have undergone a number of compliance checks, and everything seems to be under control.

However, some institutions are taking extra precautions.

Trade and Labor Credit Union plans to make a print out of its 2,050 members’ accounts. Plus the quarterly statements will be put on disk before the end of the year, said Manager Peggy Brech.

Randy Sternberg, branch manager of Wells Federal Bank, said customers should hang on to their bank statements. But that’s advice consumers should heed year-round.

Both feel residents are more confident.

&uot;As we get closer to the year’s end, it seems like the public is more comfortable,&uot; Sternberg said.

&uot;People seem pretty confident,&uot; Brech said. &uot;We haven’t had anyone draw out their account.&uot;

Brech and Sternberg agree it’s safer to leave money at the financial institution, rather than withdrawing a large amount of money.

Banking institutions have insurance that guarantees up to $100,000 for each customer. Banks are FDIC insured; credit unions are NCUA insured.

As for ATMs, Sternberg said the automatic teller machines should be fine.

&uot;They’re all on phone lines, so as long as the phones are up, the machines will run,&uot; he said.