Bank of America was among the five storefronts destroyed in a blaze Thursday night. Several customers tried to use the bank's ATM machine Friday morning but were stopped by a member of the fire department's CERT team who was trying to control the crowd of onlookers. The bank has acted quickly to ensure its customers have other means to get cash for shopping.<I><BR>NANCY McCARTHY - The Daily Astorian</I>

Bank of America is making arrangements to help customers following the downtown Astoria fire which gutted its building at the corner of 10th Street and Commercial Street.

Bank executives say they cannot gain access to the charred building until Astoria fire officials deem the area safe.

Colleen Haggerty, senior vice president of Bank of America in Los Angeles said Friday afternoon that the bank is working to ensure its customers can continue to gain access their accounts.

“Most immediately, customers can useonline and telephone banking, or can go to the nearest Bank of America banking cente 15 miles away in Seaside at 300 S. Holladay Drive,” she said.

“Customers can also use the Bank of America ATM at the Costco store in Warrenton, or any ATM and we will reimburse all ATM user fees for our customers.”

Bank managers are looking into the possibility of locating a mobile banking unit in Astoria. These units have teller and sales services, and two ATM machines.

Haggerty thanked TLC Community Credit Union which has “generously offered to cash checks without fees for Bank of America customers.”

The Astoria banking center has eight staff, all of whom will be redeployed to the Seaside bank branch.

“Many of the Astoria customers have already come into the Seaside banking center, and were happy to see their Astoria tellers on site,” she said.

Haggerty said the Astoria bank site is being protected by armed guards to safeguard remaining property and that customers need not worry about the safety of their account information.

“All customer information is safe, thanks to daily privacy protocols,” she said.