CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Over recent days, more than 200,000 Kanawha Valley residents and businesses impacted by the 2014 Elk River chemical spill have received checks totaling $73 million.
For many people, they are able to cash the check at their bank of choice. However, for those without banking accounts, they have to do such at Fifth Third Bank locations.
At the bank’s branch in downtown Charleston, the line for people to receive their money was at one point out the door, with some people waiting for more than an hour to receive their money.
Bob Welty, West Virginia market president for Fifth Third Bank, said the lines starting forming Monday afternoon.
“Many people have been waiting for the checks, understandably, and they’re here,” he said. “I think the great volume of activity is going to be this week.”
People affected by the chemical spill have 90 days to cash their checks.
Charleston police are warning residents about making sure their settlement checks are not stolen; they advise checking your mail once it arrives or making arrangments for someone to pick up your check.
Welty said Fifth Third Bank has a process to assure people do not cash checks sent to other people.
“It’s simply a file that’s downloaded from the administrator of the water settlement. We have the ability to check that file against those that are coming to us and presenting themselves for payment to make sure they’re the right person with the right ID and we’re handing the money to the right individual,” he said.