Lenders, Retailers Offer Relief to Disaster Victims : Finance: Many will provide low-interest loans and deferrals on mortgage and credit payments.

In what has become a post-disaster ritual for California businesses, numerous lenders and retailers have offered assistance to the victims of this month’s storms, with low-interest loans and deferrals on home mortgage and credit card payments.

“Knowing that these things are lurking, we have (disaster assistance programs) pretty much ready to go,” said Wells Fargo spokeswoman Kathleen Shilkret. “Unfortunately, we have had too much call for this.”

Countless customers have taken up corporate relief offers in previous disasters--natural and financial. Home Savings of America, which has an ad-hoc disaster assistance unit, said that more than 4,000 customers sought financial relief during last year’s Northridge earthquake. Last month, Broadway Stores allowed Orange County government employees to defer credit card payments in the wake of the county’s investment fund disaster.

Among the companies offering assistance are:

* Bank of America. Home mortgage customers are eligible for a three-month moratorium on payments, which must be repaid in full at the end of the deferral period. Payments on consumer loans can be deferred and credit card customers can defer their next payment without penalty. Small business owners can defer loan payments for up to 90 days.

* Broadway Stores. The company, which owns Broadway stores in Southern California and Emporium and Weinstocks in Northern California, will defer charge card payments on new charges through Jan. 31.

* Home Savings of America. Home mortgage payments will be deferred for 30 days.

* Great Western. Mortgage holders in the disaster areas can ask for a 30-day forbearance and may seek further relief if needed.

* Sanwa Bank California. Storm victims will be granted up to three months of payment deferrals on existing consumer loans and--on a case-by-case basis--on mortgages. Mortgage holders will be required to pay back the deferred amount over an 18-month period.

* Wells Fargo. The disaster package includes six-month loans of up $25,000 at 9.5% for homeowners as well as mortgage payment deferrals. Credit card customers can skip their next payment without a late fee, and business customers can get emergency lines of credit and 90-day loans of up to $100,000. Assistance is also available to small-business customers and renters affected by the storms.

In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration said Wednesday it is offering low-interest disaster loans of up to $200,000 to flood victims in 24 counties--including Los Angeles and Orange.

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