California credit union extends support during government shutdown
With more than one million federal employees missing paychecks during the government shutdown that began on October 1, Wescom Financial has provided $152,000 in emergency loans and dozens of payment deferrals to members affected by the crisis. The institution's proactive response builds on lessons learned from supporting members during the devastating California wildfires in January 2025.
As approximately 1.4 million federal employees faced financial uncertainty during the government shutdown, Wescom Financial launched an immediate assistance program the day after the shutdown began.
The credit union, headquartered in Pasadena, serving over 250,000 individuals in Southern and Central California, has activated its emergency loan program, providing affected members with loans up to $5,000 with no payments and no interest due for the first 90 days. Since launching the program at the start of the current shutdown, Wescom has helped 32 members with a total of $152,000 in emergency loans.
"We saw the (shutdown) announcement, and our marketing team and consumer lending team launched the emergency loan to our membership base to help those who were directly impacted," said Ashley White, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Wescom Financial.
Payment relief options
Beyond emergency loans, Wescom has provided payment relief through loan deferment programs. The credit union has processed 20 loan deferments for 14 members, offering 30-day payment delays for consumer loans. An additional 11 members received mortgage loan deferments.
After the initial 90-day period, the emergency loans carry a 5.9% interest rate. The program represents part of Wescom's ongoing commitment to member support during crises, rather than a response created specifically for the shutdown.
"These are existing programs we have at the credit union," White explained. "So, our members have options when situations like this occur."
Proven track record of support
Wescom's shutdown response builds directly on experience supporting members during the devastating California wildfires that burned more than 40,000 acres in Los Angeles County in January 2025. The Eaton Fire, which destroyed thousands of structures in Altadena and Pasadena near Wescom's headquarters, prompted the credit union to deploy the same emergency assistance programs.
During the fire crisis, Wescom processed 240 emergency loan applications totaling $306,100 and provided 86 consumer loan deferments. The significantly higher numbers during the fires reflected the immediate and widespread devastation in communities where Wescom operates 30 branches serving more than 255,000 members across 21 counties in Southern California and the Central Coast.
"We were very aggressive with getting that message out to our members," White said of the fire response. The credit union's experience during that crisis informed its rapid deployment of assistance when the government shutdown began.
Food security partnerships strengthen community support
Recognizing that SNAP benefits serving nearly 42 million Americans face disruption due to the shutdown, Wescom intensified support for food bank partners. Since 2020, the Wescom Foundation has awarded over $580,000 in grants to food banks in all communities the credit union serves.
The credit union launched its annual member giving campaign in early November, coinciding with heightened food insecurity concerns. As of November 9, members contributed more than $38,000—exceeding the $25,000 fundraising goal, which Wescom Financial will match with a corporate contribution.
Wescom partners with food banks, including Feeding America Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, Food Bank of Monterey County, Food Share of Ventura County, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, and Second Harvest Food Bank in Orange County. Since 2023, Wescom team members have contributed over 800 hours of volunteer service to these food bank partners.
Proactive approach defines credit union response
White emphasized that Wescom's strategy centers on anticipating member needs rather than waiting for requests. The credit union's branch network and Member Contact Center actively reach out to identify opportunities to help.
"Let's just be very mindful and make sure that we are reaching out to our community partners to see how we can help," White told her team during a recent meeting. "Let's not sit back and wait. Let's be proactive and reach out."
Founded in 1934 by 13 telephone employees in Southern California, Wescom has grown into a community-chartered credit union with approximately $6 billion in assets. The 92-year-old institution continues to embody its founding principle of members pooling resources to support one another during difficult times. As the shutdown continues, Wescom maintains its commitment to its members and communities. The credit union's experience assisting during both natural disasters and economic crises positions it to serve members for years to come.
