Bringing financial relief to DHS employees
The partial government shutdown has left Department of Homeland Security employees without several paychecks, and credit unions are again stepping up for affected members.
A recent America’s Credit Unions Blog post details some of the direct relief credit unions have provided members, including:
- Keesler Federal Credit Union sent staff directly to airports in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama to enroll federal employees in interest-free paycheck replacement loans. About 25% of Transportation Security Agency (TSA) employees at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport signed up on the spot;
- Northwest Federal Credit Union, serving much of the Washington, D.C. area, is offering up to $10,000 through a relief line of credit;
- Another D.C.-based credit union, PenFed Credit Union is providing zero-interest paycheck replacement loans and loan skip-a-payment options, drawing on experience spanning 21 government shutdowns since 1976;
- On the West Coast, California Credit Union and its San Diego division, North Island Credit Union, activated skip payment, penalty-free withdrawals, and other relief programs on the first day of the shutdown; and
- SeaWest Coast Guard Federal Credit Union, founded to serve Coast Guard families, is providing no-interest payroll advances.
As in the previous shutdown, credit union efforts are also being picked up by local media channels. WVTM13 covered Redstone Federal Credit Union’s offer of zero-interest loans to TSA agents.
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