Financial resources to assist during this tough time.
If the government shutdown is affecting your household, you are not alone. Here is a list of banks and lenders offering assistance to help you protect your credit and your peace of mind. While this is not an exhaustive list, I do hope it helps. If your lending institution is not on this list, don’t hesitate to call them.
Please share this newsletter with a colleague, neighbor, or friend who could use it – it’s a long one!
Banks
American Express
Please call to tell them you’re affected by the shutdown. Arrangements can be made.
Call the number on the back of your card.
Bank of America
Announced assistance available to furloughed Federal employees. Call the priority assistance line 844.219.0690.
Chase Bank
Chase announced efforts to help its customers who are U.S. government employees affected by the government shutdown.
Here’s the special line they set up: 1-888-356-0023.
Congressional Federal Credit Union
For more information on our Relief Line of Credit or any of our assistance programs, contact our Member Service Representatives at 800-491-2328 or stop by one of our branch locations.
Fed Choice
They’re offering quite a few options to assist existing and new members.
Call them.
Interior Federal Credit Union
They’re offering a special loan for both member and non-member furloughed Federal workers—net paycheck up to $15,000, interest-free up to 30 days. Members may apply for a limit of up to 2 net paychecks. More offers are available on the site, or call 800-914-8619
Navy Federal Credit Union
These guys are offering a special loan program. Read the FAQs PDF from this link to see if you qualify or call 1-888-842-6328.
USAA
USSA is offering deferments for all loans and credit card payments.
PayPal
PayPal has made a very generous offer. They’ve allocated $25 million to fund interest-free cash advances to our furloughed Federal workers who need assistance right now. This is for both new and existing PayPal Credit customers. The minimum loan is $250, with a maximum cash advance of $500. Your account must be in good standing if you’re an existing PayPal Credit customer. Existing customers call 1-877-689-1975. For new accounts, apply here first, then after approval call 1-877-689-1975.
U.S. Bank
Will waive all late fees if you miss a mortgage payment due to the shutdown. Also mentioned that they will defer first payment dates for new mortgages.
U.S. Employees Credit Union
USECU is also offering shutdown loans, but only until Tuesday, January 15th. Call (312) 922.5310 to get help.
SunTrust
SunTrust didn’t make a specific offer, but they did make a public announcement that they have programs in place to help clients affected by the shutdown.
Synchrony Bank
This bank handles many store cards for Amazon, Lowe’s, Walmart, JCPenney, Chevron/Texaco, and many other large nationwide companies that you might do business with on a day-to-day basis. They are allowing affected customers to defer payments until after the shutdown. Contact them for more information.
Union Plus
Members of Union Plus can access relief by calling 800-472-2005. Ask about a $300 furlough grant for eligible Union Plus credit card holders, a mortgage assistance loan with a $300 grant, and payment grace periods for Union Plus Life and Accident Insurance and Union Plus Auto Insurance.
Wells Fargo
Here’s a full list of all shutdown assistance lines at Wells Fargo. They’ve got a few different options to help, depending on the services you have with their bank. Furlough Grants
Other Lenders
FEEA-NARFE
This is an incredible offer that every furloughed Federal worker needs to take advantage of. FEEA-NARFE fund is offering $100 grants to active federal employee members who are not receiving a paycheck during the current shutdown due to being furloughed or working in excepted status. To apply, visit the FEEA website.
Thrift Savings Plan
TSP Plan News and Announcements: TSP allows for the suspension of loan payments when you go into non-pay status. They do not currently require documentation of your furlough. Missing one or two payments will not cause your loan to go into default. Log in to your account to check your status or simply call the Thrift Line at 1-877-968-3778.
Toyota Financial Services & Lexus Financial Services
Affected lease and finance customers in good standing with their accounts may be eligible to take advantage of up to two months of finance contract payment extensions or lease deferred payments. Toyota Financial Services call 800-874-8822 and Lexus Financial Services call 800-874-7050.
Hyundai Capital
Hyundai will extend all Hyundai Capital auto loans and lease payments for 30 days for current Hyundai owners who are federal government employees furloughed during the shutdown. Impacted consumers should contact Hyundai Motor Finance at 1-800-523-4030 to take advantage of this offer.
Kia Motors Finance
Kia has announced it’s offering deferred payments of 30 days. If you’ve been affected by the current Government Shutdown and need assistance from Kia Finance, please get in touch with us at 1-866-331-5632.
Ford Credit, GM Financial, & Mercedes-Benz Financial Services
It has been reported that these companies are among those providing qualified customers options such as payment deferrals, late fee waivers and special care lines to address their individual problems, though official announcements from these companies have not been released online.
Mobile Telephone Service Providers
AT&T
Will assist with adjusting late fees, providing extensions, and revising payment schedules.
Sprint
Will provide short-term payment solutions. Call 1-888-211-4747
T-Mobile
Offering short-term assistance and can spread out service payments over time. Call 1-877-746-0909 or 611 from a T-Mobile device.
Verizon
Offering flexible payment options and has a Promise to Pay program to set payments for a future date. Call 1-866-266-1445.
Rental Home Assistance
National Rental Home Council
Represents many of the nation’s largest operators of single-family rental homes. They’re offering deferred rent payment options with no late fees to any renter who has been furloughed.
OPM Sample Letters for Creditors and Mortgage Companies
OPM created these sample letters for Federal workers to contact their landlords, mortgage lenders, and utilities, to request help during the shutdown.
National Food Resources & Advice
Feeding America
This is a nationwide network of 200 food banks. Those food banks have 60,000 partner pantries from which they can serve many communities across the United States. This is an excellent resource, and they have already begun serving Federal employees affected by the government shutdown.
Your School District
To save on food and ensure your kid eats breakfast and/or lunch for free (less stress and worry for you), notify the district of your furlough. No income is an emergency and typically qualifies you for the free meal program.
Home, Auto, & Life Insurance
MetLife
For those not receiving a paycheck from the federal government due to the current shutdown, MetLife Auto & Home may grant a one-time, 30-day grace period on your premium payment for a MetLife Auto & Home policy. Members must request this one-time allowance by calling 1-800-GET-MET8. Certain restrictions apply, and the premium remains due after the delay expires.
Fidelity & Guarantee Life Insurance Company
To help the nearly 27,000 AFGE members who currently have a policy with the company during this government shutdown, the company “will keep the policy-in-force by waiving the cost of insurance charges for the next 30 days.”. Policies beginning with the letter “Y” call: 844-800-9146, all other policies call: 888-513-8797
Other Notable Mentions for Relief & Assistance
Rent-A-Center (benefits plus membership)
If your account was up to date at the time of furlough and you are a part of benefits plus you may be eligible for a payment waiver based on your state. Call to ask about the Involuntary Unemployment Payment Waiver.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Their fact sheet states that federal employees may be eligible for unemployment compensation administered by state unemployment insurance agencies. So, eligibility is determined by state law, not on the Federal level, which may work in your favor.
A Special Shout Out to my colleagues in Panama who shared this list with me.
You made it to the end! Don’t forget to share this email with others who can benefit, because sharing is caring.
If you have additional resources to share, please reply to this email with details. If I get more resources, I’ll update this list.
ExpatsTraveling Aug 22, 2025 
