FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF News) – Federal workers who are struggling financially as the partial government shutdown enters its 33rd day can take advantage of new programs at EECU Credit Union in Fort Worth designed to help them out.
The Union’s Lonnie Nicholson said members have a few options.
“We do have several programs. One is a Government Furlough Relief Loan. It allows members who have direct deposit to borrow up to $5,000 at zero-percent interest for up to 60 days,” he said.
Qualified members could also enter a Skip A Payment Program for loans and waived fees on early withdrawal from certificates of deposit.
The program was started two weeks ago and Nicholson said they’re seeing a growing number of people taking advantage of the opportunity.
“We’ve had a number that have taken us up on the furlough lone. Probably, more people have called in to ask for a deferred or skipped payment,” he said.
The current shutdown has affected almost 800,000 workers. Both Republicans and Democrats seemed to have dug their heels in over whether President Trump’s request for $5.7 billion dollars for a border wall will be granted.
Some have said it’s a matter of security and others argue it’s a political issue…but many workers who are struggling said, for them, it’s about living day to day.
“These government workers really didn’t ask for this. We know that they could be having financial challenges and we just thought it was a thing we could do as a community credit union to try and help those folks out,” said Nicholson.
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