Government Shutdown Assistance
Options Available to Affected RBFCU Members
RBFCU understands how stressful a government shutdown can be, especially for members whose scheduled payroll or benefits may be disrupted. While we are hopeful our elected officials will find a timely resolution to this issue, RBFCU will remain focused on serving its members working for the federal government or receiving federal benefits.
If you are impacted by the shutdown, RBFCU will offer the following options to ease your financial burden:
Government Shutdown Consumer Relief Loan | Other Assistance Options | Discuss Other Options with Us |
Regain Control of Your Finances with GreenPath Financial Wellness™ | Be on Alert for Scams
Government Shutdown Consumer Relief Loan
Members that received an existing Government ACH payroll via direct deposit to their RBFCU accounts within the last 30 days will be eligible to apply for a Government Shutdown Consumer Relief Loan once the direct deposit has lapsed. The amount loaned will be based on your federal payroll direct deposit history with RBFCU.
Interest free for 30 days*
No credit pull required
Max loan term of 12 months
Amount loaned will equal disrupted RBFCU deposit
*The Consumer Relief Loan will have a 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for the first 30 days. If you do not pay off the loan before the 30 days expire, the interest rate will increase to a sum of 2 percentage points less than the current traditional signature loan rate if the loan remains active after 30 days. For example, if the current signature loan rate is 9.7% APR - 2.0% APR = 7.7% APR for the Consumer Relief Loan. Payment example: 12 payments of $88.00 for a $1,000 loan at 7.7% APR. Restrictions may apply. For more details, contact our Consumer Lending Center.
The following terms and conditions apply to this Consumer Relief Loan: You must have an established history of federal payroll direct deposit with RBFCU and recently been impacted by the government shutdown. The Consumer Relief Loan will be based on your federal payroll direct deposit history and may be subject to approval. Prior to the funding of your loan, you will receive additional disclosures. Please review them before accepting the loan.
Fee Waivers
Certain account fees may be waived during this time. Any penalties or fees may be refunded on a case-by-case basis by our management team.
Penalty-Free Certificate Withdrawals
You can withdraw funds from your RBFCU Certificates without paying the usual early-withdrawal penalty.
Skip-A-Pay
If you would like to participate in our Skip-A-Pay program for assistance on an eligible consumer loan, please sign in to your Online Banking account or the RBFCU Mobile app to check eligibility. Look for the Skip-A-Pay offer listed under the loan on the Account Summary page.
The following terms and conditions apply to this fee waivers eligibility: You must have an established history of federal payroll direct deposit with RBFCU and recently been impacted by the government shutdown.
Discuss Other Options with Us
RBFCU encourages its members to reach out if they need immediate assistance to help them through the shutdown. Members may reach us by chat in Online Banking or by calling our Member Service Center at 210-945-3300.
Regain Control of Your Finances with GreenPath Financial Wellness™
In the aftermath of a financial disaster, you may be facing the emotional toll of uncertainty, disrupted routines and financial strain. RBFCU cares about your financial well-being and quality of life. That’s why we’ve partnered with trusted national nonprofit GreenPath Financial Wellness to offer you free individualized counseling, guidance and educational resources. Their caring, certified experts can help you navigate debt, modify your budget and regain stability.
To get started, visit greenpath.com/rbfcu or call call 1-877-337-3399.
Be on Alert for Scams
RBFCU members affected by the government shutdown should be on alert for any suspicious emails, phone calls and text messages, as fraudsters often use volatile situations as opportunities to prey on those impacted.
RBFCU and RBFCU employees will never initiate a phone call, email or text message to anyone — members or non-members — asking for your sign-in information, including usernames, passwords, security questions and answers, multifactor authentication (MFA) codes, MFA recovery codes and one-time passcodes (OTP), or other personal information, like account, credit card, debit card or Social Security numbers. Also, RBFCU employees will never need to sign in to your Online Banking account on your behalf. If someone contacts you claiming to be an RBFCU employee and asks you to approve a sign-in request for them, do not respond.
If you receive a suspicious phone call, email or text message, hang up, do not respond to the message, do not click any links and do not open any attachments. Forward any suspicious emails and text message screenshots to abuse@rbfcu.org, then delete the message. If you believe your account, username or password has been compromised, you should immediately contact RBFCU at 210-945-3300 for assistance. Additionally, members should monitor their accounts regularly and report any suspicious transactions.
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Am I still eligible for a Consumer Relief Loan if I have a negative balance or am past due on my existing loan?
Yes. A negative balance or past-due status on an existing loan will not prohibit you from being eligible for the Consumer Relief Loan.
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Will my credit be pulled if I am eligible for a Consumer Relief Loan?
No. RBFCU will not pull credit for members eligible for the loan, if you select the Consumer Relief Loan offer from your “Exclusive Offers” in your Online Banking account or the RBFCU Mobile app.
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Where can I find the Consumer Relief Loan offer?
You can find the offer in the “Exclusive Offers” section of your Online Banking account once your normal pay schedule is interrupted. The loan amount will be based on your federal payroll deposit history and may be subject to approval.
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What are the terms of the Consumer Relief Loan?
The Consumer Relief Loan will allow a max loan term of 12 months.
The Consumer Relief Loan will have a 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for the first 30 days. If you do not pay off the loan before the 30 days expire, the interest rate will increase to a sum of 2 percentage points less than the current traditional signature loan rate if the loan remains active after 30 days. For example, if the current signature loan rate is 9.7% APR - 2.0% APR = 7.7% APR for the Consumer Relief Loan. Payment example: 12 payments of $88.00 for a $1,000 loan at 7.7% APR. Restrictions may apply. For more details, contact our Consumer Lending Center.
The following terms and conditions apply to this Consumer Relief Loan: You must have an established history of federal payroll direct deposit with RBFCU and recently been impacted by the government shutdown. The Consumer Relief Loan will be based on your federal payroll direct deposit history and may be subject to approval. Prior to the funding of your loan, you will receive additional disclosures. Please review them before accepting the loan.
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What happens if I don’t pay off the Consumer Relief Loan before the 0% APR expires?
The 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is only for the first 30 days of the Consumer Relief Loan. If you don’t pay off the loan before the 30 days expire, the interest rate will increase to a sum of 2 percentage points less than the current traditional signature loan rate if the loan remains active after 30 days. For example, if the current signature loan rate is 9.7% APR - 2.0% APR = 7.7% APR for the Consumer Relief Loan. Payment example: 12 payments of $88.00 for a $1,000 loan at 7.7% APR. Restrictions may apply. For more details, contact our Consumer Lending Center.
The following terms and conditions apply to this Consumer Relief Loan: You must have an established history of federal payroll direct deposit with RBFCU and recently been impacted by the government shutdown. The Consumer Relief Loan will be based on your federal payroll direct deposit history and may be subject to approval. Prior to the funding of your loan, you will receive additional disclosures. Please review them before accepting the loan.
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How do I submit an application for the Consumer Relief Loan?
Sign in to your Online Banking account or the RBFCU Mobile app, and select “Exclusive Offers” on your Account Summary screen. In the Exclusive Offers section, if you are eligible, you will be able to select the Consumer Relief Loan offer.
Please note: This is the only way to get a Consumer Relief Loan; do not complete the regular loan application online.
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Can I use the Consumer Relief Loan to refinance an existing loan?
No. The primary purpose of the Consumer Relief Loan is to assist you during the government shutdown.
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Am I eligible for a government shutdown Consumer Relief Loan?
If you are a federal employee or federal benefits recipient and have an existing direct deposit with RBFCU from a government ACH within the last 30 days, you may be eligible for a Consumer Relief Loan once your normal pay schedule is interrupted and the direct deposit has lapsed.
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How much can I request for the Consumer Relief Loan?
If affected by the government shutdown, you will be eligible for your payroll amount within the last 30 days, which includes monthly or biweekly wages.
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Can I submit this as a joint application with my spouse?
No. During the government shutdown, RBFCU will only consider the individual affected for a Consumer Relief Loan.
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When does the Consumer Relief Loan offer expire?
Once the government shutdown has concluded, RBFCU will retract the offer.
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Can I get Credit Insurance for the Consumer Relief Loan?
Yes. You can elect to purchase Credit Insurance (CI) for the Consumer Relief Loan.
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How long do I have to finalize a Consumer Relief Loan?
Your application will expire in 60 days.
*The Consumer Relief Loan will have a 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for the first 30 days. If you do not pay off the loan before the 30 days expire, the interest rate will increase to a sum of 2 percentage points less than the current traditional signature loan rate if the loan remains active after 30 days. For example, if the current signature loan rate is 9.7% APR - 2.0% APR = 7.7% APR for the Consumer Relief Loan. Payment example: 12 payments of $88.00 for a $1,000 loan at 7.7% APR. Restrictions may apply. For more details, contact our Consumer Lending Center.
The following terms and conditions apply to this Consumer Relief Loan: You must have an established history of federal payroll direct deposit with RBFCU and recently been impacted by the government shutdown. The Consumer Relief Loan will be based on your federal payroll direct deposit history and may be subject to approval. Prior to the funding of your loan, you will receive additional disclosures. Please review them before accepting the loan.
