Several credit unions have announced their plans for a possiblegovernment shutdown while Congress continues to debate the contentsof a spending bill that would keep the government funded afterMonday night at midnight.

The $2.3 billion Service Credit Union in Portsmouth, N.H., said it would creditdirect deposit for military and DOD GS members affected by thepending government shutdown through its Government ShutdownGuaranteed Pay program.”

Under the program, the amount of military or DOD GS pay would beautomatically deposited into the member's account, “based on thelast received direct deposit to the credit union,” the176,000-member Service CU said in a press release.

“At Service Credit Union, we strongly believe that our military– active duty, Guard, Reserve and retirees are most important to usand the safety of our great country,” President/CEO Gordon Simmonssaid in the release.

“We wish to ensure that they do not encounter any financialhardship, inconvenience and/or financial harm due to the loominggovernment shutdown,” Simmons said.

As a government shutdown looms, the $54.4 billion Navy FCU in Vienna, Va., has pledged to cover allof the direct deposits of their active duty members.

“Our number one concern is our members and their families.That's why we're pledging to cover the direct deposits for ouractive duty members,” President/CEO Cutler Dawson said in astatement. “By covering their 15 October pay, our active dutymembers will not see a difference in their direct deposit amount—asif there were no shutdown.”

On the West Coast, the $696 million Pacific Marine Credit Unionsaid it, too, would post the Oct. 15 government employee payrollsfor members with direct deposit.

“With the government's authority to spend money expiring onSeptember 30^th the paychecks of a large portion ofPMCU's membership base are in jeopardy, including active duty andretired military, Department of Defense appropriated andnon-appropriated, Social Security and disability,” PMCU said in astatement.

The state-chartered credit union was created in 1952 to serveCamp Pendleton and now is open to anyone living or working in SanDiego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

If the federal government closes, the $599 million Justice FCUin Chantilly, Va., announced that it would offer low-interest loansand deferred payments for their members who require assistanceafter losing income due to a shutdown or furlough.

“Justice FCU Members confronted with a shutdown, sequestrationor furlough will be offered special unsecured loans up to $10,000at an annual rate of 0% for the first 60 days. After that time, therate will convert to 4.90% for a term of 24-months. The loan amountwill be based on the Member's net pay deposit, with direct depositrequired,” said a JFCU press release.

“In addition, members may defer their first loan payment for upto 60 days.

Existing members with a Justice FCU consumer loan, or VISAcredit card, may request one payment deferral per loan. The creditunion will make every effort to work with Members who may bestruggling,” the release also said.

The $15.8 billion Pentagon FCU in Alexandria, Va., toldCredit Union Times that it was monitoring the situation onCapitol Hill closely and would make changes to their programs ifnecessary.

“Since we are a member-owned organization, and not a governmentagency, PenFed's daily operations will continue to function asnormal. PenFed's number one priority is to always be here for ourmembers and we already have a variety of existing programs in placeto help our members if the need should ever arise—regardless of thetype of event or personal matter,” James Schenck, president, PenFedGroup, told Credit Union Times.

“However, we are keeping our eye on the current situation and wewill adjust our programs accordingly, if necessary, to address thefinancial challenges and impact the government shutdown may have onsome of our members,” Schenk said.

All federal programs considered essential would continuefunctioning during a government shutdown while non-essentialprograms would come to a halt.

“Social Security checks and veterans' benefits would still go torecipients, but they could go out late, since there would be fewerworkers to process them,” CBS News reported.

“Additionally, passport and visa applications could be put onhold, as well as small business and home mortgage lending programs.National parks and museums would be closed.”

According to a Sept. 23 Department of Defense memo, “While military personnel wouldcontinue in a normal duty status, a large number of our civilianemployees would be temporarily furloughed.”

One agency that said it would not shutter its doors if thegovernment shuts down is the Consumer Financial ProtectionBureau.

“CFPB is not funded through Congressional appropriations andwould therefore not be directly impacted by a government shutdown,”a CFPB spokesperson said.