The NCUA will remain open even as much of the federalgovernment is shut down, agency officials said, as credit unionsprepared to help federal employees hurt by the budget impasse.

“The NCUA is an independent agency of the federal government,and its operating budget comes from fees charged to credit unionsand to the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund,” the agencysaid.

And while CFPB officials have not made any public comments about theiroperation, the bureau is funded through drawdowns from the FederalReserve. As such, it also is not subject to the annualappropriations process.

Congressional Democrats, Republicans and the TrumpAdministration were unable to agree upon parameters of a ContinuingResolution by midnight Friday, when the last funding resolutionexpired.

As a result, non-essential agencies, programs and employees wereforced to shut down.

NCUA officials said credit union members' accounts will continueto be insured by the Share Insurance Fund.

And while the government shutdown will not force the agency toclose, it could have an impact on credit unions, particularly thosewith a large number of federal employees.

As the government prepared to shut down, Navy Federal CreditUnion announced plans to cover direct deposits for eligiblemembers. The credit union is offering help to Active Duty military,Coast Guard and Defense Department civilian members who have adirect deposit arrangement with the credit union.

Those members can sign up for a special program and receivecoverage of their direct deposit of net pay if they're affected,the credit union said.

“Our members are part of an important community,” Tynika Wilson,senior vice president of debit card and fund services at NavyFederal, said. “They protect our freedoms, so it's vital we do theright thing by covering their paychecks.”

Navy Federal, headquartered in Vienna, Va., with almost $84billion in assets, offered a similar service during governmentshutdowns in 2013 and 2011.

At Justice Federal Credit Union, members affected by theshutdown may apply for a Special Assistance Loan of up to $5,000.The loan amount is based on the member's net pay deposit, withdirect deposit required.

In addition, members may request to defer payments on consumerloans or credit cards and may request assistance with a JusticeFederal First Mortgage.

The credit union provides services to employees of theDepartments of Justice and Homeland Security, as well as other lawenforcement agencies. Its headquarters is in Chantilly, Va., and ithas almost $731 million in assets.

As the government prepared to shut down, the NCUA suggested thatcredit unions may want to consider offering special programs tohelp members who may need short-term loans, create loans withspecial terms and rates, or offer flexible payments.

The NCUA advised credit unions to ensure that their policies areflexible enough to respond to members' financial needs. Inaddition, credit unions with offices on federal property shouldprepare for service interruptions at those offices.

NCUA officials also said credit unions should work with affectedmembers, including providing advances to members receiving directdeposit from the federal government.

Credit unions should also develop contingency plans if theyparticipate in government programs that may be closed, the NCUAsaid.

While the NCUA and CFPB remain outside the appropriationsprocess, some members of Congress are attempting to changethat.

A provision of House Financial Services Chairman JebHensarling's (R-Texas) plan to overhaul Dodd-Frank contains aprovision that would subject both agencies to appropriations.

However, the House also voted to keep the NCUA outside theannual appropriations process when it passed the FY19 FinancialServices funding measure.

House and Senate Republicans have included a provision thatwould place the CFPB under the appropriations process in their FY19Financial Services funding measure, but that legislation has notbeen enacted.