We are Here for You: Support for Members Impacted by the Federal Government Shutdown
At Citadel, we know the shutdown may create financial challenges for many of our members. We’re here to help with temporary relief options designed to provide flexibility, peace of mind, and stability during this uncertain time.
Important: All programs require proof of eligibility. Members must provide documentation, such as a recent Federal government pay stub and/or proof of household impact, to qualify.
Who Qualifies
Programs are available to government employees who are temporarily furloughed or working without pay during a federal government shutdown that is expected to be temporary.
Relief Programs
Consumer Loan Payment Relief
Consumer Loan Payment Relief
- Skip up to three consecutive monthly payments on auto loans, leases, personal loans, or personal lines of credit (no fee)
- Loan term extended by the number of skipped payments
- Available beginning October 10, 2025
Additional Hardship Assistance
Citadel’s Collections Department offers programs for members facing additional financial hardship . Assistance may be available proactively, or if you are already behind on payments. Options will be based on eligibility and documentation.
Please note participation may temporarily suspend access to active credit lines, with opportunities to restore access in the future. To begin the process, contact the Collections Department at 866-739-0070. A representative will respond within two business days.
Mortgage & Home Equity Deferrals
Mortgage & Home Equity Deferrals
Mortgage loans: Deferments available per housing agency guidelines
Home Equity Loans & Lines of Credit: Defer principal and interest for up to 90 days
- Deferred payments added to loan balance
- Loan maturity extended to match deferment period
Residential Real Estate Borrowers:
- Members with mortgages, home equity loans, or home equity lines of credit may request payment deferrals beginning 20 days after the shutdown starts.
Hardship Loans
Hardship Loans
- Borrow up to four weeks’ net pay (not to exceed $6,000)
- Structured as a personal line of credit
- 0% APR interest for the first 90 days; no payments due for 120 days1
- Standard rates apply after 90 days
- Available beginning October 10, 2025
Business Member Support
Business Member Support
Business members impacted by the shutdown should contact their Relationship Manager to discuss customized relief solutions.
Credit Protection
Credit Protection
- No adverse credit reporting during the first 90 days of the shutdown if current at the start
- Enrolled relief options will not be reported as delinquencies during this period
Courtesy Pay Fee Refunds
Courtesy Pay Fee Refunds2
- Refunds available for up to three Courtesy Pay fees per month incurred during the shutdown
- Requests must be made within 60 days of the first fee
Eligibility requirements:
- Must have been a Citadel member as of September 30, 2025
- Must be in good standing on all loans and accounts (no loans more than 30 days past due)
- Must provide proof of Federal government income (recent pay stub within 45 days of the shutdown)
- Household members may qualify if a family member in the same residence is affected and income is shared
How to Apply
If you’ve been impacted by the federal government shutdown, we’re ready to help.
Call: 800-666-0191
Visit: Any Citadel branch
Online: Log in to Online & Mobile Banking to send a secure message or submit the form below
Security Reminder
Scammers may try to take advantage of the shutdown by impersonating government agencies or even Citadel. They may also attempt to lure you into fake work-from-home scams. Remember: we’ll never ask for your Social Security number, bank account details, or passwords by phone, email, or text. If something feels suspicious, pause and reach out to us directly.
1 Personal Line of Credit
Information accurate as of and is subject to change without notice. Applicant must be at least 18 years of age. All Offers subject to credit approval, actual APR based on credit worthiness. Additional terms and conditions may apply, depending on the type of collateral and other terms offered or chosen. Incomplete and/or inaccurate application information may result in automatic denial of credit. If we have received a credit application from you in the last 90 days we may consider this application to be a duplicate. This product has a Variable APR (Annual Percentage Rate), which can vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. We use the most recent Index value as of the 25th day of the month preceding any APR adjustment, the APR is subject to change on the 26th day after the Index value changes. Standard rates range from 12.74%-17.99% APR. Interest will begin to accrue as of the transaction date, minimum advance is $100. Late fee is up to 5% of minimum payment required. Returned Payment Fee is up to $20.00.
**A $5.00 overdraft transfer fee is charged to the line of credit for each transfer made to cover the overdraft of a linked checking account.
Federally Guaranteed Student Loans should not be consolidated because you will lose important federal benefits.
If you are not currently a customer, Citadel will open a savings account in your name upon approval and fund it with a $5.00 initial deposit. This savings account will give you access to a variety of Citadel's products and services.
2 This notice refers to our Courtesy Pay program:
Citadel offers Courtesy Pay for its members and may pay overdrafts for the following types of transactions:
Checks
ACH withdrawals
Bill Payer payments
Recurring debit card transactions (e.g., monthly payments debited from your account)
We pay overdrafts at our discretion, which means we do not guarantee that we will always authorize and pay any type of transaction. If we do not pay an overdraft, your transaction will be declined and not paid.
If you want to use Courtesy Pay to pay overdrafts for one time, everyday debit card transactions (e.g. Starbucks®, Home Depot®, grocery stores, gas stations, etc.), you must opt in and give us your permission. You can opt in by:
Complete the opt-in form in Online Banking by selecting 'Overdraft Protection' in the main menu.
Visiting any Citadel Branch Location
Calling Citadel toll free at (800)-666-0191
You can opt out of Courtesy Pay at any time by contacting us. You cannot use Courtesy Pay to pay for overdrafts on ATM withdrawals.
When you use Courtesy Pay, we will charge you a fee of $33 each time we pay an overdraft. We will limit to 3 the total number of Courtesy Pay Fees and Insufficient Funds Fees charged on any one calendar day. Once you have overdrawn your account, you must bring it to a positive balance as soon as possible. Citadel will close and charge off overdrawn member deposit accounts that have a negative balance for more than 60 days. In the case of represented transactions, we may charge a Courtesy Pay fee if the transaction is paid but may not charge an NSF fee if the transaction is returned unpaid. Any fees charged will count against your Courtesy Pay limit. See the General Terms Applicable to All Accounts in the Membership Agreement and Disclosures for details on how we process insufficient funds and overdraft items.
