Government Shutdown: What it Means and How We Can Help
On October 1, the U.S. federal government shut down after lawmakers failed to agree on a funding plan. Many federal agencies have paused operations, hundreds of thousands of employees are furloughed without pay and some government services are delayed or unavailable.
For individuals and businesses, the impact can be significant:
- Federal employees and contractors may not get paid, creating financial strain
- Small businesses that rely on federal contracts or Small Business Administration (SBA) loans could face cash flow challenges
- Government-backed loan programs like SBA and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) are largely on hold until funding resumes
While the situation is beyond your control, your finances don’t have to feel uncertain. We’re here to help.
How we’re supporting customers
If you’ve been affected by the shutdown, we offer flexible options to help you manage through this period:
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Budgeting and money management: Our financial center bankers can provide personalized guidance. We may also consider deposit account fee waivers including overdraft fees.
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Loans and credit cards: For home, auto or personal loans — or Northwest credit cards — our team can discuss short-term payment options like deferments or assistance programs.
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Small business and commercial loans: Relationship managers can work with you on temporary payment solutions to keep your business moving.
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SBA loans: If your SBA loan was approved before the shutdown, it can still close. While new approvals are paused, we’ll continue processing applications as far as possible and finalize them when the government reopens.
We’re here for you
If you have questions or need help, contact your local financial center. Our goal is to help you stay on track even during uncertain times.
