The Furloughed Federal Employee Relief Program (FFERP) assists North Dakota residents who are federal government employees or members of the armed services stationed in North Dakota. It provides funds if they experience financial hardship due to the federal government shutdown on October 1, 2025. Bank of North Dakota (BND) is partnering with local lenders like North Star CCU to provide short-term, low-interest loans to eligible borrowers.
Disbursements of the individual’s base net pay for up to three months will be provided unless the federal government reinstates pay before that time. The loan program will not be available after federal government pay is reinstated.
Applications will be accepted October 10, 2025, through January 2, 2026, or until the federal government shutdown ends, as determined by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), whichever occurs first.
How to Apply
BND offers these loan programs by partnering with local lenders, like North Star CCU. Please contact your local NSCCU branch to initiate the loan application with Bank of North Dakota.
North Star CCU Loan Officers must submit the Furloughed Federal Employee Relief Program (FFERP) application.
Eligibility
All of the following parameters must be met:
- The borrower must be a North Dakota resident or a member of the armed services stationed in North Dakota who is impacted by the current federal government shutdown.
- Borrower must be a federal employee, a member of the armed services stationed in North Dakota, or an individual employed as a federal government contractor who is paid directly by the federal government and will resume work with it.
- Eligibility extends to both excepted and non-excepted employees.
- Due to the federal government shutdown, the borrower is not receiving a paycheck.
- The borrower is a current North Star CCU customer and has or will have their federal paycheck directly deposited with North Star CCU.
- The borrower has not applied for, and will not apply for, any other government shutdown loan programs.
Loan Terms
- The loan amount is limited to the equivalent of up to three months’ base net pay for the eligible borrower.
- The loan is a non-revolving line of credit structured to allow the borrower to draw funds in multiple advances that align with their regular pay schedule.
- Repayment begins three months after the first advance.
- Rate of 2.00% APR
Additional Options
North Star CCU has additional assistance available for members, including out-of-state members, who have been financially impacted by the government shutdown on October 1. One-month loan extensions and low interest 90-Day Single Pay loans are available to qualified members. Please contact us for details.