Fort Worth company offers payroll advances for federal workers, military during government shutdown

Fort Worth-based First Command Financial Services Inc. is aiding federal workers and military service members during the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.

The veteran-focused company, founded in 1958 by retired Lt. Col. Carroll Payne, is providing zero-interest direct deposit payroll advances and loan assistance to clients to ease their financial burdens from the shutdown. The company has more than 300,000 clients, 69% of whom are veterans or active duty military members.

Mark Steffe, First Command president and CEO, said the company offered similar services to clients during previous government shutdowns in October 2013 and December 2018 to January 2019.

"First Command is committed to doing all we can to ensure that our nation's military families and other federal employees are not financially harmed by government actions or inactions that are beyond their control," Steffe said in a statement.

Customers with existing direct deposit arrangements for their government paychecks are eligible for the payroll advance service. First Command is providing clients with up to six months of pay advances with no limits on the amount of each advance. The company is also working with clients to address loan payments.

"It's a generous commitment designed to help our clients stay financially steady without adding to their burdens," Mark B. McKiernan, the company's vice president of military affairs, said in a letter to service relief organizations, which have provided contributions to aid veterans and service members.

In addition, First Command is waiving early withdrawal penalties for certificates of deposit prior to maturity.

The company's bank is helping customers use nontax qualified mutual funds as collateral for a low-interest rate line of credit. In addition, the bank is offering priority processing for increases to credit limits and deferred monthly payments and waiving cash advance fees.

Other financial companies also offered assistance during the shutdown.

Officials at San Antonio-based USAA said they provided more than $274 million in no-interest loans to 74,000 customers. However, some customers reported difficulties in obtaining assistance loans from USAA, despite the bank's public commitment to support military families and veterans, Jacksonville, Florida-based WJXT-TV reported.

Those customers said USAA conducted hard credit checks and rejected their loan applications based on debt-to-income ratios.