GECU Highlights Community Efforts During Government Shutdown

EL PASO, Texas — GECU Federal Credit Union reinforced its commitment to supporting the communities they serve during the recent federal government shutdown by providing emergency loans, skip-a-payment options, food assistance, philanthropic contributions and more.

Recognizing the financial strain faced by families reliant on SNAP benefits, GECU partnered with local organizations to provide immediate relief. The credit union donated 200 bags of food filled with essentials such as bread, rice, beans, corn, oats, peanut butter, spaghetti, and pancake mix. The distribution, held in collaboration with Mi Comunidad Center, provided immediate relief to community members experiencing food insecurity.

"We’re committed to meeting our community where they are and standing with families when they need it most," said Linda Nuñez, Assistant Vice President of Community Development at GECU. “We are grateful to team up with Mastercard®, our dedicated volunteers, and the Mi Comunidad Center to support El Paso families during this difficult period.”

GECU collaborated with Mastercard, to contribute $10,000 to the United Way of El Paso County’s Center for Resiliency, powered by the Paso del Norte Health Foundation. The donation supported the assembly and distribution of emergency food baskets filled with nonperishable items to help families prepare balanced meals at home during the shutdown.

The credit union donated $10,000 to the Armed Services YMCA of El Paso’s Junior Enlisted Family Center (JEFC), which operates a no-cost Food Market, thrift store, and Operation Baby program. These initiatives serve more than 750 weekly visits, providing essential food, baby supplies, and household necessities to junior enlisted service members and their families. GECU’s support helped the ASYMCA meet rising demand and continue delivering these critical services during the shutdown.

GECU also supported furloughed Department of the Army Civilians by participating in the Fort Bliss/William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) Resource Fair. The fair brought together key community and military-aligned partners to provide assistance, financial resources, emotional support, and information to furloughed civilian employees affected by the shutdown. GECU was onsite to help attendees understand available relief options, provide financial guidance, and connect them with tools to navigate the financial challenges created by the shutdown. GECU teamed up with Mastercard® to provide $12,500 in gift cards to distribute onsite, offering meaningful, immediate relief to furloughed civilians navigating financial uncertainty.

On the financial support side, GECU offered various options to give families and individuals financial peace of mind. They offered an Emergency Loan with a 12-month repayment term at 6% to assist during this challenging time. GECU funded $2.2 million for those who received reduced pay or no pay or were otherwise affected by the shutdown. These included federal employees, government contractors, and workers at businesses that rely on federal funding to pay their employees.

GECU also considered loan requests to refinance existing loans, such as signature loans, to extend the term or lower payments. This allowed members to postpone their due date by 45 days from the loan contract date, giving them time to begin receiving their pay again once the government reopened. GECU waived the processing fee for skip-a-payments for members impacted directly or indirectly by the shutdown, and many members took advantage of this offer.

Additionally, GECU proactively provided a one-month skip-a-payment to members who had direct deposit prior to the shutdown and held a qualified loan. These were processed with no fee and no action required from the members, offering peace of mind during a difficult period. Members with a qualified credit card will also receive the same assistance, with no payment due in December.

Through these combined efforts, GECU continued to live its cooperative mission, strengthening families, supporting military households, and uplifting the communities it serves in Texas and New Mexico. These initiatives exemplify the compassion and commitment that define credit unions and the difference they make when communities need them most.

ABOUT GECU

GECU’s headquarters are in El Paso, Texas, and they serve more than 439,000 members across Texas and New Mexico. Their mission is to provide members with convenient superior financial products and services that pave the way to financial freedom.