Government workers idled by shutdown turn to emergency loans

Financial institutions—including banks, credit unions, mortgage companies and online lenders—are taking steps to help some 800,000 workers affected by the partial government closure, which entered its fourth week Friday.

Some businesses are offering no-interest loans with no credit checks and are allowing customers to skip or delay loan payments without penalty. Others are waiving fees for account overdrafts and early withdrawals from certificates of deposit.

Federal and state financial regulators in a Friday joint statement encouraged financial institutions to work with affected customers, who may face “temporary hardship in making payments on debts such as mortgages, student loans, car loans, business loans or credit cards.” The statement was signed by the Federal Reserve, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other agencies.