COVID-19 Member Pandemic Relief FAQs

Members received payments via electronic deposit, paper checks or prepaid debit cards. The IRS used financial account and address information provided by members in their prior years’ tax returns. 

The Child Tax Credit was a tax benefit payment granted to help low- to middle-income American taxpayers to help support their qualifying dependent children. The IRS distributed half the total credit amount to eligible taxpayers in advance payments over a 6-month period. These payments aren't taxable income. Eligible taxpayers can claim the remaining half of the payment when they file their 2021 tax return.

In 2021, legislation increased the maximum annual credit to $3,000 per eligible child ages 6 to 17 or $3,600 for children under 6. Eligible families received a payment of up to $300 per month for each child under age 6, and up to $250 per month for each child between the ages of 6 and 17. Eligible children are defined as legal dependents who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. resident-qualifying children.

Please note: This applied only to the 2021 tax year. Child Tax Credit payments are no longer being distributed.

Benefits were received as advance payments from the U.S. Treasury, beginning July 15, 2021. They were distributed monthly through the end of the year unless additional action was taken. All funds came directly from the Treasury and were based on individuals’ most recent tax return and how they elected to receive funds.

Provided their accounts met conditions for eligibility, members with an overdrawn balance were issued a temporary credit to bring their negative balance up to $0.00. Eligible members received the temporary credit within 1 business day of receiving their government stimulus payment or Child Tax Credit funds, giving them access to the full amount of their deposits. 

Members remain responsible for their previous negative account balance. Beginning on Feb. 15, 2022, the temporary credit(s) will begin to be reversed. Members who have an outstanding negative balance will receive a notification by email (if we have an email address on record) or by letter before the reversal takes place. 

Members who received these credit(s) were notified at the time a credit was posted. The notification included options for actions members could take prior to their reversal date, including:

• repaying or making a payment toward the temporary credit 
• requesting an immediate reversal of the temporary credit
• opting out of any future credits 

If you have more questions about temporary credit(s) you received, you can reach us via eMessage when you sign in to online banking or call us at 1-888-842-6328.  

In some cases, yes, this may happen. The full amount of any temporary credit(s) will be removed from member accounts beginning on Feb. 15, 2022, regardless of the account balance at that time. So, if your account balance is less than the amount of the temporary credit, the account may go back to a negative balance.  

If you’ve made partial payment toward the temporary credit, the amount that’s removed may be less than the total original temporary credit amount(s). Here's a simple example:

Suppose your account was overdrawn by $100 at the time the Child Tax Credit (or stimulus check) was deposited in your account, and we gave you a temporary credit of $100 to bring your account balance up to $0. If you paid $50 toward covering the original $100 overdraw prior to Feb. 15, 2022, then only the remaining $50 of the temporary credit will be removed. 

If your account credit is reversed and you’re concerned about your balance, we have resources that may help. You might also consider using our Personal Finance Counseling service. This free service can help you with setting goals, budgeting, improving your finances and more.

Navy Federal participated in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). However, the Small Business Administration closed the program on May 31, 2021. 

Visit our Business Solutions COVID-19 Response page for a general overview of requirements, allowable expenses, when you can apply and factors that could affect your forgiveness.

The SBA recently opened a forgiveness application portal. However, if you received your PPP loan through Navy Federal, you must apply for forgiveness through our digital portal. It’s easy to use and provides a streamlined process, and you’ll receive the same forgiveness amount as you would through the SBA. 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has several programs to assist small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19. Please check their website for more details.

Yes, we’re offering several options to assist eligible members who may need help.

Eligible members have access to loan extensions, deferred payments, credit card line increases, student loan forbearance through LendKey, overdraft protection, fee-free transfers and penalty-free certificate withdrawals.

Whether or not you’re eligible for any of the above options, our personal financial counseling team is available to all members who need help.

We're available to assist you 24/7.

• For loan extensions and deferments on credit cards, auto loans or personal loans, call us at 1-800-336-3767.
• Send a secure message to request a mortgage loan forbearance.
  
• Contact our student loan center, powered by LendKey, for all student loan questions. They’re available from 8 am to 8 pm, ET, Monday through Friday at 1‑877‑304‑9302.

Yes, new members are eligible.

The fastest way to find out if you can make a change without penalty is to check with your travel merchant (e.g., airline, hotel, car rental agency). Many already have processes in place. Check their websites for policies and explanations on changing or canceling services, as well as general contact information should you need further help.

If you're unable to resolve the issue with the merchant, our dedicated dispute resolution team may be able to help. You can file a dispute claim by calling us at 1-888-842-6328. For credit cards, you can submit the credit card dispute form online. It may take up to 90 days from the date your credit card dispute is submitted to complete our review. Debit card disputes will report the results of the dispute resolution process to you within 120 days.

• Sign in to online banking.
• Click the "Account Services" tab.
• Find the "Checking & Savings" section.
• Click "Optional Overdraft Protection Service".

There are penalties to earned dividends if you close or withdraw from a certificate before its maturity. Navy Federal is not automatically waiving penalties at this time; however, there may be circumstances where they may be waived. Please contact us to discuss your options.

Choose the best fee-free option to send money to friends and family who may need it.

• Use our app for member-to-member or Zelle® transfers.
• Send through cash transfers.

If you’re eligible, we can offer a forbearance that temporarily suspends your mortgage payment requirements. Please contact us at our toll-free number 1-800-258-5948, Monday-Friday, 8 am - 9 pm, ET or send us a secured message for additional information regarding the forbearance or to request the forbearance.

That will depend on several factors (e.g., your circumstances, type of loan). We’ll contact you 30 days prior to the expiration of your forbearance plan to discuss your options.

Some possible options include:

• extending the forbearance period, up to 18 months of total forbearance coverage
• bringing the account current through a reinstatement
• entering a repayment plan where the missed payments are spread out over a period of up to 12 months. That means you’d make your regular payment plus the agreed-upon repayment amount each month during the forbearance repayment period.
• being approved for a workout option such as:
  • a loan modification where the suspended payments are spread over the remaining term of the loan
  • a deferral where the missed payments are paid at the end of the original loan term

A forbearance plan offers a temporary suspension of your mortgage payments—in 90-day increments. This payment suspension will be automatically extended for the first 180 days, unless you choose to cancel the plan. After that, you may continue to request 90-day extensions, for up to a total of 18 months of forbearance coverage.

During the payment suspension period of your Forbearance Plan, we’ll report the loan as current, if your loan was current before forbearance started. If your loan was delinquent before entering forbearance, we'll maintain your delinquent status. If you’re able to bring the loan current, we’ll report it as current. We can't advise on any impact to your credit rating.

Late fees will be waived once the plan is completed, even though your loan may still show past due in your NFCU account page online and may show assessment of late fees.

During the forbearance period, fees, penalties or interest, beyond the amounts scheduled, won’t accrue. The account will be treated as if you made all contractual payments on time and in full under the terms of the mortgage.

Yes, you can make payments during the forbearance period, if you choose to do so. Making payments won't invalidate or alter the scheduled completion date of your forbearance period.

Members are eligible for at least 12 months of COVID-19 forbearance. If your initial forbearance period started on or before June 30, 2020 and your loan is not owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, you are eligible for up to an additional 6 months extension (or up to 18 months total). If your loan is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, you are eligible for the additional 6 months (up to 18 months total) if you started COVID-19 forbearance on or before February 28, 2021. If you are unsure whether or not you have a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan, you can find out on the Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac website.

The standard lock commitment for Purchase and Refinance loans is 60 days. We advise consulting with your home loan advisor for more details about available extended lock options.

Depending on where you live and your loan circumstance, purchasing a new home may be as low as 30 days. If you are planning to refinance your home, closing times are estimated to take 30-45 days. Consult with your home loan advisor for more details on your expected closing time.

Industry professionals are expected to follow all CDC guidelines and best practices.

In some cases, there may be alternative ways to complete these processes without someone entering the home. Consult with your home loan advisor or third-party service provider to discuss the best option for you.

Similar to appraisal and inspection companies, settlement companies may have reduced hours and/or limited operations.

Many companies are still doing in-office settlements. Settlement may also take place in an outdoor space instead of an office for your safety. Refer to your settlement agent for further guidance on their current procedures to determine the best option for you.

If you don’t use a computer, you may still be able to visit a branch. Please be mindful—some of our branches will have reduced hours and others will be closed. Refer to your home loan advisor for additional guidance.

Please contact us to discuss payment options that best meet your financial needs.

Please contact us to discuss the options available for your auto loan payments

After signing in to your account via online banking or the mobile app, you can apply for your auto loan in just a few minutes. There's no fee to apply and most decisions are instant. In cases where applications require a more detailed review, we'll send you an email and/or a text.* You can also apply over the phone at 1-888-842-6328.

You can receive your check via the following options:

• mailed to the address you provided (fee may apply depending on delivery type)
• picked up in a branch

Visit our Branches and ATMs page for more information on branch closures or reduced hours.

For auto loan approvals, if the co-applicant’s address is different from the primary applicant’s address, the loan check and promissory note are sent to the co-applicant first.

All DMVs offer online transactions and processing by mail, but many are conducting in-office transactions by appointment only. Check with your local office to see whether they’re open for full service or if they have reduced hours/limited operations.

Depending on your state’s title requirements and your individual circumstances, it could take 60 days or longer before you receive your title. Check with your local DMV for more details.

Navy Federal offers only private student loans. 

You can refinance and consolidate existing private, federal and Parent PLUS loans with us though.

If you have federal student loan debt, we recommend reviewing the benefits of those loans and how they may change if you refinance.

If you’re looking to save on your monthly payments, now may be a great time to refinance your private student loans. 

For federal student loans, that may not be the case as the federal government suspended eligible federal student loan payments and interest at least through Aug. 31, 2022 (retroactive to Mar. 13, 2020). 

If you refinance your federal student loans now, you'll no longer have access to the future benefits they offer, such as:

• certain forbearance and deferment options
• loan forgiveness for public service
• income-based repayment plans. 

Instead, you’ll only have the benefits of the refinanced loan. We recommend comparing those options before refinancing you student loans. 

No, the CARES Act provisions only apply to federal student loans.

We encourage you to reach out to your federal loan servicer to discuss waiving interest on your federal student loan.

Contact our student loan center, powered by LendKey, at 1-877-304-9302 from 8 am to 8 pm, ET, Monday through Friday.