Furloughed Federal Employee Relief Program (FFERP)

The Furloughed Federal Employee Relief Program assists both North Dakota residents who are federal government employees and 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 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 First Western Bank. Please contact your local First Western consumer lender to initiate the loan application with Bank of North Dakota.

First Western Bank lenders 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 First Western Bank customer and has or will have their federal paycheck directly deposited with First Western. 
• The borrower has not applied for, and will not apply for, any other government shutdown loan programs.

Terms & Conditions

For more information and for terms & conditions, please visit the Bank of North Dakota website.