As of Oct. 1, the federal government has shut down for an indeterminate period of time, and consumers may have concerns about access to their money and other banking services. The Indiana Bankers Association would like to offer some assurances:

1. Bank deposits are safe.
2. Social Security and Medicare payments will continue.
3. Most loans remain available. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are largely unaffected by the shutdown, as their operations are funded by fees charged to lenders, allowing loans to continue to be available to consumers.
4. Note: Some government-guarantee loans may not be available.
5. Banks remain regulated.

Throughout the shutdown, most customers and bank services will not be affected. In the meantime, Hoosiers may rest assured that the taxpaying Indiana banking community continues to offer uninterrupted service to consumers.