Camp Lejeune  Military and Family Support Center

Managing your financial affairs in the military can be a challenge, especially if you are new to the service. There are frequent moves, unexpected deployments, new schools and temporary assignments that require you to become a good money manager. The Semper Fit Division with Marine Corps Community Services at Camp Lejeune has a Personal Financial Management Specialist on staff that can help answer your financial questions and provide emergency referral assistance.

Credit Unions

The Marine Federal Credit Union services include savings programs, financial counseling and loans to credit union members, MAR*CHECK, high yield investment certificates, IRAs, VISA credit cards, automatic teller machines, safe deposit boxes and much more, 910-451-2492 or 577-7333, 800-225-3967.

Banks

The First Citizen Bank and Trust Company offers ATMs, auto loans, personal loans, checking accounts and complete banking service.

The Personal Financial Management Program is provided as part of Marine Corps Community Services through the Personal Readiness and Community Support branch, offices are currently located in buildings 302 and 824.

The program promotes personal and family financial responsibility through education designed to enhance unit readiness. Periods of instruction are provided to units or groups upon request and can be conducted at times and locations designated by the unit.

To encourage individual participation, as well as spouse attendance, financial workshops are routinely scheduled to meet at the Semper Fit Classroom in Building 302 from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Class titles and specific dates will be announced in the Globe, through MCCS advertisements, or by calling the phone numbers listed below. Classes and individual counseling are open to all active-duty, retired and reserve personnel and their spouses as well as Department of Defense and non-appropriated fund civilian personnel.

For more information, or to schedule unit/group trainings or an individual appointment, call the PFMP program manager at 910-451-3219.

The purpose of advance pay is to give funds to a member to meet extraordinary expenses incident to a permanent change of station. It is intended to assist with the out-of-pocket expenses, not typical of day-to-day military living, that precede or exceed reimbursements incurred in a member’s change of duty location. Service members are normally required to pay this advance back in the form of a deduction in pay over a 12-month period. The member’s commander has a responsibility to ensure an advance of pay is used only to help with the financial burden of a PCS.

The Camp Lejeune area is considered to be located in a low cost-of-living area. The Fiscal Year Basic Allowance for Housing rates can be found Department of Defense Travel website. Housing and additional facts are available via the Onslow County government website. 

Temporary Lodging Expense

This allowance is paid when members transfer with or without dependents to their first Permanent Duty Assignment or any time a change of station move involves moves within the continental United States. The rates vary by location, however there is a maximum amount allowed. This is a reimbursable expense requiring receipts to obtain a payback. Local housing costs vary by type.

• Apartments range from $480 to $1,175 plus amenities.
• Rental homes range from $600 to $3,000.
• The median cost of homes in Onslow County is between $145,000 and $153,000.

Car Insurance

The minimum requirements of liability insurance for a private passenger vehicle are $30,000 for bodily injury for one person; $60,000 bodily injury for two or more people and $25,000 property damage. North Carolina law requires each company to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles when coverage has been cancelled.