|default_lender_name|
Private Student Loan
|student_var_rate_range_with_index|†
|default_lender_name|
Private Student Loan
Federal loans not enough to cover the cost of your college education? The private student loan available through |default_lender_name| can be the answer to your funding needs.
Main Program Features
- Borrow as little as |student_minimum_amount| or up to Cost of Attendance per year for a maximum of |student_undergraduate_aggregate_limit| in undergraduate loans or |student_graduate_aggregate_limit| in graduate loans
- Choose between making interest payments or a nominal $25 Proactive Payment towards the loan while in school
- Use our private student loan to pay for qualified education expenses such as tuition, books, room/board, and computers
- Quick credit decision once we receive your completed application
Student Benefits
-
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|student_competitive_rates_list_item|
|student_irr_list_item|
- 30 Day No-Fee Return Policy allows you to cancel the loan within 30 days of disbursement without fees or interest |student_cosigner_release_list_item|
Eligibility & Credit Requirements
- Borrower must be enrolled in an eligible school and pursuing a degree program on at least a half-time basis
- Borrower must be a member or join |default_lender_name| during the online application process
- Borrower and cosigner must be a |student_citizenships|
- Borrower must meet all underwriting criteria for loan approval
- |student_cosigner_list_item|
- †|student_rate_and_margin_note|
- *APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rates and terms based on credit criteria and are all subject to change.
- **Subject to Credit Union approval. The Repayment Period begins after the In-School and Grace Period.
General Questions
What is a |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan?
The |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan can be used to pay for qualified educational expenses including tuition, room and board, books, and other school related expenses. Private student loans serve as a way for students to fill the funding gap between the cost of attending school and the amount of federal loans, grants, and available scholarships.
[TOP]What is the difference between a private student loan and a federal student loan?
Federal student loans follow guidelines set forth by the U.S. Dept of Education and typically offer fixed and lower interest rates compared to private student loans. However, federal loans, unlike most private loans, have borrowing limits, which may not allow a student to borrow enough to cover the entire cost of education. Private loans help students fill the funding gap between the cost of attending school and the amount of federal loans, grants, and available scholarships. Both private and federal student loans typically allow students to defer payments while in school and some offer economic forbearance options once a student completes school. Unlike federal loan programs, private lenders assess the credit history of the borrower and cosigner before making a loan.
[TOP]How do I know if I’m eligible for financial aid?
Eligibility for federal, state and university funded financial aid is determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All students are strongly encouraged to apply for federal aid by completing the FAFSA, which can be obtained online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
[TOP]How much financial aid am I eligible to receive?
The financial information you provide in the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) is used by the government to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is the amount you and your family are expected to pay towards your education. The EFC is then subtracted from the cost of attendance for your respective school to determine the amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive.
[TOP]What is an Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?
The EFC is a calculated assessment of how much your family is expected to contribute to your college costs. The EFC takes into consideration your family’s financial strength – income and assets. Other factors considered include the number of family members and number of family members in college.
[TOP]Private Student Loan Eligibility
- Who is eligible for a loan?
- How do I know if my school is eligible for a loan?
- Does applying for a federal loan impact my ability to obtain a loan?
- What is a cosigner?
- Is a cosigner required to obtain a loan?
- Will the cosigner’s credit record be affected?
- Is the cosigner responsible for repaying the loan?
Who is eligible for a loan?
To apply for a |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan, you must be a |student_citizenships| enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible school, and you must be a member of |default_lender_name|.
|student_faq_cosigner_eligible_loan|
[TOP]How do I know if my school is eligible for a loan?
You can confirm whether or not your school is an eligible school on the first page of the application.
[TOP]Does applying for a federal loan impact my ability to obtain a loan?
No. Students are encouraged to explore and exhaust all federal aid options first, and then use private loans to help pay the remaining education expenses.
[TOP]What is a cosigner?
A cosigner is a parent, grandparent, guardian or other adult who is creditworthy and willing to assume legal responsibility for the loan liabilities along with you. The cosigner must be a |student_citizenships|.
[TOP]Is a cosigner required to obtain a loan?
|student_faq_cosigner_required_for_loan|
[TOP]Will the cosigner’s credit record be affected?
Yes, in a cosigned loan both the borrower and the cosigner are jointly liable for making all loan payments. The loan will appear on both the borrower and cosigner’s credit report.
[TOP]Is the cosigner responsible for repaying the loan?
If the borrower fails to repay the loan, then the cosigner is responsible for repaying the loan. However, the cosigner may be released of this obligation once the borrower is able to meet certain criteria to determine creditworthiness and makes |cosigner_release_months| consecutive and on-time full payments of principal and interest during the Repayment Period.
[TOP]Application Process
- When should I begin the process?
- How much can I borrow?
- How do I apply for a loan?
- Do I need to be enrolled in an educational institution to complete the application process?
- What proof of enrollment do I need to provide?
- What proof of income do I need to provide?
- What is school certification?
- Will this loan be certified?
- How does my cosigner complete his/her portion of the application?
- Will both the borrower and cosigner’s credit be checked?
- What is ACS?
- How do I check the status of my application?
- What do the stages of the status bar mean?
- After filling out an application, is there a commitment to borrow?
When should I begin the process?
We encourage you to start early. You can start the loan application process once you know what school you will be attending, the Cost of Attendance for the current academic year, and can provide a proof of enrollment. You should allow yourself 6-8 weeks from the time of the initial application until your school receives your funds.
[TOP]How much can I borrow?
You can borrow as little as |student_minimum_amount| or up to Cost of Attendance per year for a maximum of |student_undergraduate_aggregate_limit| in undergraduate loans or |student_graduate_aggregate_limit| in graduate loans.
[TOP]How do I apply for a loan?
The application process must be completed online at http://|domain|.lendkey.com/
[TOP]Do I need to be enrolled in an educational institution to complete the application process?
Yes, you must provide proof of enrollment at an eligible school to complete the application process.
[TOP]What proof of enrollment do I need to provide?
If you are a returning student, you must provide an unofficial copy of your most recent graded transcript as proof of enrollment at the school you are attending to complete the application process. If you are an incoming freshman, your school will confirm your enrollment during the certification process.
[TOP]What proof of income do I need to provide?
You must provide a copy of your two most recent pay stubs within the last 60 days. Pay stubs submitted for review must clearly display the following five pieces of information:
- 1) Employer Name
- 2) Pay Period
- 3) Employee Name
- 4) Gross Income
- 5) Deductions
(See an example pay stub with the required fields) Depending on your type of employment or financial situation, we may be able to accept alternate proof of income:
- If you are self-employed, you must provide a 2011 and 2012 tax return and required schedules.
- If you are retired, you must provide a pension and/or social security award letter or 1099R.
- If you are a commission-based employee, you must provide a 2011 and 2012 W-2 and two recent pay stubs within the last 60 days.
If the loan is cosigned, only the cosigner needs to submit these documents.
[TOP]What is school certification?
School certification is normally completed by the financial aid staff and will include information like the Cost of Attendance and the registration status of the student. Certification ensures that the student is not over-awarded in total funding beyond the Cost of Attendance.
[TOP]Will this loan be certified?
Yes, all loans are certified with the school.
[TOP]How does my cosigner complete his/her portion of the application?
During the application process, cosigners will be asked to create an account and complete their own application. They complete the same application procedures as the borrower for joint-credit.
[TOP]Will both the borrower and cosigner’s credit be checked?
Yes. During the application process, and as part of the underwriting process, a credit bureau report is pulled on both the borrower and cosigner.
[TOP]What is ACS?
ACS (Academic Credit Score) is a proprietary scoring model that assesses borrower creditworthiness by taking into account not only the credit bureau data, but also the student’s academic characteristics such as GPA, course of study, class standing, and year of study.
[TOP]How do I check the status of my application?
The status of your application is available by signing in to your account. The green status bar you see immediately after login indicates which state your application is currently in.
[TOP]What do the stages of the status bar mean?
Applying:
The borrower started the application but it has not been credit reviewed for one of two reasons:
- The borrower hasn't submitted the application yet
- The borrower invited a cosigner that has yet to complete his/her portion of the application
Reviewing:
- LendKey forms an initial credit decision on the borrower and cosigner (if applicable)
Gathering:
- The borrower is conditionally approved
- The borrower uploads the requested documents
Approving:
- |default_lender_name| makes a final review of the application
Signing:
- The application is final approved
- The borrower signs the loan agreement and disclosures
Disbursing:
- The loan disbursement is scheduled
After filling out an application, is there a commitment to borrow?
No. A borrower may withdraw a request at any time and has up to 30 days from the loan disbursement date to return the money and avoid being charged any fees or interest.
[TOP]Private Student Loan Terms
What is the repayment term of the loan?
The repayment term begins 6 months after the borrower graduates or ceases to be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible degree-granting program. Once repayment begins, the borrower has 10 years to repay the loan.
[TOP]How soon will a borrower receive the loan proceeds?
The loan proceeds will be sent to the school by check or through electronic funds transfer (EFT). The check will usually be mailed within 5-7 business days of the borrower accepting their final disclosure unless the school requests a later date.
[TOP]How is the interest rate calculated?
Interest Rate = Base Rate + Loan Margin
The Base Rate is the |explained_index_to_s|, which is a variable component that resets quarterly on the first day of January, April, July, and October.
|student_faq_how_we_calculate_interest|
[TOP]How often is accrued interest capitalized?
Unpaid interest accrues while the borrower is in school. Upon entering full repayment, all accrued and unpaid interest is capitalized (or added) to the principal balance once at the time repayment begins.
[TOP]What documentation is provided to borrowers?
Borrowers receive electronic monthly statements summarizing all account activities.
[TOP]What are the Forbearance policies?
Borrowers may request Forbearance due to economic hardship for up to 18 months over the life of the loan. Borrowers are eligible to receive three Forbearance periods up to 6 months each. However, only one Forbearance period may be requested in a calendar year. Interest continues to accrue during Forbearance and the term of the loan is not extended.
[TOP]Repayment
What repayment options are available?
Two in-school repayment options allow the borrower to defer full principal + interest payments until six months after separating from the school:
- Interest-Only Repayment: the borrower is immediately responsible for making full monthly interest payments on the loan while enrolled in school. Six months after separating from the school or ceasing to be enrolled at least-half time in a degree granting program, the borrower enters repayment status and is responsible for making full interest and principal payments.
- Proactive Payment: while enrolled at least half-time in a degree granting program, the borrower is only required to make monthly $25 Proactive Payments during the in-school period. Any unpaid accrued interest is capitalized (or added) to the outstanding loan amount once at the end of the in-school period. Six months after separating from the school or ceasing to be enrolled at least-half time in a degree granting program, the borrower enters repayment status and is responsible for making full interest and principal payments.
What is the In-School Repayment period?
The in-school period lasts while the borrower is enrolled at least half-time and includes a 6-month Grace Period once the borrower leaves school. During this time, the borrower is required to either make full interest payments or a monthly $25 Proactive Payment. Any unpaid interest continues to accrue during the in-school period.
[TOP]What is a Grace Period?
The Grace Period is a 6-month period of time that begins once a borrower graduates or is no longer enrolled at least half-time in a degree granting program. After the Grace Period, the borrower must begin making regular principal and interest payments. Borrowers are required to either make full interest payments or a monthly $25 Proactive Payment during the Grace Period.
[TOP]What is a Proactive Payment?
A Proactive Payment is a $25 monthly payment the borrower must make while they are in school. The borrower will begin making full principal + interest payments once they have separated from the school or dropped below half-time status. The Proactive Payment helps the borrower demonstrate financial discipline and saves the borrower interest expenses over the life of the loan.
[TOP]How are payments made?
All monthly loan payments are made to the servicer, LendKey, using either an electronic transfer from a financial institution account designated during the application process or mailed in by check. Borrowers can set up automatic monthly ACH payments directly from their account by logging into their account, clicking the Payments tab, and Manage Payments. Please have the following information available: Financial Institution Name, Account Type, Account Holder Name, Routing Number, and Account Number.
Borrowers can submit payments via paper check to the following loan payment address:
LendKey P.O. Box 824575 Philadelphia, PA 19182-4575
Please write your Loan ID and the payment date in the memo line. For example, if your payment is for your March 1st invoice, please put “03/01/12” next to your Loan ID.
[TOP]When do borrowers enter full repayment status?
Borrowers are given a six month Grace Period once they graduate or separate from school before they enter repayment status. Once a borrower enters repayment status they are responsible for making full principal and interest payments.
Some students may not yet have found employment six months after leaving school; therefore, borrowers may request to pay just the interest expense on the loan for the first two years while in repayment status, this is referred to as the "Initial Interest Only" option.
[TOP]Can a borrower prepay the loan at any time?
Yes, a borrower may prepay the loan either partially or in full at anytime without incurring any fees or penalties. Please submit prepayments via paper check and ensure to write your Loan ID and “Toward Principal” in the memo line.
[TOP]Privacy & Security
Will my personal information be shared with third parties?
Please consult our privacy policy for details.
[TOP]How is financial information protected?
Our servers are equipped with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate technology, which encrypts the user's entire online session. Automatic sign out occurs after a period of inactivity. All banking information and social security numbers are stored in a secure off-site data center. All users must pass through our secure verification systems to prevent identity theft.
[TOP]How does identity verification work?
All borrowers must have a valid driver’s license or social security number. This information is used to obtain non-credit based questions from an identity verification agency. The user is asked a series of questions that must be answered correctly. Since these questions are not based on a person’s credit history, obtaining another person’s credit report does not provide sufficient information to pass our identity verification test. Those who violate our security and privacy protections are subject to disciplinary action, including prosecution to the fullest extent allowable by law.
[TOP]|default_lender_name|
Loan Consolidation Program
|cl_var_rate_range_with_index|†
Low Rates, Great Benefits, Apply Today!
- Simplify Your Finances with one easy monthly payment
- Interest-Only Repayment Option up to 4 years for eligible borrowers followed by 11 years of principal + interest repayment
-
|cl_cosigner_release_list_item|
- Lower Payment and Competitive Rate possible with extended repayment term
Are you a candidate for a Private Student Loan Consolidation?
The ideal candidate for Private Student Loan Consolidation has:
- |cl_debt_range_undergraduate| in undergraduate private student loan debt (|cl_debt_range_graduate| in graduate debt)
- |cl_gross_monthly_list_item|
- |cl_citizenships|
Private Student Loan Consolidation is available to borrowers who are carrying private student loan debt.
Federal student loans cannot be consolidated with the Private Student Loan Consolidation. If you are seeking a federal student loan consolidation, you can learn more details about the process here: http://www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov/
Start Now »- †|cl_rate_and_margin_note|
- *APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rates and terms based on credit criteria and are all subject to change.
General Questions
What is the |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan Consolidation?
The |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan Consolidation can be used to consolidate and refinance your outstanding private student loan debt.
[TOP]What is a private student loan consolidation?
A private student loan consolidation allows borrowers the ability to consolidate and refinance one or multiple loans into one loan at a potentially lower interest rate.
[TOP]Can I refinance both my federal loans and private loans with the |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan Consolidation?
At this time, you can only consolidate private student loans with the |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan Consolidation. To consolidate federal loans, please visit: http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov.
[TOP]Private Student Loan Consolidation Eligibility
- Who is eligible for the |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan Consolidation?
- How do I know if my school is eligible for a loan?
- What is a cosigner?
- Is a cosigner required to obtain a private student loan consolidation?
- Will the cosigner’s credit record be affected?
- Is the cosigner responsible for repaying the loan?
Who is eligible for the |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan Consolidation?
To apply for the |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan Consolidation, you must be a |cl_citizenships| who graduated from an eligible school and a member of |default_lender_name|.
|cl_faq_cosigner_eligible_loan|
[TOP]How do I know if my school is eligible for a loan?
You can confirm whether or not your school is an eligible school on the first page of the application.
[TOP]What is a cosigner?
A cosigner is a parent, grandparent, guardian or other adult who is creditworthy and willing to assume legal responsibility for the loan liabilities along with you. The cosigner must be a |cl_citizenships|.
[TOP]Is a cosigner required to obtain a private student loan consolidation?
|cl_faq_cosigner_required_for_loan|
[TOP]Will the cosigner’s credit record be affected?
Yes, in a cosigned loan both the borrower and the cosigner are jointly liable for making all loan payments. The loan will appear on both the borrower and cosigner’s credit report.
[TOP]Is the cosigner responsible for repaying the loan?
If the borrower fails to repay the loan, then the cosigner is responsible for repaying the loan. |cl_faq_cosigner_release|
[TOP]Application Process
- How much can I borrow?
- How do I apply for the |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan Consolidation?
- Do I need to be a graduate of an educational institution to be eligible?
- What proof of graduation do I need to provide?
- What proof of income do I need to provide?
- What payoff information do I need to provide?
- Will both the borrower and cosigner’s credit be checked?
- How do I check the status of my application?
- What do the stages of the status bar mean?
- After filling out an application, is there a commitment to borrow?
How much can I borrow?
The minimum you can borrow is |cl_minimum_amount| per year. The maximum you can borrow is |cl_undergraduate_maximum_amount| for undergraduate debt and |cl_maximum_amount| for graduate school debt.
[TOP]How do I apply for the |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan Consolidation?
The application process must be completed online at http://|domain|.cuconsolidation.org
[TOP]Do I need to be a graduate of an educational institution to be eligible?
Yes, you must provide proof of graduation from an eligible school.
[TOP]What proof of graduation do I need to provide?
Your graduation date needs to be verified through documentation, such as a school transcript, copy of the degree, diploma or certificate, written or verbal school verification, or through an electronic method such as the National Student Loan Clearinghouse.
[TOP]What proof of income do I need to provide?
You must provide a copy of your two most recent pay stubs within the last 60 days. Pay stubs submitted for review must clearly display the following five pieces of information:
- 1) Employer Name
- 2) Pay Period
- 3) Employee Name
- 4) Gross Income
- 5) Deductions
(See an example pay stub with the required fields)
Depending on your type of employment or financial situation, we may be able to accept alternate proof of income:
- If you are self-employed, you must provide a 2011 and 2012 tax return and required schedules.
- If you are retired, you must provide a pension and/or social security award letter or 1099R.
- If you are a commission-based employee, you must provide a 2011 and 2012 W-2 and two recent pay stubs within the last 60 days.
If the loan is cosigned, both the borrower and the cosigner will need to submit these documents.
[TOP]What payoff information do I need to provide?
You must provide your last statement(s) on your private student loans and a payoff letter or screenshot with a payoff 30-45 days into the future. A payoff letter, obtained from the lender, will state the amount that will satisfy the loan obligation through a specified date in the future.
[TOP]Will both the borrower and cosigner’s credit be checked?
Yes. During the application process, and as part of the underwriting process, a credit bureau report on both the borrower and cosigner is pulled. The borrower’s creditworthiness or ability to repay the loan is assessed based on the credit bureau reports of both the borrower and cosigner.
[TOP]How do I check the status of my application?
The status of your application is available by signing in to your account. The green status bar you see immediately after login indicates which state your application is currently in.
[TOP]What do the stages of the status bar mean?
Applying:
The borrower started the application but it has not been credit reviewed for one of two reasons:
- The borrower hasn't submitted the application yet
- The borrower invited a cosigner that has yet to complete his/her portion of the application
Reviewing:
- LendKey forms an initial credit decision on the borrower and cosigner (if applicable)
Gathering:
- The borrower is conditionally approved
- The borrower uploads the requested documents
Approving:
- |default_lender_name| makes a final review of the application
Signing:
- The application is final approved
- The borrower signs the loan agreement and disclosures
Disbursing:
- The loan disbursement is scheduled
After filling out an application, is there a commitment to borrow?
No. A borrower may withdraw a request at any time and has up to 3 days after signing the loan agreement to cancel the loan.
[TOP]Private Student Loan Consolidation Terms
What is the repayment term of the |default_lender_name| Private Student Loan Consolidation?
You will have 15 years to repay the principal and interest of the loan.
[TOP]How is the interest rate calculated?
Interest Rate = Base Rate + Loan Margin
The Base Rate is the |cl_explained_index_to_s|, which is a variable component that resets quarterly on the first day of January, April, July, and October.
The Loan Margin stays constant for the life of the loan and is determined at loan inception, depending on the borrower’s credit history.
[TOP]Do you offer any borrower benefits?
Yes! Qualified borrowers can enjoy:
- Simplify Your Finances with one easy payment
- Lower Payment and Competitive Rate possible with extended repayment term
- Interest-Only Repayment Option available for first 4 years followed by 11 years of principal and interest repayment
What documentation is provided to borrowers?
Borrowers receive electronic monthly statements summarizing all account activities.
[TOP]What are the Forbearance policies?
Borrowers may request Forbearance due to economic hardship for up to 18 months over the life of the loan. Borrowers are eligible to receive three Forbearance periods up to 6 months each, however, only one Forbearance period may be requested in a calendar year. Interest continues to accrue during Forbearance and the term of the loan is not extended.
[TOP]Repayment
What repayment options are available?
- Graduated Repayment: You are responsible for paying interest only for four years and then a level repayment schedule for the remaining term.
- Level Repayment:You are responsible for standard level repayment for the term of the loan.
What is the benefit of Graduated Repayment?
The Graduated Repayment option allows you to align expected future earnings with current debt to better manage your cash flow.
[TOP]What is the benefit of Level Repayment?
The Level Repayment option maintains one consistent payment structure over the loan term.
[TOP]Is there a floor rate on the loan?
Yes, the floor rate is |cl_floor_rate|.
[TOP]Is there a ceiling rate on the loan?
Yes, the ceiling rate is |cl_ceiling_rate|.
[TOP]How are payments made?
All monthly loan payments are made to the third party loan servicer, using either a monthly electronic transfer from a financial institution account designated during the application process or mailed in by check. Checks can be made payable to:
Educational Computer Systems, Incorporated (ECSI)
181 Montour Run Rd.
Coraopolis, PA 15108
Can a borrower prepay the loan at any time?
Yes, a borrower may prepay the loan either partially or in full at anytime without incurring any fees or penalties.
[TOP]Privacy & Security
Will my personal information be shared with third parties?
Please consult our privacy policy for details.
[TOP]How is financial information protected?
LendKey servers are equipped with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate technology, which encrypts the user’s entire online session. Automatic sign out occurs after a period of inactivity. All banking information and social security numbers are stored in a secure off-site data center. All users must pass through our secure verification systems to prevent identity theft.
[TOP]How does identity verification work?
All borrowers must provide a valid state issued photo identification and a social security number. This information is used to obtain non-credit based questions from an identity verification agency. The user is asked a series of questions that must be answered correctly. Since these questions are not based on a person’s credit history, obtaining another person’s credit report does not provide sufficient information to pass our identity verification test. Those who violate our security and privacy protections are subject to disciplinary action, including prosecution to the fullest extent allowable by law.
[TOP]