Sallie Mae says it aided 434,000 customers with student loan problems

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In the last academic year, Sallie Mae successfully helped 2.2 million customers navigate difficult financial circumstances and avoid the consequences of default on $44 billion in federal and private student loans.

The 2.2 million figure came in a release as the nation’s largest student lender faces scrutiny for its collection practices. The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in a blog post, indicated reports of men and women in the armed services having difficulties in getting help with student loans.

Sallie Mae has its headquarters near Newark.

Sallie Mae stated that it offers a variety of informational resources to help families make wise borrowing decisions and identify repayment options that work for their individual situation. As a matter of practice the company also encourages in-school loan payments to help students graduate with less debt.

Sallie Mae’s free financial literacy website, CollegeAnswer.com, provides a repayment calculator and information to help understand repayment options.

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Sallie Mae services federal and private education loans for 10.5 million customers—the vast majority of whom manage their payments successfully. For those customers who do need extra help, default prevention specialists educate them about payment options, including Income-Based Repayment (IBR), which enables federal student loan customers to cap monthly payment at 15 percent of discretionary income.

For private education loans, customers who have fallen behind may qualify for reduced payments or temporary suspension in payments.

Since 2009, Sallie Mae has modified $1.1 billion in private education loans with interest rate reductions or extended repayment terms.

“This economy continues to pose real financial challenges. Our work with distressed borrowers focuses on preserving their good credit standing and minimizing overall loan costs,” said Jack Remondi, president and chief operating officer, Sallie Mae. “It’s so important that when customers struggle financially, they contact us to discuss one-on-one the available options to help them avoid the severe credit consequences of delinquency or default.”

In the past academic year, 434,000 Sallie Mae customers reached the major financial milestone of successfully paying their student loans in full. “I can’t put into words how college prepared me intellectually and mentally for what the world has to offer,” says Ray S., a Mississippi State University graduate and sales executive for a food packaging company. “Once you can afford to increase or double up on your payments, do it. Paying off my student loan is as good of a feeling as the first time I crossed the finish line in a half marathon.”

 

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