Citizens One Student Loans FAQ

Transcription

1 Citizens One Student Loans FAQ Student Lending, the Citizens One Student Loan and Citizens One Student Loan for Parents Q: Do I need to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for the Citizens One Student Loan or Citizens One Student Loan for Parents? A: No. Citizens One Student Loan and Citizens One Student Loan for Parents borrowers do not need to submit a FAFSA. Simply complete the online application to apply. However, we recommend that you also consider available federal student loan options, for which a FAFSA will be required. You can obtain more information about federal student loan programs at the Department of Education website Q: Can I use a Citizens One Student Loan or Citizens One Student Loan for Parents to help pay for books and personal expenses? A: Yes. Our Citizens One Student Loan and Citizens One Student Loan for Parents can be used to help pay for school-related costs beyond that of tuition while the student is enrolled in school. Examples of these costs are books and living expenses, such as meals and rent, and the maximum amount you can borrow each year is determined by the school. Q: What is the difference between the Citizens One Student Loan and Citizens One Student Loan for Parents? A: The biggest difference between the two products is that with the Citizens One Student Loan, the student is the primary borrower (with the ability to add a qualified cosigner) who is liable for the repayment of the loan. With the Citizens One Student Loan for Parents, the borrower is a parent or other sponsor who has taken out the loan for the benefit of the student (this option does not allow for a cosigner) and that borrower remains the sole person responsible for repayment of the loan. Q: What is the difference between the Citizens One Student Loan for Parents and the William D. Ford Parent PLUS loan (also known as the Federal Direct PLUS Loan)? A: While both loans are used to help finance the cost of a student s education without having the student incur any debt, there are numerous differences. The Citizens One Student Loan for Parents is an alternative or private student loan issued by Citizens Bank, N.A., whereas the Federal Direct PLUS Loan is issued by the federal government. Differences in the programs include, but not limit to, interest rates, fees, eligibility, deferment and forbearance options as well as alternative repayment programs. We recommend that you research the key features of each loan program to make the choice that is best for you. Information on the Parent PLUS loan can be found at Q: How much can I borrow with the Citizens One Student Loans? A: Minimum Loan Amount $1,000 Maximum Loan Amount Total Private and Federal Student Loan Debt Undergraduate $120,000 $90,000 Graduate $150,000 $110,000 Business and Law $175,000 $130,000 Medical and Dental $225,000 $170,000 Total Citizens One Student Loan Debt Please Note: Graduate loan aggregate amounts include amount used to obtain undergraduate degree Q: What are the eligibility requirements to apply for the Citizens One Student Loan? A: Students must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution. Students must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or an international student with a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner residing in the U.S. Students must have attained the age of majority in their state of residence, or, if the borrower does not meet the age of majority in their state of residence, a cosigner is required.

2 Q: What are the eligibility requirements to apply for a Citizens One Student Loan for Parents? Borrower must have attained the age of majority in their state of residence. Borrower must be a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution. Students must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Q: How do I find out if the school is an eligible school? A: Please call our customer service area at Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 8:00 PM EST. Q: Are there any fees for the Citizens One Student Loan or Citizens One Student Loan for Parents? A: There are no application, origination or disbursement fees for our Citizens One Student Loans. Late payment, returned check fees and charges for optional services may be assessed. Q: Do you offer interest rate reductions for Citizens One Student Loans? A: Yes, Citizens One offers our borrowers interest rate reductions on our Student Loan products. Please see for our current offers. Q: How good must my credit be to be eligible for a Citizens One Student Loan? A: We will need to see a reasonably strong credit history, along with a minimum household income (for either the borrower or cosigner) of $12,000. Although a cosigner is not required, we strongly encourage borrowers with little or no credit history to apply with a qualified cosigner to increase their chances of being approved. A qualified cosigner can also help the borrower secure a lower interest rate. Q: How good must credit be to be eligible for a Citizens One Student Loan for Parents? A: We will need to see a reasonably strong credit history and a minimum household income of $12,000 for the Citizens One Student Loan for Parents. Q: What is the difference between a variable and a fixed rate loan? A: The Citizens One Student Loan offers a choice of fixed and variable interest rates, while the Citizens Bank One Loan for Parents is a fixed rate loan. A variable rate loan means that the interest rate will fluctuate monthly, and therefore, your monthly payment amount may vary over time. (A higher interest rate will mean an increase to the monthly payment and a lower interest rate will mean a decrease to the monthly payment). A fixed rate loan means that your interest rate will remain constant over the life of your loan and that your monthly payment amount will remain the same. Q: What information is needed to complete the Citizens One Student Loan application? A: Both the student borrower and cosigner (if applicable) will need to submit the following: Name of school the student plans to attend Driver s license number Social Security Number (or Alien ID number for Permanent Residents) Gross monthly income and one most recent paystub Employer name, phone number and length of employment (if applicable) Monthly rent or mortgage payment (if applicable) Anticipated graduation date (MM/YYYY) Loan amount requested Loan period for which funds are needed This is the entire academic year, or portion thereof, for which you are applying. Cosigner name and valid address (if applicable). Student borrower reference

3 Q: What information is needed to complete the Citizens One Student Loan for Parents application? A: The borrower will need to submit the following: Name of school the student plans to attend Driver s license number Social Security Number (or Alien ID number for Permanent Residents) Gross monthly income and one most recent paystub Employer name, phone number and length of employment Monthly rent or mortgage payment (if applicable) Student s Name, Date of Birth and Social Security Number Anticipated graduation date of the Student (MM/YYYY) Loan amount requested Loan period for which funds are needed This is the entire academic year, or portion thereof, for which you are applying. Q: Will I have to provide any documents after I submit my application? A: When we review an application, we try to verify both identity and income reported on the application through an automated process. If we are unable to verify the information provided on our own, we will ask for documents to help us make our decision. Q: What do I need to provide if you ask me for income verification? A: If you are asked to provide proof of income or other documents, we need you to provide us different documents depending on the type of income you listed. We will need to review and verify that the documents match the information you provided on your application. If we can t use the document you submit to verify your income we may have to ask you for an alternate document. If you are self-employed or included additional income on your application (such as investment or retirement income) you have two options. You can either reference the below chart and provide us the documentation listed there or you can complete the IRS form 4506-T, which allows us to obtain your tax returns on your behalf. If you choose to complete the 4506-T, please ensure that all fields are completed with no cross-outs and that Box 9 specifies the last two years of tax returns that you want the IRS to send us. This form is available on our website at Because this requires us to obtain documents from the IRS, the 4506-T has a one to two week turnaround for verification. Below are some the most common forms of income verification: Employment income received through traditional paychecks Self Employment/ Family Business Income Social Security benefits, Disability, Retirement/pension, Nontaxable interest income Investment Income Most recent paystub dated within 60 days of when you submitted your application. If you are self-employed or employed by a member of your family, then a copy of either of the below should be provided: Your two most recent federal tax returns IRS Form 4506-T A copy of any of the applicable documents below: Award letter including the frequency and amount of the income Policy agreements Account statements Your most recent 1099R Your most recent federal tax return IRS Form 4506-T A current asset statement to show proof of ownership and a copy of any of the following documents should be provided: Your most recent federal tax return A one-year income history shown through account statements IRS Form 4506-T

4 Income from a New Job Child support, alimony or separate maintenance If you have not yet started your job but want to use that income in your application, you must be scheduled to start employment before your first payment is due. Please provide the below: An executed offer/acceptance letter or employment contract that includes your new employment and salary. A copy of any of the applicable documents below: A full, executed divorce decree indicating the amount and schedule of payments A written legal agreement or court decree describing the payment terms If you don t see the type of income you provided on your application listed or are unable to provide the type of verification requested above, please contact us and we will help you determine the types of documentation we can use for verification. Q: If I am asked to provide proof of residency or social security number, what documents will I need to provide? A: U.S. citizens may need to provide a copy of your social security card, your birth certificate or your passport. For permanent residents, you may be asked to provide proof of residency in the form of your current U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) Form I-551 (Resident Alien Card). If you do not have yours available, a temporary WSCIS Form I-551, a passport stamped "Temporary 551" or Form I-90 (Application to Replace Alien Registration Card) may be used. Q: Can I my required documents? A: Yes, documents can be attached to an and sent in JPEG and PDF formats. For security purposes we strongly recommend that you upload your required documents directly to your loan by logging in and reviewing your Action Items list. Q: Where do I mail my documents? A: Via Standard Mail: Education Finance PO Box Mailstop RTL 295 Providence, RI Via Overnight Mail Education Finance 10 Tripps Lane Mailstop RTL 295 Riverside, RI Q: What happens if I am approved for a Citizens One Student loan? A: Once your application is completed and we have validated your income, you will be notified of a credit decision. If you are approved and decide to accept the loan, you will be required to: Acknowledge and accept the terms of our offer. You and your cosigner, if applicable, will be required to review and sign your Application and Promissory Note. Complete a Self-Certification Form which we will provide to you. Q: What happens after approval with the Citizens One Student Loan for Parents? A: Once an application is completed and we have validated the income, applicants will be notified of a credit decision. If an applicant is approved and decides to accept the loan, the following will be required: Acknowledge and accept the terms of our offer. You will be required to review and sign your Application and Promissory Note. Complete a Self-Certification Form which we will provide to you.

5 Q: How do I sign my promissory note? A: You may choose whether to physically sign or e-sign your loan application and promissory note. E-signature is the fastest way to complete the signature process, and this must be done through our application portal, not through the Sign and Certify function on Adobe Acrobat products. Log into your Student Loan account and review and agree to the Electronic Documents Consent. Then, under your Loan Documents Checklist, you can choose to complete your signature on the application and promissory note. You will be asked to complete four steps: 1) review your application/promissory note, 2) enter and validate the e-sign code found on the bottom of the last page of the note, 3) consent to the terms of the note, and 4) consent to verify identity using the information found on your credit report. Please note, once you have consented to identity verification using the information found on your credit report, you must complete the e-sign process in the same session. If you end the session without completing the e-sign, process you will be required to physically sign (also known as wet sign ) your application. After you select Continue, you will be asked to answer four questions related to your credit report. These questions are generated by Equifax, a credit reporting agency, and relate to items in your personal credit profile. These questions allow us to verify your identify and protect you from fraud. If you choose to physically sign (also known as wet sign ) your note, you may be asked to provide a bank statement verifying your name and physical address as stated on the application. If you cannot provide a bank statement, then a utility bill with this information is acceptable, along with a W2 or first 2 pages of your 1040 verifying your name, address and SSN. If you do not file taxes or receive W2s, but can be claimed as a dependent on another s tax return, we will accept the 1040 of the individual who claims you as a dependent. After Your Loan is Completed and Signed Q: How does the money get sent to the school? A: Disbursement of loan funds is typically sent directly to the school electronically. If the school is not set up to receive electronic payments, a check co-payable to the student and school will be sent directly to the school. Q: When do I start making payments on a Citizens One Student Loan? A: With the Citizens One Student Loan, students have the flexibility to choose the repayment plan that best meets their needs. Your options are: Immediate: Make payments while in school. Principal and interest payments will begin within 30 days of the first disbursement of loan proceeds to your school. Interest will accrue only on the funds disbursed to the school until any further disbursements could occur. Interest-only: Make interest-only payments while in school, helping lower total loan debt. Interest payments will begin within 30 days of the first disbursement of loan proceeds to your school. Interest will accrue only on the funds disbursed to the school until any further disbursements could occur. Full principal and interest payments will begin 6 months after you cease at least halftime enrollment. Deferred: Postpone making payments while in school, by deferring payments on our Citizens One Student Loan until one of the following: six months after graduation, leaving school or when you drop below half-time status. If you submitted your application beginning October 22, 2015 and chose Interest-only or Deferred repayment, during the two months prior to and two months after entering repayment, you can request to make 12 months of interest only payments by contacting our servicer. This will increase the total cost of your loan as your payments during this period will not reduce your loan s principal balance. You will be asked to choose which repayment option you prefer during the application experience. If you don't choose, your application will remain incomplete.

6 Q: When do I start making payments on a Citizens One Student Loan for Parents? A: With the Citizens One Student Loan for Parents, you have the flexibility to choose the repayment plan that best meets your needs. Your options are: Immediate: Principal and interest payments will begin within 30 days of the first disbursement of loan proceeds to the school. Interest will accrue only on the funds disbursed to the school until any further disbursements could occur. Interest-only: Make interest-only payments while the student is in school. Interest payments will begin within 30 days of the first disbursement of loan proceeds to the school. Interest will accrue only on the funds disbursed to the school until any further disbursements could occur. Full principal and interest payments will begin 6 months after the student ceases at least half-time enrollment. Q: Are there any prepayment penalties for the Citizens One Student Loans? A: No, there is no prepayment penalty or any penalty for paying more than the minimum monthly payment. Q: How do I manage my new loan? A: Our servicing partner, Firstmark Services, offers online access to manage your new Citizens One Student Loan. You can access this site at where you will be able to sign up for automatic payment, make payments and do things like change your address, if necessary, to manage your loan. Our Name Has Changed Charter One has taken the Citizens name as we begin to unify all of our businesses and branches under Citizens Bank. With this change, effective April 1, 2015, Charter One s Education Finance division has taken the Citizens One name. Charter One has been a part of Citizens Bank, N.A. for over 10 years, serving customers in 11 states, including the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. If you have an existing student loan with us, you should have received information regarding this change. And, if you haven t already, you will see our new name on your statements and other communications. Everything else remains the same, such as: Q: I already registered for online banking; do I need to do anything? A: No, your online banking username and password will remain the same. Q: Who should I make my payment checks out to now? A: Please continue to make payments payable to: Firstmark Services. Q: Is there a new address I should use to mail my payments? A: No, our address will not change. Mail your payments to: Firstmark Services, PO Box 2977, Omaha, NE