PHEAA Announces 2008 KeystoneBEST Loan Program Benefits
Pennsylvania students will continue to realize up-front savings
Harrisburg, PA (January 28, 2008) - PHEAA announced today that it will continue to subsidize the federal government’s mandatory one percent default fee for Pennsylvania students and parents on Stafford, PLUS for Parents, and PLUS for Graduate Students in the KeystoneBEST Loan Program whose loan applications have terms beginning on or after July 1, 2008.
Subsidizing the one percent default fee will generate immediate up-front savings for Pennsylvania residents, no matter where they attend school, or out-of-state students who attend a Pennsylvania postsecondary educational institution and borrow through PHEAA’s KeystoneBEST Loan Program for 2008.
PHEAA began waiving the default fee, which was formerly known as the federal guaranty fee or insurance premium, in 1996 when it initiated its industry-leading Zero Guaranty Fee. To date, this innovative feature has saved student loan borrowers across the nation almost $245 million in up-front costs.
“By eliminating this up-front fee, we are helping to keep the cost of borrowing for college down,” notes William Adolph, Jr., Chairman of the PHEAA Board. “Borrowers who use our KeystoneBEST Loan Program will incur less out-of-pocket expense and have more money on-hand to help pay for college costs like tuition and books.”
Each of PHEAA’s participating KeystoneBEST lenders will make individual decisions to subsidize other up-front fees, such as the one percent origination fee. Additionally, individual lenders participating in the KeystoneBEST Program may offer other benefits such as additional savings during repayment. The competition among participating lenders will further benefit borrowers who have a choice in selecting the best participating KeystoneBEST lender for their circumstances.
Regardless of which lender borrowers choose, they will benefit from a single point of contact for industry-leading customer service via telephone and email for the life of their loan(s). Borrowers also have a quick and easy, web-based application process complete with eSignature capabilities at www.pheaa.org. Students and families can also view a list of participating KeystoneBEST lenders at pheaa.org.