Student Lending
CBA is the public policy voice for private-market capital to fund loans supporting America’s students. Private student loans serve important purposes, primarily to provide gap funding for undergraduates who need to pay for college. In addition, for some families and graduate students, private loans can be a sensible alternative to federal loans, especially PLUS loans. Almost 97% of private student loans are being successfully repaid. That is largely due to the high level of underwriting required to receive a private loan, as well as the use of cosigners. Nearly 70% of private student loans are made by six lenders, five of which are CBA Members. Collectively, private loans account for just 8% of loans being made today. The other 92% are Direct Loans made by the U.S. Department of Education.
December 10, 2019CBA Writes Committee in Advance of Legislative Markup WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Consumer Bankers Association today wrote the Chair and Ranking Member of the House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee to offer comments on several pieces of legislation the committee is considering. The letter addresses concerns with the Private Loan Disability Discharge Act (H.R. 4545), Student Borrower...
October 28, 2019CBA Writes Committee on Education Markup Calls for standardized disclosures on student loans, responsible lending caps to prevent debt traps WASHINGTON – The Consumer Bankers Association today wrote the Chair and Ranking Member of the House of Representatives’ Education and Labor Committee to offer comments on the upcoming College Affordability Act (H.R. 4674) markup. The letter calls for...
October 15, 2019CBA on House Democrats’ Higher Education Proposal WASHINGTON – Consumer Bankers Association President and CEO Richard Hunt released the following statement after Democrats on the House of Representatives’ Committee on Education and Labor introduced higher education legislation: “This bill takes a positive step on one of the most common-sense student loan reforms by recognizing the need for better...
September 26, 2019CBA Statement on Chairman Alexander’s Bipartisan Higher Education Legislation WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumer Bankers Association President and CEO Richard Hunt issued the following statement after Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) introduced the “Student Aid Improvement Act of 2019”: “These bills fund important grant programs and make...
September 12, 2019CBA Writes House Financial Services Committee on Student Lending WASHINGTON – The Consumer Bankers Association wrote the House Financial Services Committee to discuss needed student lending reforms in advance of the committee’s hearing examining student debt and non-bank student loan servicers, which primarily work to collect federal student loans. “As lawmakers look for solutions to help...
September 10, 2019September 10, 2019 The Honorable Maxine Waters Chairman House Financial Services Committee 2129 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Patrick McHenry Ranking Member House Financial Services Committee 2129 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Waters and Ranking Member McHenry: On behalf of the Consumer Bankers Association (CBA), I would like...
August 16, 2019CBA Statement on CFPB Education Loan Ombudsman WASHINGTON – Consumer Bankers Association President and CEO Richard Hunt issued the following statement after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced the appointment Robert G. Cameron as its new Private Education Loan Ombudsman: “We are glad Director Kraninger has filled this role and believe it should remain separate from the Office of...
August 8, 2019Student loan debt has more than doubled in the last decade and 92 percent of that debt is held by the federal government. Loan forgiveness or free college have been the topic du jour from many presidential candidates. And, while they might make for good campaign rhetoric, these proposals are unlikely to become law. Luckily, Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) introduced legislation...
July 23, 2019CBA on Warren, Clyburn Student Loan Plan Like all other similar plans, this proposal fails to make college more affordable for future generations WASHINGTON – Consumer Bankers Association President and CEO Richard Hunt today issued the following statement on legislation introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) forgiving student loan debt: “This proposal does...
CBA Letter re HR 2674, the College Affordability Act