KOAM TV 7 Joplin and PittsburgStudent loan payment relief for some Joplin tornado victims

Student loan payment relief for some Joplin tornado victims

News release issued by Missouri State Treasurer's office

JOPLIN, Mo. - State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY-ful) said today that Sallie Mae, the nation's No. 1 financial services company specializing in education, has agreed to put in place payment relief through September 30 for eligible student loan customers who need assistance in the Joplin area in response to the May 22 tornado.

"Sallie Mae services student loans for approximately 2,000 people in the Joplin area and has put in place payment relief options for those customers," Treasurer Zweifel said. "It is imperative that people with loans call Sallie Mae as soon as possible and inform them of their situation so they can work through payment relief. I have worked with the people at Sallie Mae and they understand the challenges facing the residents of Joplin and are ready to help."

For assistance, Sallie Mae customers should call (888) 272-5543 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDT on Friday.

"Sallie Mae is committed to the rebuilding effort and to providing assistance in the wake of this disaster," said Michael Maier, senior vice president, Sallie Mae. "We stand ready to help our customers in Joplin make arrangements for payment relief, including postponement of payments through the end of September, but we need to hear from our customers. We are reaching out as well, but in the cases where homes have been destroyed, it is imperative we connect so we can discuss how we can meet our customers' needs."

Sallie Mae and Treasurer Zweifel will monitor progress, and will work to determine if payment relief efforts need to be extended beyond September.

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