Financial Aid Officer Information

  • A group of college students in classroom.

    • From loan calculators to helpful student guides, explore resources for financial aid professionals.

    We know just how busy financial aid work can get — so we want to make working with SunTrust as easy as possible. That’s why we’ve brought together a variety of helpful lending resources into one convenient place.

    Key Contacts

    Get commonly used customer support numbers and websites.

    Loan Processing Steps

    Learn the steps of the SunTrust private student loan process, including financial aid office action items.

    For Students Applying for a Loan

    View Loans & Apply: www.suntrust.com/college-loans

    Application Help >

    Phone: 800.552.3006

    Payment Comparison Tools

    Select a loan below and see how different payment options such as in-school deferment affect the cost of a loan.

    Custom Choice Loan® Tool >
    Union Federal® Private Student Loan Tool >
    Graduate Business School Loan Tool >

    Helpful Resources

    Key Contacts

    Contact Support Services Offered Contact Information
    Customer Service
    • Loan application status checks
    • Product inquiries
    • Loan processing information
    • Forms and document requests
    • Cancellations

    For financial aid officers:
    866.296.3637
    Priorityservice@cogfin.com


    For loan applicants:
    866.232.3889 or 866.513.8445
    School Relationship Managers
    • Assistance at college fairs, high school nights
    • Product training for financial aid officers
    		 Find your representative 
    Schoolcertify.com
    • Online certification of SunTrust private student loans
    • Loan application status checks
    		 www.schoolcertify.com
    AES - Loan Servicing
    • Account summary information — amount paid, owed, payment status
    • Deferment and forbearance requests
    • Cosigner release requests

    For financial aid officers: 
    800.443.0646


    For borrowers:
    800.233.0557
    Website
    AES - Default Management

    AES has created an informational website that guides borrowers and parents through all aspects of the student aid process.

    		 Informational website
    Cancellations

    Process cancellations of a SunTrust private student loan disbursement at any time prior to the disbursement date.

    To refund or cancel a loan that has been disbursed via EFT, schools have two options:

    1. Return the funds via EFT
    2. Issue a check payable to Cognition Lending

    When returning a check, please include the following information:

    • Student's name and Loan ID number
    • Dollar amount of disbursement to be cancelled
    • Original disbursement date
    • Reason for cancellation

    Send returned checks to the following address:
    SunTrust Private Student Loans
    Attn: Loan Disbursement
    PO Box 848108
    Boston, MA 02284-8108


    For overnight mail, please send to:
    SunTrust Private Student Loans
    Attn: Funding Department
    200 Clarendon Street, 3rd Floor
    Boston, MA 02116

    Loan Processing Steps

    Total estimated time from a SunTrust private student loan application to receipt of loan disbursement: 2-6 weeks depending on time of year.

    * Indicates a financial aid office action item.

    Loan Processing Step Details

    1. Application
    Students/cosigners


    Estimated Time:

    Application — 15 minutes

    Credit Decision — Instant

    Complete a quick, online credit application and get an instant credit decision.


    Upon credit approval, student/cosigner selects loan options, such as

    • In-School Refinance Option
    • Loan Term
    • Repayment Option
    • Fixed or Variable Rate

    2. Documentation

     

    Estimated Time: 1-2 weeks

    Student/cosigner provides required document(s) online, by fax or mail including:

    • Applicant Self-Certification Form

    Plus, additional documents, if needed:

    3. Review & Signing

     

    Estimated Time: 1-2 weeks
    • Student/cosigner signs loan packet within 30 days.
    • Signing can be done online, by fax or mail.
    • Loan Packet includes the Credit Agreement, Approval Disclosure and other documents.

    4. School Certification

     

    Estimated Time: 2-4 weeks

    Timing depends on when the student applies and the school's procedures.

    * The school certifies that:

    • The student is enrolled at least half time,
    • The loan amount is correct,
    • The dates of disbursement.

    The school can do this by utilizing various CommonLine processing systems including ScholarNet, ELM or www.schoolcertify.com.

    5. Final Review & Release of Loan Funds

     

    Estimated Time: 1.5+ weeks

    Students/cosigner reviews the final loan disclosure; there are 3 days to cancel, then funds are released.


    * Date(s) funds are sent to school are determined by the school — funds are sent to the school.

    • Compare SunTrust Private Student Loans

      • Do your students need money for college? Our student loans have got you covered.

        When your students have explored federal aid and other ways to pay for school, and they’re still falling short, a SunTrust private student loan can help fill the gap. Available to undergraduates and graduate students, SunTrust college loans provide money for tuition, housing and other school expenses. 

    • What are the key differences between the loans?

      • Custom Choice Loan® vs. Union Federal® Private Student Loan

        For easy comparison, the key differences between these loans are that:

        1. The Custom Choice Loan is not available to international students (the Union Federal Private Student Loan is).
        2. The Union Federal Private Student Loan has an on-time payment benefit that is not offered with the Custom Choice Loan.

        Graduate Business School Loan vs. the Custom Choice Loan and Union Federal Private Student Loan

        Graduate business students attending an approved school can apply for any of the SunTrust private student loans; however, there are some key differences in the loans. The Graduate Business School Loan:

        • Has a condensed, approved school list which is different than the approved school list for the Custom Choice Loan and the Union Federal Private Student Loan.
        • Has different interest rate ranges and loan amount limits than the Custom Choice Loan or the Union Federal Private Student Loan.
        • Does not allow international students to apply nor does it offer an on-time payment benefit like the Union Federal Private Student Loan.
        • Does not require applicants to be earning income in order to apply (this is a requirement to apply for the Custom Choice and Union Federal Private Student Loans.
        • Offers 7 and 10 year repayment terms (the Custom Choice Loan and Union Federal Private Student Loan offer 7, 10 and 15 year repayment terms).1

    • Things to keep in mind

        • Application period – Students cannot apply more than four months before the start date of the academic semester for which the loan is being applied.
        • Loans for past due balances are accepted – SunTrust private student loans may be used for a prior academic period or post-graduation, as long as the application is received up to the earlier of (a) three calendar months beyond the student’s academic period end date or (b) three calendar months beyond the student’s graduation date. 
        • Cosigners – Most undergraduate and many graduate students will need a cosigner to qualify for a SunTrust private student loan. Learn more about cosigners. 
        • In-School Refinance Option – Students may transfer the balance(s) of existing private student loans; in doing so, they will consolidate their payments. This refinancing feature should only be added to the loan if it provides an advantage such as a lower monthly payment or a lower interest rate. Learn more.

    • In-School Refinance Option

      • In-School Refinance Option
        Add-On Feature

        Does a student already have a private student loan? With the In-School Refinance Option, students can transfer the balance(s) of existing private student loan(s)2 when they apply for a new SunTrust student loan, possibly at a new advantageous interest rate or monthly payment amount.

        How It Works

        1. A student applies for any of SunTrust's three private student loans.
        2. During the loan application, after credit approval, the student can request to have the private student loan(s) added to the new student loan.

        Learn More >

    Important Information About These Products

    Before applying for a private student loan, SunTrust recommends comparing all financial aid alternatives including grants, scholarships, and both federal and private student loans.

    Union Federal is a federally registered trademark of Cognition Financial Corporation. Start Student Loan is a trademark of Cognition Financial Corporation. Both are used by SunTrust Bank under license. SunTrust Bank is the lender of these private student loans and they are not offered in connection with any other lender or the federal government. Cognition Financial Corporation is not an affiliate of SunTrust Bank.

    Certain restrictions and limitations may apply. SunTrust Bank reserves the right to change or discontinue these programs without notice. These loan programs are subject to approval under the SunTrust credit policy and other criteria and may not be available in certain jurisdictions.

    1

    View payment examples for the Custom Choice Loan, the Union Federal Private Student Loan, or the Graduate Business School Loan. Payment example for the Start Student Loan (assumes a 45-month deferment period, a six-month grace period before entering repayment, no auto pay discount, and the Full Deferment Repayment option): 15 year term: $10,000 loan disbursed over two transactions with, a 15-year repayment term (180 months) and a 8.937% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $145.91. The 15 year term and Partial Interest Repayment option (paying $25 per month during in-school deferment) are only available for loan amounts of $5,000 or more. The Full Deferment option is the only option offered on the Start Student Loan. Making interest only or partial interest payments during in-school deferment (including the grace period) will not reduce the principal balance of the loan.

    2

    Private student loans that can be refinanced with a new SunTrust private student loan are private student loans and private consolidation loans that the student applicant used for, or used to refinance loans used for, certain postsecondary expenses not currently in a past due status. Loans that cannot be refinanced into this loan are (1) private student loans for which the student applicant is not the primary borrower, (2) Federal student loans and (3) student loans made by an educational institution. Loans being refinanced must have been used for "qualified higher education expenses" (defined by the Internal Revenue Code), which consists of expenses included in the Higher Education Act's definition of "cost of attendance".

    Looking to reduce your interest rate by 0.50%?

    If you are looking for a student loan, get 0.50% off the interest rate when you apply for a new Custom Choice Loan on or before 9/30/19!*

    Learn More

    Read Important Disclaimers

    * The Summer Savings discount has been extended and the offer is now valid for new Custom Choice Loans for which applications are submitted for a credit decision between 12:00:00am EST on June 1, 2019 and 11:59:59pm EST on September 30, 2019. A 0.50% interest rate reduction will be included in the loan options presented to an applicant during the online application process, upon passing the initial credit review. The interest rate reduction will be applied as of the first disbursement date and will be effective for the life of the loan.

    In-School Refinance Option

    Add-On Feature

    Already have a private student loan? With the In-School Refinance Option, you can transfer the balance of your existing student loan to a new SunTrust student loan.

    Learn More
    Money Skills for Students

    These short money management articles help students learn practical money skills.

    View the Articles

    Loans Resource Center

    • Contact

    • Wires

        For more details about Wire Transfers with SunTrust, call 800.947.3786.

         

        SunTrust incoming wire instructions:

        • For domestic incoming wires, use Routing ABA: 061000104
        • For international incoming wires, use SWIFT/BIC: SNTRUS3A
        • Beneficiary account number: SunTrust full account number
        • Beneficiary name: The name as it appears on the SunTrust account

        SunTrust incoming wire instructions are also available by calling 800.947.3786 - option 1

     

    Investment and Insurance Products:

    Are Not FDIC or any other Government Agency Insured   Are Not Bank Guaranteed  May Lose Value 

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    SunTrust, SunTrust PortfolioView, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, SunTrust Premier Program, AMC Pinnacle, AMC Premier, Access 3, Signature Advantage Brokerage, Custom Choice Loan and SunTrust SummitView are trademarks of SunTrust Banks, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Services provided by the following affiliates of SunTrust Banks, Inc.: Banking products and services are provided by SunTrust Bank, Member FDIC. Trust and investment management services are provided by SunTrust Bank, SunTrust Delaware Trust Company. Securities, brokerage accounts and insurance (including annuities) are offered by SunTrust Investment Services, Inc., a SEC registered broker-dealer, member FINRA, SIPC, and a licensed insurance agency. Investment advisory services are offered by SunTrust Advisory Services, Inc., a SEC registered adviser. GFO Advisory Services, LLC is a SEC registered investment adviser that provides investment advisory services to a group of private investment funds and other non-investment advisory services to affiliates. Mortgage products and services are offered through SunTrust Mortgage, a tradename for SunTrust Bank, and loans are made by SunTrust Bank.

    "SunTrust Advisors" may be officers and/or associated persons of the following affiliates of SunTrust Banks, Inc.: SunTrust Bank, our commercial bank, which provides banking, trust and asset management services; SunTrust Investment Services, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, which is a member of FINRALink opens a new window and SIPCLink opens a new window, and a licensed insurance agency, and which provides securities, annuities and life insurance products; SunTrust Advisory Services, Inc., a SEC registered investment adviser which provides Investment Advisory services.

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