, , , , ,

Walker Touts ‘Private Sector Solutions’ To Student Debt

UW Credit Union Announces Student Loan Eligibility Expansion

By
Gov. Scott Walker
Laurel White/WPR

Gov. Scott Walker touted a new private sector initiative that makes more Wisconsin residents eligible for student loan refinancing Tuesday.

The UW Credit Union, which has branch locations across the state, will now provide student loan refinancing and consolidation services to all Wisconsin residents, not just current and former UW System students.

The governor appeared at the UW Credit Union’s headquarters in Madison to announce the credit union’s expanded eligibility for student loan consolidation and refinancing, calling it a private sector solution to growing student loan debt.

Stay informed on the latest news

Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“Really, this offers a tremendous opportunity for students not only to get student loan financing, but particularly for those looking to consolidate or refinance that,” Walker said.

The UW Credit Union Board of Directors approved the membership eligibility changes earlier this summer.

“We discussed with (Walker administration) officials and other (Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy) members about the need for consumer-friendly student loan refinance options and felt we could be of great help by expanding eligibility of our services to more Wisconsin residents,” said Paul Kundert, president and CEO of the credit union, in a prepared statement.

Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, a liberal advocacy group heavily involved in the student debt issues, called the new initiative “useless.”

“(The governor’s) proposal of simply business as usual and going in and relying on banks to provide you some kind of great interest rate when you have no collateral is laughable,” Ross said. “It’s as offensive as it is useless.”

State Democratic Party Chair Martha Laning also spoke against the initiative Tuesday, calling the initiative a “promotion of big banks” rather than a “real plan.”

“It’s time for Wisconsin lawmakers to put the future of the next generation before their greedy special interest pals who inappropriately make money on the backs of Wisconsinites,” Laning said in a prepared statement.

Wisconsin Democrats have called for a state-run authority offering student loan refinancing. The governor and fellow Republicans oppose that.

Walker reaffirmed his opposition Tuesday, calling the proposal “another layer of government.”

State officials at the state Department of Financial Institutions also unveiled a new website Tuesday, which directs potential customers to 13 banks and credit unions offering refinancing options.

Related Stories