You may be a student with the challenge of paying tuition fees, textbooks accommodation, feeding and general wellbeing. The thought of getting admission in a school with little or no financial aid scares you. Students loans trust fund solves the financial problem you might have in running your school program.
About Students Loan Trust Fund
The students loan trust fund offers loans to students who are in tertiary institutions in Ghana. Also, it could be students who are taking programmes or degrees in tertiary institutions. It must comprise students who are already on admission for undergraduate programmes.
You can locate the Students loan trust fund at 47, 3rd Crescent Asylum Down, near Highgate hotel in Accra, Ghana. The Trustee Incorporation Act 1962, Act 820 laid the foundation for the establishment of the students loan trust fund in December 2005.
Their principal objectives are to provide financial help for the proper management of the trust for the benefit of students and to help promote the national ideals of Article 28 and 38 of the 1992 constitution.
The Students loan trust fund with a board of trustees that comprises individuals. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) heads the daily administration of the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF). A team of dedicated professionals assists the CEO. They also have offices in major institutions.
The functions of these offices include:
- Provide avenues for student inquiries.
- Pickup and submission points for loan application forms.
- Loan application verification.
- Liaise between the loan applicants and SLTF.
- Disseminate essential information to students in a timely manner.
How can I become eligible for the students loan trust fund?
You must be eligible or meet requirements for you to get any form of loan. The programmes and institutions have a higher hand in making students eligible for the loan. This is because Ghana National Accreditation Board can not vouch for all tertiary institutions in Ghana.
To access the loan, the following occurs:
- They will base consideration on needy applicants.
- Ghana National Accreditation Board must accredit the school, which must be a tertiary institution.
- Loans are for Ghana citizens only that are resident and schooling in Ghana.
- The National Accreditation Board must accredit the programmes the students offer.
Note: The borrower will only apply the loan granted from the Fund to cater for expenses tuition fees, the cost of boarding, books, equipment, lodging, and for other reasons that the borrower may need for his/her studies.
How do I apply for the students loan trust fund?
Every form of loan has a way to apply for it. Apart from being eligible, it also helps you know the documents necessary for the application process. Below is how you can apply for the students loan trust fund.
You need the following to apply for students trust fund loan:
- Open an Email
- Register for an e-zwich card.
- Have a guarantor.
- Make your registration at any SSNIT office for a social security number
- Telephone number of both applicant and guarantor
- You must be a student of your school legally.
- A personal guarantor who is a SSNIT contributor, religious body, MMDA or a corporate body.
- Two passport size
Note: We can also use the Social security reference number to apply for the loan.
What is the interest rate of the students loan trust fund?
The knowledge of the interest rate on every loan helps you to know whether you can pay back. The interest rate on the student loan trust fund is low. Besides that, they make the interest rate low so that money will be of value to the students. Inflation can contribute to the interest rate of the students loan trust fund. Basically, the interest rate on student loan trust funds is 12%.
Are there additional charges for students loan trust funds?
You may wonder if there are additional charges on students’ loan trust funds. Students loan trust funds do not have additional charges.
How fast can I get the students loan trust fund?
It is important to know how fast you can get the students loan trust fund. This helps you know when to expect the money and place your priorities properly.
Meanwhile, applicants of student loan trust funds should expect their loans within 2 weeks. After successful submission of completed application form. Hence, the application form for the loan must be complete and all relevant supporting documents attached to the application.
What is the right period to repay the students loan trust fund?
Getting a loan is good but repaying it with no further charges is better. It is always advisable for applicants to pay off their loan earlier than the repayment period. This helps to prevent the interest charges attached to the loans when overdue.
How do I repay my students loan trust fund?
It is very essential to know how to repay your loan after borrowing it
This helps you to make plans earlier, so you’ll have enough time to repay the loan. Plans like; which means or strategy will be more convenient for you is really cool to explore.
You can make your loan repayment through:
1. Cash or Cheque repayment may be outrightly or by instalment at the students loan trust fund head office
2. Repayment by cheque at the students loan trust fund zonal offices
3. Monthly deduction (mandated) from the borrower’s salary by the employer.
4. Your repayment can be at any branch of the following banks (partner) quoting clearly your Social Security Numbers (SSN):
- Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) through Smartpay
- Ecobank Ghana Limited (EBG) through E-collect
- National Investment Bank (NIB) with a customised students loan trust fund pay-in slip
Note: The condition for repayment is not dependent on whether you have a job but it depends on exhausting the two-year grace period.
What are the various modes of repaying the students loan trust fund?
The modes of repayment of the loan make it easier and smoother for the borrower during repayment. Because of this, borrowers have various options to choose as a means of repayment of their loans.
Note: Borrowers can go to the head office of the SLTF to make payment at 47, 3rd Crescent Avenue Asylum Down, near Highgate Hotel Accra, Ghana.
You can repay the loan through the following modes or platforms clearly stating your Social Security Number (SSN):
- By mobile money: Dial code *737*206#. Then, follow the instructions to make payment.
- MyGhpay: by visiting the website: www.myghpay.com or download the myghpay app on Google Play Store.
- Register or login. Click on the Students loan trust fund logo. Then, follow on-screen prompts to make your payment with your MasterCard, Visa or Mobile money.
- GT Collect: you can make payment at any GTBank branch across the country, using customised pay-in slip.
What are the sources of funds for the student loan trust fund?
Although some financial institutions might not feel comfortable to share the sources of their loanable fund publicly. Students loan trust funds have made known the sources of their funds from which they disburse loans to students.
The sources of loanable funds for the students loan trust fund include:
- Up to 10% of inflows of money in the Ghana Education Trust Fund.
- Willful contributions which will be tax deductible.
- Collection of resources from Ghana’s international partners interested in the advancement of tertiary education.
- Corporate sector contributions that shall be tax deductible. Which could be up to the equivalent of 0.5% of the company’s actual profit before tax.
- The loans from Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
Conclusion
After the stress of gaining admission into the tertiary institution. Students running undergraduate programmes have financial difficulties. These financial difficulties prevent them from reaching their potentials in the tertiary institution. With the students loan trust fund, you have the financial shoulder to lean on throughout your academic years. Your tertiary education’s full potential is up and running financially with the student loan trust fund. No need to worry about finances anymore.