Helpful Hints for Check Payments
Avoid payment delays
If you're paying your student loan by check, please review the hints below so we can quickly and accurately process your payment:
- Write legibly on your check and bill stub
Our electronic processing system reads the dollar amount on your check and bill stub. If the writing is illegible, the system has difficulty determining the amount paid. - Use blue or black ink on your check and bill stub
Our processing system doesn't recognize red or other colored inks. - Fill in the payment amount on your bill stub
This is important because our processing system reads the dollar amount on your bill stub. - Be sure the payment amount on your check and bill stub are the same
Any discrepancy will result in a need for manually processing your payment. - Confirm that both the written and numeric amounts on your check are the same
Any discrepancy could cause a delay in processing your payment. - Avoid using fractions, slashes, Xs, underlines, or dollar signs on your check or bill stub
Lines, slashes, and other symbols make it difficult to accurately process your payment. - Do not write specific payment requests on your check or bill stub
Please include any written requests on a separate piece of correspondence. - Write on the bill stub only where specified
The scan line in the center of each bill stub contains data that assures we correctly apply your payment to your student loans. Comments, notes, or other additional writing can interfere with our equipment's ability to read that data. - Include your bill stub with your check
This is important because our processing system uses your bill stub to correctly apply your payment to your student loans. - Do not staple or paperclip your check to your bill stub
- Use the envelope included with your bill
The post office uses the barcode printed on the envelope to route the mail to us as quickly as possible. - Note: Money orders can delay processing your payment because our equipment has difficulty reading them.
