Consumer complaint received 2017-07-25
Company: NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
State: FL
Product: Payday loan, title loan, or personal loan
Sub-product: Personal line of credit
Issue: Getting a line of credit

Complaint:
This complaint regards predatory lending practices by Navy Federal Credit Union ( NFCU ) and has come to my attention by way of my XXXX sons who attend the XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX, NY. This issue is not isolated to this Academy and is likely the same at the XXXX XXXX XXXX and the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Most XXXX are encouraged to become NFCU members during indoctrination as the credit union is the only bank with a branch on campus. As part of their curriculum, XXXX must XXXX a minimum of one year on a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and are required to establish accounts at NFCU to have their their earnings directly deposited. Please see the attached Navy Federal Credit Union " Merchant Marine Academy Career Kick-Off Loan Program '' application. This particular loan program is offered to any student in their XXXX or XXXX year ( XXXX or XXXX XXXX ). The only disqualifying criteria seems to be having another similar loan in existence. Due to the rigorous demand of the Academies most student do not have outside jobs. NFCU is offering loans up to {$32000.00} to individuals without income and the ability to repay and with minimal or no credit history or experience with debt. Should a XXXX accept the loan and then fail to graduate ( as many do ), separate from the military or fail to maintain a checking account at NFCU with Direct Deposit the loan reverts from the 1.25 % teaser " to the prevailing signature loan rate. '' This rate is not disclosed on the application. I asked my sons if they or any of their friends at he Academy knew what that rate might be. No one knew. I searched NFCU 's website for this rate. It is not published. I called the number on the application, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and asked myself. At first, I was given a range of APR rates for the wrong term loan. Upon further clarification, I was finally given the prevailing signature loan rate for terms over 36 months at 13.95 % -18 %, based on credit score. I asked what a likely credit score would be for a XXXX year old with no job and no prior history and we agreed that it probably would not be qualifying for the lower end of the rate scale. I am sure many of these XXXX take these loans out having no idea their rate could increase 12 fold, payments increase by hundreds of dollars every month and end up paying almost 10 times more in interest! The Credit Union knows these XXXX have no Federal student loans as they attend tuition-free US Academies and therefore these represent lower risk and their loans would likely be in the first position for repayment. NFCU knows these XXXX have no jobs nor ability to repay, yet offer a ridiculously generous unsecured " signature '' loans. They do not disclose the terms should the loan " revert '' and make it difficult for someone like me with plenty of experience with loans and credit to even find out. This program hooks these men and women on debt and locks them in as members from an early age. If that is n't predatory, I do n't know what is.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation