cwa hope Loan Program eligibility

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Loans range from $500 to a maximum of $1,500. You must meet the following criteria in order to apply for an Ark loan. 

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• Residency: Must live in Clarke, Oconee, Madison, or Oglethorpe County.

• Have not filed for bankruptcy within the last 2 years

• Proof of Income: Employed for the last 3 months: Provide paystubs from the past 3 months. -OR- If on fixed income (e.g., Social Security, disability), provide the most recent yearly statement.

• Direct Deposit Required: Income must be deposited directly into a bank account. We are unable to process loans for individuals paid in cash or through peer-to-peer apps without account and routing numbers.

• Automatic Payments: Must agree to repayment through automatic bank draft.

• Balanced Budget: Demonstrate the ability to repay the loan based on standards set forth by our lending partner

• Financial Counseling: Attend a 1-hour credit / budget counseling session prior to applying for loan

• Demonstrated Need: At this time, Loans are only available for the following purposes:

  • Refinancing high-interest or predatory debt (e.g., title pawns, payday loans)

  • Credit-building loans (used to establish and build credit)

  • Unexpected expenses (e.g., car repairs, home repairs, medical emergencies, etc.) 

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Disclaimer: Loans are processed through First American Bank & Trust and approval is contingent upon certain factors including income to debt ratio and minimum creditworthiness.​​ All loans are disbursed to the vendor to meet the need they are addressing. CWA currently does not lend directly to the individual. 

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