Tuesday, 25 February 2014

Sallie Mae coins name Navient for loan servicer


Sallie Mae has coined the name Navient for the new loan management and servicing company it plans to split off this spring.


Known formally as SLM Corp., Sallie Mae, the largest U.S. student lender, said the name is a step toward completing its plan to split into two publicly traded companies: the loan management company and a consumer banking business.


The consumer banking company, which will keep the Sallie Mae name, will make student loans, offer savings accounts and sell insurance.


The Newark, Del., company announced the plan to break into two last May. Sallie Mae used to act as an intermediary and earn fees making student loans backed by the federal government, in addition to making private student loans. But a 2010 law consolidated the federal loan program to save costs and cut private lenders out of the process.


Sallie Mae said last year that the breakup will let each company be a leader in its respective business.


Navient is expected to service about $300 billion in student loans, the company said Tuesday.


Both companies will trade on the Nasdaq stock exchange.


Student loan debt in the U.S. totals more than $1 trillion and is growing faster than credit card debt. Student debt has been a drag on the economy as recent graduates are forced to choose between paying down their loans and buying a house or a car.



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