WASHINGTON — Citizens Community Credit Union President and CEO Darwin Brokke told lawmakers Thursday that programs exist for Native Americans to get loans to tide them over during hard times and avoid using payday lenders.
Brokke talked about his credit union's Open-End Lending, which allows members to add to an existing loan if they need money before their next paycheck. He also highlighted the Reward Line of Credit program, which is similar to the other program but aimed at members with low credit scores. It requires a payroll deduction for repayment and the interest rate is capped at 16%
Brokke, whose Devils Lake, North Dakota-based credit union has one branch on an Indian reservation and another on the border of one, discussed these programs at a hearing on predatory lending in Indian Country held by Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
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"The problems associated with payday lending is a tough cycle to break," said Brokke, who testified on behalf of CUNA. "There have been occasions when we have had to turn down a member for a loan because we see that they are already in debt to payday lenders –we do not want to add to the problem of insurmountable debt."
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