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  • Who are the current participating employers of the CLC program?
    Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff Coconino County Community College Community Bridges, Inc. Flagstaff Family Food Center The Guidance Center High Country Humane Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Inspiracom Johanna Klomann, CPA PLLC Northland Family Help Center Native Americans For Community Action Inc. Strides 2 Thrive, LLC Warner's Nursery & Landscaping
  • My employees don't need this, they get paid well! Why would I offer this?
    Getting paid well doesn't necessarily mean financial empowerment and security. Many employers are not aware of their employee's financial situations. They might be getting paid well but drowning in loan payments and/or living expenses. Many employees are uncomfortable with talking with their supervisor about their finances, let alone asking for a pay advance, and if they do get the pay advance, many times the problem isn't solved there. The CLC program is designed to assist employees when they become financially burdened with unexpected costs such as medical bills or vehicle repairs; without putting the weight of the loan on their employer, but instead allowing the employer to offer their employees the tools to succeed. Offering them better/more reliable assistance, and keeping them (the employer) and the company out of directly lending this employee money or having to give them a payday advance. Ultimately making the situation better for all parties. This employer-based model meets employee short-term lending needs without the burdensome fees, interest, and risk of auto title loans.
  • How do I get financial education?
    Contact the Community Loan Center of Arizona at 602-695-5116 or email cheryl@azclc.org to set up an appointment with a HUD-approved and certified Financial Coach. All CLC Borrowers are eligible to receive no-cost, no-obligation, individualized support with financial coaching and education in person, by phone, chat, or online. All sessions are free and unlimited. Our HUD-approved Housing Counselors offer free Credit Counseling and a free Credit Report with a detailed review to help you implement strategies to improve credit, and build savings. We offer confidential one-on-one counseling, Credit Building and Repair, and Financial Education tools to assist you in meeting your personal and family financial and credit goals. In addition, Pre-purchase Assistance, Housing Down-Payment, or Matched Program assistance is available in select Counties. Foreclosure Prevention Assistance is available statewide at no fee.
  • What do I do (as an employer) if an employee leaves or is terminated during the life of the loan?
    Contact Cheryl Blume right away to notify us of the employee leaving/termination. You can call her directly at 602-695-5116, or email Cheryl at cheryl@azclc.org. We will need to know the date of the employee's last payroll cycle/paycheck. We (the CLC lender) will be responsible for following up with the individual for continuing payment on the loan. As an employer, you are never responsible for an employee’s outstanding loan. If an employee leaves a participating CLC employer, we simply will deduct the remaining payments directly from the borrower’s checking account that they provided us during the initial loan application.
  • What if I have other questions? Who would I contact?
    You can contact Cheryl Blume @ (cheryl@azclc.org), or call her directly at 602-695-5116. She is the manager of Lending Solutions and in-charge of the Community Loan Program of Arizona underneath Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona, Inc. You can always visit our website @ (www.azclc.org) or call our office at (928)214-7456 to leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.
  • How long do I have to be employed before applying for the loan?
    At least 3 months at a position where your income exceeds at least *$800/month. *Our smallest loan offered is $400, to help ensure the employee can afford the payments on the loan, we want to make sure they can afford it.
  • What is the maximum loan I can take?
    $1,000, or up to 50% of your bi-weekly paycheck (so, if your bi-weekly paycheck is $1,800; then you can only take a loan for up to $900). After repaying 50% of your loan, you may be eligible to apply for a renewal loan (with a maximum loan amount of $1,000). This would mean you could borrow an additional $500. Contact us for details at 602-695-5116 or cheryl@azclc.org
  • How do I apply?
    If your employer is signed up as a participating employer, there are 5 simple steps. Apply online through our CLC portal (www.azclc.org) for a loan from $400 to $1,000 max, at 18% interest, and a $20 application fee, that gets built into the payments back so there are no upfront costs. The application fee does not accrue interest. Your employment is then verified by your employer within 2 business days You then check the status of your application on the portal, if approved, you then sign your loan documents Your loan funds will be deposited in your bank account within 2 business days after verification and electronically signing your loan documents Finally, you make your loan payments through convenient payroll deductions
  • What is the cost to apply?
    Nothing! There are no upfront costs. There is a $20 application fee, if the loan is approved, but the fee is built into you're payroll deduction payments, and that fee does not accrue interest.
  • What exactly am I paying for?
    Part of each CLC loan payment reduces the loan principal, and the remainder reduces interest and a portion of the $20 loan origination fee; which does not get charged interest.
  • What are the terms of the loan?
    $400-$1,000 Loan Maximum Or up to half of borrower’s monthly gross pay One Year Loan term 18% Interest $20 loan origination fee (built into repayments) Relaxed underwriting No collateral No prepayment penalties No balloon payment
  • Does my employer have to be signed-up for me to get a loan?
    Yes, in order to apply for a loan, your employer has to be signed up with us as a participating CLC employer. Visit our website (www.azclc.org) for further information, or contact Cheryl Blume directly at (cherylb@azclc.org) , She is the manager of Lending Solutions, in charge of the Community Loan Program. Her work phone number is 602-695-5116.
  • Do you have to work full-time to apply for a CLC loan?
    No! You just need to make at least $800/month, and been employed for at least 3 months in order to apply for our smallest loan of $400. We offer loans anywhere from $400-$1,000, you must make at least double the loan you want in montly income to apply for that loan. Example: To apply for a $400 loan, you need to make at least $800/month, to apply for the maximum loan of $1,000, you need to make at least $2,000/month.
  • Why would I want to get a CLC loan? Why is this loan better than the alternatives?
    A CLC loan is better than predatory alternatives like Payday and Auto Title Loans for a multitude of reasons. One in three Auto Title Loan borrowers end up extending their auto title loan, creating a cycle of debt. One in five wind-up having their vehicle repossessed, making title loans a debt trap for borrowers. The risk of losing the family’s vehicle to repossession for failure to keep current on a title loan is the main reason title loan borrowers remain trapped in debt. CLC loans only have a few requirements to apply and feature great terms and conditions. Employees (borrowers) can apply online for a CLC loan anytime with our fully automated system at azclc.org. At the Community Loan Center, a borrower’s credit history does not factor into a decision to assist them with a Small Dollar Loan. If an employee is in need of money, the Small Dollar Loan program is easily accessible to them through their employer. In addition, CLC loans are generally deposited into the borrower’s checking account within 2 business days, while loans at Banks or Credit Unions take much longer and sometimes require membership in order to take out a loan. Loan repayment is another difference; you have 12 months to repay your loan, unlike Auto Title Loans or some Banks or Credit Unions which may require repayment in 30 days or 6 months or less. Some loan providers charge over 50% interest and/or balloon payments that become due quickly. CLC Loans have no prepayment penalties or balloon payments, and keep the interest rate low at 18%. Your interest cost for a $1,000 loan is less than $97. The maximum cost of a $1,000 title loan in Arizona is $150 per month or 180% annual rate. If repaid after nine months, a $1,000 loan would incur $1,350 in finance charges for a total repayment of $2,350. Our interest rate is 18% with a $20 application fee. The total repayment is $1,116.15. Borrowers also build good credit when making regular payroll deduction payments on their CLC loan, improving their credit score through credit bureau reporting.
  • Is this offered in other geographic areas?
    The Community Loan Center of Arizona serves the entire state of Arizona. Yes, we are currently in 11 states across the country, with many of the centers in Texas because that’s where the program originated. It is our goal to get loan centers in every state, so every employee and employer can utilize this terrific program. It is a great alternative to high-interest and risky payday and auto title loans. It provides the benefits of simple repayment through payroll deduction and options to build credit with payments reported to all three credit bureaus.

Contact Us 
Community Loan Center of Arizona

1500 E Cedar Ave #86, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

PO Box 30134, Flagstaff, AZ 86003

 CLC Direct Contact: 602-695-5116 | HSNA Office: 928-214-7456 | Email: cheryl@azclc.org | Fax: 928-774-6937

Lending Solutions does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), national origin, disability, marital status, political beliefs or familial status in employment or program services.
Special accommodations will be made for the physically challenged, upon notification.  To contact our office through a relay service for the hearing impaired, please dial 711.
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