In Wake of Calif. Budget Cuts, Altura Offers Furlough Loan Program

As state colleges and universities have asked employees to take unpaid days during the school year to help rein in their budgets, Altura Credit Union has unveiled a solution for University of California Riverside staffers-the UCR Furlough Loan Program.“As a partner of UCR, Altura is concerned about the impact of the recent pay cuts and furloughs on UCR employees,” said Altura CU Vice President Jennifer Binkley. “We developed a program that will allow UCR employees to borrow the amount their pay is reduced from a line of credit each pay period. The tool will allow for personal budgeting ease during a difficult time.”According to the $908 million credit union, most UCR employees are facing 10-26 days without pay.UCR staffers can borrow up to $10,000 from a guaranteed personal line of credit with rates as low as 3.49% APR. Repayment terms are up to 36 months with a 12-month draw period. With an eye on convenience, members can also preset recurring online transfers to their checking account.The Riverside, California-based credit union has also created a special UCR Furlough page on its Web site (www.alturacu.com/ucrfurlough). There members can find information on free financial workshops on topics ranging from budgeting and credit scores to investment strategies. In addition, the site features additional information on Altura’s product and service offerings from a VIP checking product and Visa card to a financial fitness program, which includes educational materials and online self-paced courses.–[email protected]