All student loans are now kept in one place.
Finding out who your student loan lender has now been made easier, thanks to new federal student loan policy enacted in 2010. The federal government makes all new student loans and keeps the information in one place through the its Direct Loan website. Even if you borrowed from a bank originally, all information is now housed in a federal database called the National Student Loan Data System, or NSLDS. Information on balances, loan status and payback terms can be found in one place once you've received a PIN.
Instructions
Finding Your Student Loans
1. Go to the NSLDS website to register and receive a PIN.
2. Enter a user name, the last four numbers in your social security number and other information requested.
3. Click on "Apply for a PIN" and the system will assign a PIN number that you can have sent directly. You'll be provided with the choice of an electronic message or regular mail. You will not be able to go into the database without your PIN.
4. Once you've received your PIN, return to the NSLDS site and click on "Financial Aid Review". A screen titled "Gathering Your Information" will come up, along with a Privacy Statement. Click "Agree" after reading the statement.
5. On the next screen, enter your PIN and Social Security number, along with the first two letters of your last name and date of birth to confirm your identity. You'll be taken to a "Financial Aid Review" screen that lists all of your loans, dates of loans, prior lender and outstanding principal and interest as reported to NSLDS.
Finding Your Stafford Loans
6. Stafford lenders can be found by logging into "Loan Locator" from the "Students" section in the National Student Clearinghouse website.
7. Click on "Where are my student Loans?"
8. Enter your Social Security Number and date of birth as prompted.
9. Click on "Primary Loan Contacts" page. This will list out all of the organizations that have your Stafford loans.
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