Financial News You Can Use – December 2018

Financial Loans for Assistive Technology

Oklahoma ABLE Tech, in partnership with Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation and BancFirst of Stillwater, has been providing financial loans to purchase assistive technology (AT) since 2001. These loans have been primarily managed through our banking partner, BancFirst of Stillwater.

Beginning July 1, 2018, we will process all non-collateralized loans directly from our office. We believe this will ultimately make our program more sustainable, and still benefit the consumer in purchasing needed AT. We will be reaching out to our customers' service providers in the next few months to provide new marketing materials, information fact sheets, and a streamlined application.

You can access the application by following this link: Financial Loan Application. Instructions on where and how to submit an application are included in the application packet, but if you have any questions or concerns about the process, you can contact us directly at 405-744-9863 or 800-257-1705.

If you would like marketing materials to place in your office, please feel free to request those and we will supply you with them.

Want more Information about the Financial Loan Program?

Want to learn more about the Financial Loan Program with ABLE Tech and OkAT Foundation? Join us for a series of Question and Answer webinars offered on four dates through December and January. You will learn more about what qualifies for a financial loan, the application process, expectations, and ways you can help your client expedite the process.

Our Financial Loans offer a financial solution to purchase assistive technology with features that include:

• No closing or application fee,
• a fixed 5% interest rate regardless of income,
• flexible repayment terms, and
• special board consideration for special qualifying applicants.

Choose one from any of the four dates scheduled and RSVP to shelley.gladden@okstate.edu. Once you RSVP with the date, you will be sent a direct link to the webinar. Here is a PDF if you wish to download it.

Scheduled dates and webinar times are: December 11th, December 18th, January 15th, and January 29th. All at 4:00 pm.

FDIC: Protect Your Money from Scams

During the holiday season, we tend to make a lot more purchases online for travel and gifts, so it’s especially important to be vigilant about protecting your money. In FDIC Consumer News, you can learn ways to protect yourself during Holiday Shopping – read more here: https://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/november2018.pdf

For more help or information, go to www.fdic.gov or call the FDIC toll-free at 1-877-ASK-FDIC
(1-877-275-3342). Please send your story ideas or comments to Consumer Affairs at consumeraffairsmailbox@fdic.gov

Highlight on Success: John B. Gets His Dream Truck!

John is 26 years old from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He first became familiar with ABLE Tech in 2014 when he and his mother, as a co-signer, used the financial loan program to purchase a modified vehicle for transportation. John has a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy and was using a non-modified vehicle for transportation and relying on his parents for transferring in and out of the car for trips outside of the house. He had no credit history, but with the loan program he was able to get pre-qualified and purchased a 2006 Dodge Caravan. During this time, he was able to make all loan payments, requiring only one rescue payment when he had a mix up with his disability check, with was agreed upon and repaid in a timely manner.

Fast forward to 2018, and John was due for an upgrade. He re-applied through the financial loan program by himself and thanks to his successful repayment, he not only qualified for a loan by himself, but he had improved his credit score from no score, to a score 655, which put him in a great position to purchase a vehicle. He was able to purchase his “dream truck” – a 2008 Chevrolet 1500 Pickup.

“I try to be an active individual and enjoy many of the same activities as others my age, however, my previous vehicle drug on everything, especially speed bumps, and made it difficult to get to many places I wish to go and enjoy the Oklahoma back roads.” - John B.

Click here to see more Financial Loan success stories

Oklahoma ABLE Tech is the statewide Assistive Technology Act Program proudly located at Oklahoma State University in the Department of Wellness. ABLE Tech's mission is to improve access to and acquisition of assistive technology (AT) for individuals with disabilities of all ages. We offer AT demonstrations, short term loans of AT, financial loans to purchase AT, and recycling AT programs.

Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Oklahoma State University | Department of Wellness
1514 W. Hall of Fame | Stillwater, OK 74078
800.257.1705 (V/TTY)