Desert Financial CU Becomes Newest Owner of Student Choice CUSO

Scott Patterson

​CU Student Choice, the leading provider of higher education financing solutions to America’s credit unions, announced Desert Financial Credit Union (489,538 members; $9B assets; Phoenix, AZ) has joined its suite of owners. The credit union first began offering Student Choice’s flagship education line of credit and refinance solutions earlier this year.
 
“Desert Financial was founded by teachers in 1939, and launching student lending solutions with Student Choice was an impactful way to invest in our members’ financial well-being while honoring our roots in education,” said Andrea Mosher, Chief Lending Officer at Desert Financial. “We’re excited to now join as an owner of a CUSO that’s been a trailblazer in helping credit unions enter the private student lending space.”
 
“Student Choice was founded by credit unions, for credit unions,” said Scott Patterson, President and CEO of Student Choice. “We are thrilled to have the largest local credit union in Arizona as not only a strong lending partner, but now as an owner. Desert Financial’s dedication to their members is clear, and we look forward to the expertise and positive momentum they’ll bring to our CUSO.”
 
Desert Financial joins existing owners Affinity Plus CU; BCU; Credit Human; DCU; Elements Financial FCU; Lake Trust CU; MIT FCU; NASA FCU; Star One CU; Workers CU; Wright-Patt CU; Velera; and Callahan Credit Union Financial Services Limited Partnership (CUFSLP).
 
Student Choice enables credit unions of all sizes to make private education loans that are held on their own balance sheet. Since launching in 2008, the CUSO has helped more than 300 partner credit unions originate nearly $5 billion in private education loans, assisting 135,000 families in the process.

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