Borrower-FAQs - InvestEd

The InvestEd Student Loan is a product which supports college students in-need by providing them loans to fund their educational needs. It is the only student loan product in the Philippines that incorporates coaching and mentoring, to help students achieve success and guide them through repayment.

I do not know much about loaning, how do I know InvestEd is the best option for me?

A loan is a long-term commitment so it’s definitely best to prepare and learn more about it before entering into one.
Loans have usually negative connotations in Philippine financial culture. However, InvestEd’s loans are different from other lending platforms such as banks, lending companies, and private individuals because of the ff. reasons:

1) InvestEd’s loans are designed for a student’s empowerment and safety. It has safeguards to ensure that a student receives the most value out of the loan and a student’s debt is not mismanaged.

2) Unlike other lending platforms, InvestEd does not require any collateral or a credit card. Its security for a loan repayment is in a student borrower’s membership into the Investee Success Program and their potential to succeed.

3) InvestEd has friendlier rates and offers a personalized approach to lending that makes loaning very convenient for borrowers. Our interest rates and service fees vary depending on a student’s financial need and his/her status as a member of the InvestEd Community.

4) As a financial technology company, InvestEd gives importance to innovative and digital practices to put students’ needs first. InvestEd loan officers are also always available to communicate with Investees (members of the InvestEd student community) in any platform, to swiftly address concerns and future adjustments on disbursements and repayment.

How does InvestEd differ from other financial assistance programs for education?

At InvestEd, we offer students three main advantages to address the barriers found in most education financing options:

1. Easily Accessible Funding through a free and convenient online application;
2. Customizable Payment Plans that allow you to pay immediately or after graduation, and;
3. A Fully Digital Coaching Program for borrowers so you can succeed in career and repayment!

Below is a table to compare how InvestEd differs from other lending platforms:

	Interest rates (per annum)	Loanable Amount	Barriers
Banks	16%-38%	₱300,000	Immediate repayment only; payable in 12 to 48 months Must be at least 21 years old to borrow; typically only available to parents of undergraduates Must have a credit card with the bank to borrow or have a linked bank account to auto-debit payments Must be regular employee for at least 1 year (3 years if in call center industry); need to provide income tax return and other employment documents Must have a minimum salary of P15,000 – P30,000 depending on the bank and provide at least 3 months of payslips
CHED Student Loan Program for Tertiary Education-Short Term Basis (SLPTE-ST)	0% to 6%	₱60,000	Immediate repayment; must be paid in 12 months Offline and inconvenient application Need to provide parents’ income tax return and other government documents
SSS Educational Assistance Loan	6%	₱20,000	Immediate repayment only Parents must be members and must have paid at least 36 monthly contributions Monthly salary not more than ₱25,000 per month
Microfinance Lenders	18%-36%	₱60,000	Immediate repayment only Monthly interest is based on the total loan amount (flat interest) instead of the remaining balance only Restricted to regions where the MFI operates only Parents must be members Need savings in coop and typically only lend emergency loans Offline application
Private Lenders	36%-180%	₱30,000	Immediate repayment only Must be at least 21 years old to borrow Short repayment term (7 days to 6 months) Must be employed; typically requires a minimum salary of P30,000 and at least 3 months of payslips Low initial loanable amount
Relatives	N/A	Depends on capacity and willingness of relative	Not always available Can ruin relationships; emotional indebtedness (“utang na loob”) and expectations to ‘give back’ can last even long after the financial aid has been repaid
Loan Sharks	240%-360%	No Limit	Immediate repayment only Extremely high interest rates Predatory; encourages continuous unsustainable debt

	Interest rates (per annum)	Loanable Amount	Barriers
InvestEd	27%-35%	Based on Student's Capacity	No collateral Interest rates in median percentile Inclusive of coaching Flexible Loan Term

What is the Investee Success Program?

Once a borrower is approved for the InvestEd Student Loan, he/she will automatically be given a partner-coach who will teach him/her important tips and tools to help him/her graduate from college and begin their careers.

What are the minimum eligibility requirements to apply?

At the minimum, you must meet the following requirements to apply for a Student Loan.
Be a Filipino citizen or resident of the Philippines
Be at least 18 years old
Must be in last two years of college
Must be enrolled in a university in the Philippines

How do I apply for the InvestEd Student Loan?

Sign up for an account here on our website and complete the application form in 15 minutes. You will receive notice of the results of your application and next steps within 2-5 days.

Can I apply for a Student Loan for my studies abroad?

Currently, we can only accommodate loans for college students studying in the Philippines.

What are the application requirements?

Fill out your online application form. If you are qualified for a loan, you will be asked to send documents to prove:
a) Your current enrollment and academic status
b) Your address and location
c) Your Philippine government identity
d) Identity of loan guarantors

When do I start repayment?

InvestEd offers customizable payment plans depending on your needs and financial situation. Our basic plan allows you to begin repayment of your student loan once you have graduated.
However, you and/or your family/guarantors may opt to start paying any time before graduation, to decrease the overall payments you will need to make on your loan. Almost 50% of our borrowers have had repayment adjustments by making advanced payments upon settling into stable employment since this is a proven way to shorten your loan term and/or decrease interest fees.
Our loan officers will initially give you a repayment plan to follow, however, requests for adjustments are always prioritized, to ensure that students do not incur unmanageable debt and accrue interest due to a deferred loan term.

What does the student loan cover?

InvestEd’s education loans are carefully designed to help students make the most out of their college learning experience. Different loan products are available for every phase of your college journey.
Tuition loans are directly disbursed to your school. These are loans to pay outstanding tuition fees and tuition-related expenses. We understand that there are tuition fee deadlines and we will adjust our process to meet those deadlines for you.
Gadget loans are directly disbursed to your merchant/supplier. These loans are used to purchase laptops, tablets, cellphones usually used by students to complete school requirements and projects.
Thesis loans are curricular loans which are directly disbursed to your personal account in tranches, to be used for expenses related to the completion of a special project or thesis such as project materials and systems.
Allowance loans are curricular loans which are directly disbursed to your personal account in tranches, which are usually used for dormitory rental fees, housing needs, food subsidies, etc.

How much can I borrow?

Student applicants can receive as low as ₱10,000 to as much as ₱100,000 for their loan. Loan amounts depend on system-generated data, which our loan officer evaluates together with a student’s financial need, year in school, and other factors.
Additional loans are also granted on a case to case basis to student borrowers who have been active Investees (members of the InvestEd student community) for six months.

How long is the application processing time?

Our loan officers ensure that all applications are processed in a timely manner and are committed to guide student applicants through every stage of the application process. However, processing time will depend on the volume of applications in every cycle and how fast the applicant is able to comply with the requirements.
On average, an InvestEd loan can get disbursed 5 days after an applicant undergoes a phone interview. However, this period may be shortened for applicants who are able to submit their requirements earlier than the average processing time.
Applicants who submit delayed requirements are expected to have a prolonged processing period.

How do I receive my loan funds?

InvestEd’s disbursements are available in most e-payment channels, money remittance centers and bank transfers to make sure that your loan gets to you swiftly and securely.
Tuition fees and gadget loans are directly paid by InvestEd to your biller (school/merchant/supplier). Thesis, allowance and rent loans are transferred to your personal account, usually in staggered disbursements.

Are there any fees associated with my loan?

Yes, InvestEd charges a service fee of 22% of your requested loan amount, or P3000 (whichever is higher).

For example, if your requested loan amount is P30,000, our service fee is P6,600 (22% of P30,000). Your principal loan, therefore, will total to P36,600, as it comprises of InvestEd's service fee added to your requested loan amount. This fee covers your loan administration over the entirety of your loan period and InvestEd’s operating expenses, ensuring our sustainability for future borrowers like you.

How much is the interest?

At InvestEd, your loan will interest at 2.3%-2.9% per month. This is cheaper than most private lenders who have rates of 5% up to 30% per month, and often require payment to start immediately.

How do I pay my monthly installments?

InvestEd partners with institutions to provide you with several avenues for repayment, including auto-debit from your bank account, online and offline bank payments, bayad centers, pawnshops, convenience stores, and more.

What if I still need to take my board exam or don’t have a job immediately after graduation?

We recommend that you inform your loan officer at application if you are planning to take the board exams so he/she can give you a grace period for your loan that takes into account your estimated duration of unemployment while you take your board exams.
InvestEd also gives student borrowers access to our Investee Success Program, as well as personalized coaching throughout the life of your loan, to help you find a job quickly and plan out your career goals.
Since interest will continue to accrue on your loan over any additional deferment period, we strongly recommend avoiding delays in repayment, and will work with you to prevent those instances through personal consultations and coaching.

My degree program is not eligible for a student loan.

We source lending capital for students from institutions and individuals. Our lenders have the option to choose which degree programs to support, so we may not always have available lending capital for certain courses. Rest assured, we are continually raising capital for more and more degree programs, in order to serve more students.
If your degree program is not currently eligible for a loan, contact us and we'll inform you immediately when lending capital for your degree program becomes available.

How secure is my information?

InvestEd is fully compliant with the Data Privacy Law and regularly vets systems and algorithms used to process loan applications. All information you provide to InvestEd for the purpose of your loan application is kept private and secure and can be deleted upon your written request. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Does InvestEd have a lending license?

Yes. InvestEd is operated by EDUC4ALL LENDING INC., a corporation that has been granted a lending license by the SEC. Our Certificate of Authority to Lend No. and Company Registration No. are disclosed in our Terms of Use [link to Terms of Use] and are also available upon request. InvestEd is also duly registered with BIR and complies with all tax requirements. Our Annual Audited Financial Statements and Income Tax Returns are available upon request for all official funders.

InvestEd is also compliant with the Truth in Lending Act (R.A. 3765). This means that we give full disclosure to all our student borrowers regarding all costs involved with their loan. This includes (1) the cash price or delivered price of the service to be acquired; (2) The amounts, if any, to be credited as down payment and/or trade-in; (3) The difference between the amounts set forth under clauses (1) and (2); (4) The charges, individually itemized, which are paid or to be paid by such person in connection with the transaction but which are not incident to the extension of credit; (5) The total amount to be financed; (6) the finance charges, and; (7) the percentage that the finance bears to the total amount to be financed expressed as a simple annual rate on the outstanding unpaid balance of the obligation.

Does InvestEd need a BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) License?

InvestEd does not need to be licensed by the BSP. This is because BSP is only in charge of regulating banking and quasi-bank institutions. This is according to the New Central Bank Act (R.A. 7653) and Lending Regulation Act of 2007 (R.A.9474). In the Philippines, it is SEC that regulates lending companies. InvestEd is an SEC-registered Philippine Corporation with Company Registration Number CS201629776 and Certificate of Authority To Lend No. 2714

Student Loan Help Center

What is the InvestEd Student Loan?