If your back-to-school expenses are putting a heavy dent in your wallet, then First Union Financial Services (FUFS) Limited can help you overcome this.

Through their Back-To-School Loan Programme, government and private-sector employees are able to benefit from financing of a maximum of $500,000 or more. In the higher category of financing for employees, some conditions apply, as this programme is based on an employee's ability to repay, and approval is usually based on the salary information issued by the employee.

"For persons who are financially strapped and are interested in a back-to-school loan, we are able to provide affordable funds with flexible repayment plans," said Lloyd Campbell, chief executive officer of FUFS.

Special rates

Parents who have children attending high school get first preference and have a window of up to three years to repay the loan. Since its inception, each year prior to the start of the school term, FUFS also has special rates and longer repayment periods for its clients.

"There are some parents, too, who can afford to pay, but do not want to break their savings. We believe, if they want to take a loan, it is a smart move, because if they have an emergency, that money can be there," Campbell said.

There are 11 locations islandwide, including the head office at 13 Barbados Avenue, New Kingston. FUFS is also in the process of establishing sub-agents in major towns across the island, and customers are now able to apply for our services online.

Over the last eight years, FUFS has partnered with Paymaster Jamaica Limited in order to facilitate convenient repayments for customers. To date, customers are making fewer visits to the branches to make repayments, and this sort of partnership has helped the company to be more efficient in the way they do business.