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Public Service Loan Forgiveness Waiver


The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Waiver is a short-term opportunity that offers borrowers a way to get closer to loan forgiveness through PSLF and Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) programs. On October 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a change to the PSLF program rules to help reach a broader audience of qualified borrowers. For a limited time, borrowers may receive credit for times of repayment that would not have previously qualified towards forgiveness. For more information, visit the Help Center Page for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.


ACT NOW - The limited waiver ends October 31, 2022.

Signing Your Documents Online
Signing Your Documents Online
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Learn About Your Payment Options
Learn About Your Payment Options
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Understanding Loan Benefits, Repayment Options, and Forgiveness Benefits
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Understanding Your Billing Statement
Understanding Your Billing Statement
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Billing Statement Delivery Options
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Co-Signer Frequently Asked Questions
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Commonly Asked Questions

Sign Your Prom Note Online

It’s easy to sign your promissory note online. Learn how to complete the process in just several simple steps.

Posting Payments to Accounts

If you are a bit confused on how your payment is posted, we break it down for you simply and easily.

Understanding Your Statement

Have questions on your billing statement? Let us walk you through the statement.

Make A Payment

We offer a wide range of flexible payment options to fit the needs of almost every borrower and student.

Trouble Making Your Payment?

There are options available to you. Learn more about how we can help you get on track.

Need a Copy of Your Bill?

Learn how to get a copy of your billing statement without the need to spend time on the phone.

Signing Your Documents Online Return to Student Loan Accounts

Signing Your Promissory Note Online

Completing Your Entrance Counseling Online

Completing Your Exit Interview Online

Signing Your Promissory Note Online

If you were notified by mail or email to sign your promissory note, a website address was most likely provided. Please type the address into your browser. If no web address was provided, sign in to your profile and select the school or account for which you need to sign your promissory note. If you have a promissory note pending, you will find it under the documents tab. Select Review and Sign beside the note you wish to sign, and then follow the simple signing steps. Remember: Our site uses pop-up windows for printing your promissory notes and exit interviews. You cannot sign and accept many of our forms with a pop-up blocker on. Please be sure to turn off your pop-up blocker when using our website. To turn off your pop-up blocker, visit the tools or settings menu for your specific browser.

Completing Your Entrance Counseling Online

You may have received an email or letter from your institution directing you to complete entrance counseling. ECSI offers entrance counseling so that borrowers understand their commitment to student loans. To complete your entrance counseling, Sign In to your account and choose your institution or account. Select the Documents tab and select Review and Sign beside the note you wish to sign, and then follow the simple step-by-step instructions. Some students believe that completing your entrance counseling will hinder additional financial aid. This is not the case. In fact, your institution may place a hold on your account if you do not promptly complete your entrance counseling. Remember: Our site uses pop-up windows for printing your promissory notes and exit interviews. You cannot sign and accept many of our forms with a pop-up blocker on. Please be sure to turn off your pop-up blocker when using our website. To turn off your Pop-up blocker, visit the tools or settings menu for your specific browser.

Completing Your Exit Interview Online

You may have received an email or letter from your institution directing you to complete an exit interview. Heartland ECSI offers exit interviews so that borrowers understand their commitment to student loans. To complete your exit interview, Sign In to your account and choose your institution or account. Select the Documents tab and select Review and Sign beside the note you wish to sign, and then follow the simple step-by-step instructions. Remember: Our site uses pop-up windows for printing your promissory notes and exit interviews. You cannot sign and accept many of our forms with a pop-up blocker on. Please be sure to turn off your pop-up blocker when using our website. To turn off your Pop-up blocker, visit the tools or settings menu for your specific browser.

Learn About Your
Payment Options Return to Student Loan Accounts

What are my Payment Options?

What Fees Apply to My Payment?

What is the Difference Between Recurring and One-Time Payments?

How Do I Make an Online Payment?

How Do I Change an Online Payment?

How Do I Cancel an Online Payment?

What Should I Know About Recurring Payments?

Where Should I Mail My Payment?

When Is My Payment Due?

Can’t Afford Your Minimum Monthly Payment?

May I Make Payments While In-School?

How Are Payments Posted to My Account?

Can I Pay More than My Current Amount Due?

How Are Prepayments Applied to My Account?

Can I Pay Off My Loan Early?

Will I Receive Statements While On Recurring Payments?

Does My Recurring Payment Stop When I Am Paid In Full?

How Does My Bank’s Bill Payment Service Work?

What are my Payment Options?

You may make payments to ECSI by mail, online through our website, using our EasyPath mobile app (for iOS and Android), over the phone using our automated payment assistant or with a customer service advocate, and through bill pay services. Please note that processing fees apply to some, but not all payment methods. For more information, see What Fees Apply to My Payments. ECSI does not charge for payments received by mail or recurring ACH payments. Any processing fee will be disclosed to you before you authorize your payment.

By Mail: ECSI accepts checks and money orders. Please include your Heartland Key or account number in the memo field on your check or money order. See Where Should I Mail My Payments for more information about how to mail your payment. Make your check payable to your school and mail to: Your School Name, c/o ECSI, P.O. Box 1287, Moon Township, PA 15108.

Online: ECSI accepts one-time and recurring online payments via ACH and debit/credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover. When paying with your Visa credit Card (not Visa debit card) the following restriction will apply: (1) you can make up to six (6) one-time payments per loan account per year and (2) you cannot use Visa credit card for recurring payments. We do not accept American Express.

Payments submitted before 6:00 PM Eastern Time will be credited to your account on the same business day. Payments submitted after 6:00 PM Eastern Time will be credited to your account the next business day. Business days do not include weekends or holidays. If your payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, it will be credited on the next business day.

Mobile App: ECSI accepts payments via our EasyPath mobile app. Our mobile app is available for Apple or Android phones. The Apple mobile app can be downloaded at The App Store (iTunes). The Android app can be downloaded at the Google Play store. We accept the same payments on our mobile app as accepted online.

By Phone: ECSI also accepts one-time ACH and debit/credit card payments, and recurring ACH payments over the phone. ECSI does not accept recurring debit/credit card payments over the phone. One-time payments can be made by calling us toll-free at 888.549.3274 and using our automated payment assistant which is available 24/7. For recurring ACH payments, please call one of our customer service advocates toll-free at 888.549.3274, Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM EST.

Bill Pay: ECSI accepts payments through your bank or other third party bill pay service.

What Fees Apply to My Payment?

PROCESSING FEES: ECSI charges fees for some, but not all payment methods offered. The chart below summarizes the fees we charge for each payment method:

Method of Payment ECSI Fees*
Recurring Direct Debit (checking or savings account) Payments (ACH) Authorized Online, by Phone, or by Mobile App None
One-Time Direct Debit (checking or savings account) Payments (ACH) Authorized Online or by Mobile App $1.95 for each one-time payment you authorize
One-Time Direct Debit (checking or savings account) Payments (ACH) Authorized by Phone $10.00 for each one-time payment you authorize
One-Time or Recurring Credit or Debit Card** Payments Authorized Online or by Mobile App 3.95% of the payment amount plus $1.00 for each one-time or recurring payment you authorize
One-Time Credit or Debit Card** Payments Authorized by Phone 3.95% of the payment amount plus $10.00 for each one-time payment you authorize
Mailing a Paper Check or Money Order None
Bill Pay Service Offered by Your Bank or Another Third Party No ECSI Fee. However, other bill payment service provider fees may apply.
Payments in Other Than U.S. Dollars; International Payments No ECSI fee. However, currency conversion/processing fees may vary.

*ECSI fees will not exceed the amounts shown above. However, your fee may be less than those shown above if limited by your school. The full amount of any fee will be disclosed to you before you authorize your payment. Please contact our customer advocates if you have questions about applicable processing fees. Click here to view our Contact Information.

**For more information about the payment cards accepted by ECSI, see our What Are My Payment Options.

LATE FEES:
Your school may assess fees for any part of an installment payment not made by the due date. Fees vary by school. Please consult your billing statement or log in to your EasyPath account for more information about your payment amount and due date. To avoid late fees, please ensure Heartland ECSI receives your payment on or before your due date. If you have any questions about late fees or payment posting, please contact our customer advocates. Click here to view our Contact Information.

REJECTED PAYMENT/NON-SUFFICIENT FUNDS (NSF) FEES:
Your school may assess a fee if your ACH (Direct Debit from your savings or checking account) transaction is unsuccessful. To avoid fees, please confirm that your checking or savings account has sufficient funds and that your bank account information is correct before submitting your payment. Please note that failure to submit payment for the full amount due by your payment due date will result in a late fee as described above. If you have any questions about your school’s fees, please contact our customer advocates. Click here to view our Contact Information.

What is the Difference Between Recurring and One-Time Payments?

When you authorize ECSI to make a one-time payment, we will process one payment on the date you select and in the amount you specify. Each one-time payment is accompanied by a processing fee, which will be disclosed to you before you authorize the payment.

When you authorize ECSI to make recurring payments, we will automatically process payments on the dates, in the amount, and with the frequency you specify. You may authorize recurring payments until your loan is paid in full or for a more limited time (example: six months). Typically, borrowers will set a recurring payment for the full amount of their required installment until their loan is paid in full. Recurring payments are free when set up using a checking or savings account.

How Do I Make an Online Payment?

To make an online payment, Sign In and click on the Make a Payment button. You will be shown information about the methods of payment accepted by ECSI and which payment methods are subject to a processing fee. After reviewing this information, click on the Continue button. Select either Make a one-time payment or Set up automated recurring payment. You can then select your payment method. You can click on the View Applicable Processing Fees link to view the processing fees that would be applicable to your payment type and payment method. Continue by entering your account information and following the remaining system prompts to submit your payment. ECSI typically posts payments to your online account at heartland.ecsi.net within two (2) business days of receiving your payment.

Please note that you will not be able to authorize recurring payments during times when our system is processing recurring payments already established by other borrowers. These periods of system unavailability, typically lasting about one hour, fall on the 1st, 10th, 15th or 20th of the month (or on the next business day, if one of these days falls on a holiday or weekend). If you receive a message indicating that the system is temporarily unable to accept your recurring payment authorization, simply follow the message instructions to log back on at a later time or make a payment by another means.

How Do I Change an Online Payment?

To change a recurring payment series, click on the Change this payment link located on the Billing & Payments page under the Recurring Scheduled Payment amount. Enter your payment method and click on the Continue button. Enter your payment amount and click on the Continue button. If you are setting up a recurring payment series and you want your monthly payments to continue during periods of grace, deferment, or forbearance, mark the checkbox before you click on the Continue button. Review the scheduled payment information and the payment terms and condition. Click on the Accept & Submit button. This will complete the process of changing an online recurring payment.

You cannot change a one-time payment. If you have submitted a one-time payment in error, please contact an ECSI customer advocate. Click here to view our Contact Information.

How Do I Cancel an Online Payment?

To cancel a recurring payment series, click on the Remove this payment link located on the Billing & Payments page under the Recurring Scheduled Payment amount. A confirmation message will appear asking you to confirm the removal of the payment series. If you want to continue with removing the payment series, click on the Continue button. If you do not want to continue with removing the payment series, click on the Cancel button.

What Should I Know About Recurring Payments?

We encourage you to set up recurring payments to avoid late fees and delinquency notices. Your payment will be deducted from your bank account or charged to your debit/credit card automatically, so you’ll never have to worry about forgetting to pay. To avoid potential late fees, please do not select a recurring payment date after the day on which your payment is due. When you sign up for a recurring payment from your bank account, you will automatically be enrolled in our e-bill service.

Where Should I Mail My Payment?

Make your check or money order payable to your school and mail to: Your School Name, c/o ECSI, P.O. Box 1287, Moon Township, PA 15108. Please include your Heartland Key or Account Number in the memo section of your check or money order. If you are providing instructions for the application of your payment, please include these instructions in a separate letter with your payment to allow for timely processing. Please do not write instructions on your check or money order.

When Is My Payment Due?

Please consult your billing statement for your due date. You will receive a billing statement by mail or email, according to your communication preferences. Your billing statement will include the amount of your required payment and your due date.

You can also check your payment due date any time by signing in to your online account. All of your accounts will appear when you sign in, and each displays a due date in the bottom right-hand corner. You may select an individual account for more detailed information about your payments.

Can’t Afford Your Minimum Monthly Payment?

We understand that entering or maintaining repayment can be a challenge. Whether you’re fresh out of college and trying to find a job, or you’re simply struggling to make a full payment each month, we can provide information and resources to help you avoid delinquency.

You may be eligible for repayment options that can delay, reduce, or eliminate your payments. For information about repayment options for Federal Perkins Loans, consult your promissory note or visit https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/lower-payments/get-temporary-relief. For institutional loans, consult your promissory note or contact our customer advocates. Click here to view our Contact Information.

For more information, please visit Understanding Loan Benefits, Repayment Options, and Forgiveness Benefits in the Help Center.

May I Make Payments While In-School?

If you’d like, you can begin making payments on your loan while in-school to save money on interest in the long term. For Federal loans, you will be granted a grace period post-graduation or when you drop below half-time enrollment at your school during which no payments will be due. You may begin paying your loans during that time, or you can wait until your repayment period begins at the expiration of your grace period.

How Are Payments Posted to My Account?

ECSI typically posts payments to your online account at heartland.ecsi.net within two business days of receiving your payment.

For Federal Perkins loans, ECSI applies payments according to the Department of Education regulations. For private institutional loans, please consult your promissory note for payment application information. Generally, your payment will be applied in the following order:

  1. Fees
  2. Past Due Interest
  3. Past Due Principal
  4. Current Interest
  5. Current Principal

If you have multiple loans, any underpayment or overpayment will be prorated across the remaining balances of your outstanding loans. If you have multiple loans, an underpayment will generally result in multiple late fees. For example, if you have two loans with equal outstanding balances and a total installment of $100.00 due, submitting a $50.00 payment will result in the application of $25.00 to each loan and the assessment of a late fee for each loan. If you would like to allocate your payments differently, please provide instructions on the back of the payment coupon when submitting your payment. Your overpayment will be applied to principal if it is received prior to the creation of the billing statement for your next month’s payment; in these circumstances, your next monthly payment will still be due as scheduled. If your overpayment is received after the creation of the billing statement for your next month’s payment, it will go towards the next month’s payment. Generally, billing statements are created 15 to 17 days prior to your next due date. To find out if your statement has been created, you can call customer service at 1-888-549-3274, or you can access your billing statement on your online portal. If you are signed up for e-Bill, you will receive a notice when your billing statement is available to view.

Can I Pay More than My Current Amount Due?

You may prepay all or any part of your unpaid loan balance, plus any accrued interest and fees, at any time without penalty. Paying more than your current amount due will decrease the total amount of interest you will pay on your loan and, therefore, the total amount due on your loan.

How Are Prepayments Applied to My Account?

You may prepay all or any part of your unpaid loan balance, plus any accrued interest and fees, at any time without penalty.

For Federal Perkins loans, ECSI applies prepayments according to Department of Education regulations. Amounts you repay in the academic year in which the loan was made and before the initial grace period has ended are not considered prepayments and will be used to reduce the amount of your loan. In most other instances, if you repay more than your amount due, the excess will be applied to principal unless you provide instructions that the excess be applied to your next installment. For private education loans, please consult the terms of your promissory note for the terms of prepayment application.

Can I Pay Off My Loan Early?

You may prepay all of your unpaid loan balance, plus any accrued interest and fees, at any time without penalty. Because the total amount owed on your loan varies based on the amount of fees, principal, and outstanding interest, please consult your latest bill for the estimated payoff amount. To request a payoff statement or payoff amount, you can contact a Customer Service Advocate on Live Chat, Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM EST or Saturday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM EST. You can also contact a Customer Service Advocate via toll-free phone at 888.549.3274, Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM EST.

Will I Receive Statements While On Recurring Payments?

You will receive a billing statement each billing cycle by mail or email, according to your communication preferences. You may view your current and past statements online by signing in to your profile, selecting your institution, View Account, and History.

Does My Recurring Payment Stop When I Am Paid In Full?

Your recurring payments will stop automatically when your account has been paid in full. If your final payment is less than your recurring payment is set to pay, our system will only pull the amount that is due from your attached payment method. If you use a bill pay service, please cancel your recurring payments once your account is paid in full to avoid receiving a refund for any overpayment.

You will receive a paid in full letter from either your institution or ECSI 30 to 60 days after your final payment posts.

How Does My Bank’s Bill Payment Service Work?

You will need to talk to your bank about the terms and conditions of their bill payment services. When enrolling in any bill payment service, be sure to provide the correct account and routing numbers to your bank, make checks payable to your institution, and cancel recurring payments when you’ve paid your loan in full.

Understanding Loan Benefits, Repayment
Options, and Forgiveness Benefits Return to Student Loan Accounts

What Is Deferment?

What is Loan Cancellation and Forgiveness?

What is Discharge?

What is Rehabilitation?

How Do I Apply for Deferment, Loan Cancellation and Forgiveness, and Discharge?

What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness?

How Do I Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness?

What is Direct Loan Consolidation?

How Do I Apply for Direct Loan Consolidation?

You learned about responsible borrowing in your entrance interview when you first received your loan and during your exit interview if you left school or dropped below half-time enrollment. If you are having difficulty making your required payments, you may be eligible for repayment options that suspend or lower your required payments.

Repayment options vary according to the type of loan you have. For repayment options applicable to Federal Perkins Loans, please consult your promissory note and visit https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans For institutional loans, please consult your promissory note. If you have questions about whether you qualify for a benefit on a Federal Perkins Loan or a private institutional loan, please call our customer advocates toll-free at 888-549-3274.

Your school may require proof of your eligibility. If you have questions about how to apply for a benefit or what documentation is required, see How Do I Apply for Deferment, Loan Cancellation and Forgiveness, and Discharge. You are responsible for submitting the appropriate requests on time, and you may lose benefits if you fail to file your request on time.

What Is Deferment?

Deferment is the temporary postponement of payment on a loan under certain conditions. If you qualify for a deferment, you will generally not be liable for any interest that might otherwise accrue while your loan is in deferment.

For Federal Perkins Loans, after the end of a qualifying deferment, you will not be liable for any interest that might otherwise accrue for a six-month period. Perkins Loan deferments include, but are not limited to, continued undergraduate enrollment, economic hardship, unemployment, graduate fellowship enrollment, temporary total disability, and Peace Corps service. Each option has requirements a borrower must meet in order to qualify, and your school may have specific deferments for which you can apply. For private institutional loans, consult your promissory note for a description of available deferments.

To view a list of your school’s available deferment forms, select Download Forms in the menu bar at the top of this page. We also encourage you to visit the Federal Student Aid website (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/lower-payments/get-temporary-relief) to learn more about deferments and how to apply.

What is Loan Cancellation and Forgiveness?

Loan cancellation, sometimes called loan forgiveness, refers to the release of your obligation to repay your loan. If you meet the eligibility requirements for a cancellation of your loan, you may cancel some or all of your outstanding principal balance and interest. Cancellation is offered for qualifying service (employment or volunteer work) performed after the enrollment period covered by the loan.

For Federal Perkins Loans, qualifying service includes, but is not limited to, teaching and early childhood education, law enforcement, nursing or medical technician services, firefighting, and military and Peace Corps service. For private institutional loans, consult your promissory note for a description of available cancellation options.

To view a list of your school’s cancellation forms and explanations select Download Forms in the menu bar at the top of the page. We also encourage you to visit the Federal Student Aid website (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation) to learn more about cancellation and how to apply.

What is Discharge?

Like loan cancellation or forgiveness, discharge refers to the release of a borrower from the obligation to repay his or her loan. For Federal Perkins Loans, discharge includes death, total and permanent disability, and school closure. For private institutional loans, consult your promissory note for a description of available discharge options.

We encourage you to visit the Federal Student Aid website (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation) to learn more about discharge or call us for more information.

What is Rehabilitation?

If you default on your Federal Perkins Loan, and that loan has not been reduced to a judgment against you as a result of litigation, you can rehabilitate the loan by requesting the rehabilitation and making nine consecutive on-time monthly payments. If you successfully rehabilitate your loan, you will again be subject to the terms and conditions (including the deferment and forbearance options noted above) of your Federal Perkins Loan promissory note. You may only rehabilitate a defaulted Federal Perkins Loan once. Consult your private institutional loan promissory note for information on rehabilitation options. Contact us for more information.

How Do I Apply for Deferment, Loan Cancellation and Forgiveness, and Discharge?

All of ECSI's forms are located on our Download Forms page. This page can be accessed by selecting Download Forms in the menu bar at the top of the page.

Please be sure to follow all instructions on the form carefully and mail it to the appropriate address listed on the form. If information is missing, your request will be declined and you will be notified of the information that is missing and how to resubmit the form. All benefits and repayment decisions and information will be delivered according to your communication preferences (mail or email).

What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness?

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, including religious organizations, you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) programs.

The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 (10 years) qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. You may also qualify for the one-time payment count adjustment. Visit Federal Student Aid Public Service Loan Forgiveness to learn if you may qualify.

The U.S. Department of Education announced on October 25, 2022 permanent improvements to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and one-time payment count adjustments. To learn the benefits of these improvements, visit Education Department Announces Permanent Improvements to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and One-time payment Count Adjustment to Bring Borrowers Closer to Forgiveness.

Federal Perkins Loan borrowers may consolidate to Direct Loans to take advantage of programs such as PSLF and TEPSLF.

To learn more about the PSLF and TEPSLF programs, visit Federal Student Aid Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

KEEP IN MIND: There are factors to consider before consolidating your loans. Please weigh your options carefully to determine if a Direct Consolidation Loan benefits you.

  • The interest rate on your consolidation loan may be higher than what you’re currently paying. The fixed interest rate is based on a weighted average of the contractual rates on the loans being consolidated, rounded up to the nearest higher one-eighth of one percent.
  • Unpaid Interest on your loans being consolidated will be capitalized (added to the Unpaid Principal).
  • Federal Perkins loans may be eligible for cancellation based on your employment or volunteer service or discharge under certain circumstances that otherwise may not apply to Direct Consolidation Loans. Please weigh your options carefully to determine if a Direct Consolidation Loan benefits you. You can learn more by visiting Federal Student Aid Student Loan Forgiveness.

How Do I Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness?

The PSLF Help Tool helps determine whether you work for a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) programs, suggests actions you can take to become eligible for PSLF, and guides you through the PSLF form and submission process.

Qualified candidates can download the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) & Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification & Application (PSLF Form) or apply online at StudentAid.gov.

What is Direct Loan Consolidation?

If you have multiple student loans you may be able to combine them into one loan with a fixed interest rate based on the average of the interest rates on the loans being consolidated.

A Direct Consolidation Loan allows you to consolidate multiple federal education loans into one loan at no cost to you.

By completing the free Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note, you will confirm the loans you want to consolidate and agree to repay the new Direct Consolidation Loan.

Once the consolidation is complete, you will have a single monthly payment on the new Direct Consolidation Loan instead of multiple monthly payments on the loans you consolidated.

To learn more about Direct Loan Consolidation, visit Federal Student Aid Consolidating Student Loans.

KEEP IN MIND: There are factors to consider before consolidating your loans. Please weigh your options carefully to determine if a Direct Consolidation Loan benefits you.

  • The interest rate on your consolidation loan may be higher than what you’re currently paying. The fixed interest rate is based on a weighted average of the contractual rates on the loans being consolidated, rounded up to the nearest higher one-eighth of one percent.
  • Unpaid Interest on your loans being consolidated will be capitalized (added to the Unpaid Principal).
  • Federal Perkins loans may be eligible for cancellation based on your employment or volunteer service or discharge under certain circumstances that otherwise may not apply to Direct Consolidation Loans. Please weigh your options carefully to determine if a Direct Consolidation Loan benefits you. You can learn more by visiting Federal Student Aid Student Loan Forgiveness.

How Do I Apply for Direct Loan Consolidation?

To apply for a Direct Loan Consolidation, visit the Federal Student Aid Direct Consolidation Loan Application.

Understanding Your
Billing Statement Return to Student Loan Accounts

When Do I Receive My Billing Statement?

What are My Billing Statement Delivery Options?

How Can I Get a Printed Copy of My Billing Statement?

Is My Billing Statement Up-To-Date?

What Is Electronic Check Conversion?

How Do I Read My Billing Statement?

When Do I Receive My Billing Statement?

Billing statements are generally mailed at least fifteen (15) days prior to your due date in accordance with Federal Perkins Loan regulations. If you have signed up for electronic communications, you will receive an email when your billing statement is available online for your review. You may also view your statement, statement history and current amount due under the Billing & Payments tab of your account.

What are My Billing Statement Delivery Options?

You will receive paper billing statements until you elect otherwise. To be more environmentally friendly, we invite you to sign up for electronic delivery of statements, bills, and messages. To go paperless, Sign In, select your account number below the institution, and then select the Sign Up for Electronic Delivery>> link. Under this option, you can sign up for electronic notifications when your billing statements are ready to view online. If you make an online payment or a recurring payment through your bank account, you will automatically be enrolled in e-bill for future billing statements.

How Can I Get a Printed Copy of My Billing Statement?

You can print a copy of your billing statement by accessing your account online. Simply Sign In, select your institution, then select Account and History to view and print a copy of any past or current billing statements.

Is My Billing Statement Up-To-Date?

Your billing statement is generally mailed at least fifteen (15) days prior to your payment due date. If you have enrolled in e-bill, your electronic billing statement is a digital image of the paper statement you would normally receive, created at the same time. Just like a paper billing statement, your electronic statement is created in advance of your payment due date and cannot be changed after it is created. Your billing statement includes the date on which the statement was generated. Payments or other account activity after this date will not be reflected in your statement.

You can check your current account balance any time by signing in to your online account. All of your accounts will appear when you sign in. You may select an individual account for more detailed information about your payments. ECSI typically posts payments to your online account within two (2) business days of receiving your payment. Any difference between your current account balance and your latest billing statement is due to activity on your account that occurred after your billing statement was generated.

What Is Electronic Check Conversion?

Your bill states that when you pay by paper check, you authorize ECSI either to use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or to process the payment as a traditional paper check transaction. In electronic check conversion, the check is used as a source document to retrieve the information necessary to create an ACH transaction in lieu of processing the paper check.

Generally, electronic check conversion allows your payment to be cleared faster than a paper check. First, information is taken from the magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line at the bottom of the check. The MICR line contains the routing number of your bank, the number of the check and your account number. The amount of the check is captured using an automated method. ECSI makes a copy of your check and destroys the original to prevent fraud. Your payment is then processed as an ACH transaction.

The Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) and Regulation E require that we obtain your authorization before we use your check information to initiate a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account. After you receive notice that we may process a check as a one-time electronic fund transfer, you authorize us to do so by going forward with the transaction and providing your check information.

How Do I Read My Billing Statement?

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Co-Signer Frequently Asked QuestionsReturn to Student Loan Accounts

What Payment Options Are Available for Co-Signers?

How are Co-Signers Payments Posted to Student Loan Accounts?

How Can I Obtain a Release from My Co-Signer Responsibilities?

What Payment Options Are Available for Co-Signers?

Cosigners may make payments to ECSI by mail or over the phone with a customer service advocate. Please note that processing fees may apply to some, but not all payment methods. For more information, see the What Fees Apply to My Payments question on the Learn About Your Payment Options Page. For specific details on the available payment options, see the What are My Payment Options question on the Learn About Your Payment Options Page.

Making A Payment By Mail

ECSI accepts checks and money orders. Please include the Heartland Key or last 4 digits of the borrower’s SSN plus the borrower’s first and last name in the memo field on your check or money order. Make your check payable to your school and mail to: Your School Name, c/o ECSI, P.O. Box 1287, Moon Township, PA 15108. If you are providing instructions for the application of your payment, please include these instructions in a separate letter with your payment to allow for timely processing. Please do not write instructions on your check or money order.

IMPORTANT: If you are making a co-signer payment for a student that has more than one student loan, you must pay by check or money order and include instructions in a separate letter with your payment. For each loan the Instructions must include the Heartland Key or the last 4 of the borrower’s SSN, the borrower’s last name, the borrower’s first name, the type of loan (ie: Perkins, Nursing, Institutional), and the amount that should be allocated to the loan. If this information is not provided, see How Co-Signers Payments Are Posted to Student Loan Accounts to see how the payments will be applied.

Making A Payment By Phone

ECSI also accepts one-time ACH and debit/credit card payments, and recurring ACH payments over the phone. ECSI does not accept recurring debit/credit card payments over the phone. One-time payments can be made by calling us toll-free at 888.549.3274, Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM EST. You will need to confirm the borrower’s SSN, First Name, Last Name, and Zip Code to make a one-time payment by phone. Please note that we will not provide any account information during this call unless the borrower has provided ECSI with a release of information.

IMPORTANT: If you are making a co-signer payment for a student that has more than one student loan, you must pay by check or money order and include instructions in a separate letter with your payment. For each loan the Instructions must include the Heartland Key or the last 4 of the borrower’s SSN, the borrower’s last name, the borrower’s first name, the type of loan (ie: Perkins, Nursing, Institutional), and the amount that should be allocated to the loan. If this information is not provided, see How Co-Signers Payments Are Posted to Student Loan Accounts to see how the payments will be applied.

What Is The Heartland Key?

The Heartland Key is a unique number that is generated by ECSI for each borrower account. If a borrower has multiple student loans held by a single school, the Heartland Key is the identifier for all of the loans. They will have a separate Heartland Key for each school.

How Co-Signers Payments Are Posted to Student Loan Accounts

ECSI typically posts payments to your account within two business days of receiving your payment. For Federal Perkins loans, ECSI applies payments according to Department of Education regulations. For private institutional loans, please consult your promissory note for payment application information. Generally, your payment will be applied in the following order:

  1. Fees
  2. Past Due Interest
  3. Past Due Principal
  4. Current Interest
  5. Current Principal

If you have multiple loans, payments will be applied in the order of greatest delinquency to help you avoid default, and any underpayment or overpayment will be prorated across the remaining balances of your outstanding loans. If you have multiple loans, an underpayment will generally result in multiple late fees. For example, if you have two loans with equal outstanding balances and a total installment of $100.00 due, submitting a $50.00 payment will result in the application of $25 to each loan and the assessment of a late fee for each loan. If you would like to allocate your payments differently, please provide instructions on the back of the payment coupon when submitting your payment.

How Can I Obtain a Release from My Co-Signer Responsibilities?

If you would like to request a release from your co-signer responsibilities, please refer to the promissory note for co-signer instructions, contact the school or lender for specific instructions, or contact a Customer Service Advocate at 888.549.3274 for more information.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness WaiverReturn to Student Loan Accounts

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Waiver is a short-term opportunity that offers borrowers a way to get closer to loan forgiveness through the PSLF and Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) programs. On October 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a change to the PSLF program rules that are intended to help reach a broader audience of qualified borrowers. Now for a limited time, borrowers may receive credit for periods of repayment that would not have previously qualified towards forgiveness.


ACT NOW - The limited waiver ends October 31, 2022.

What are the new limited PSLF waiver rules available until October 31, 2022?

  • past periods of repayment, not number of payments, will count towards forgiveness after October 1, 2007 whether or not a payment was made, made payments on time or for the full amount due
  • periods of repayment on loans before consolidation count
  • credit will be granted for past periods of repayment for loans that did not previously qualify for PSLF such as Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) and Perkins Loans
  • eligible for forgiveness if you are not employed by a qualifying employer at the time of application or forgiveness
  • period of service that led to previous Teacher Loan forgiveness will count towards PSLF
  • certain periods of forbearance and deferment may count towards forgiveness, including certain military related service

*As of April 2022 the Department of Education has released a process for borrowers to submit a request for reconsideration of previously denied PSLF requests. For more information visit: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/pslf-reconsideration

What are the unchanged PSLF requirements?

  • be employed by a U.S., federal, state or tribal government, 501(c)(3) not for profit, or not for profit organization that provides a qualifying service (federal service includes U.S. military service)
  • work full time for the agency or organization during the repayment period
  • have a Direct Loan (or other federal loan consolidated into a Direct Loan including FFELP and Perkins)
  • make 120 qualifying payments or the equivalent
  • credit only for periods of repayment after October 1, 2007
  • certify qualifying employment for the periods of time for which you want credit for PSLF

What are the next steps?

  1. Verify the type of loans you have and determine whether consolidation is required. Login to your account at StudentAid.gov, access My Aid page to verify loan types. https://studentaid.gov/aid-summary
    • Loans issued under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and Direct Consolidated Loans are eligible.
    • Loans issued under the FFEL program and Federal Perkins loans program are eligible, if consolidated into a Direct Loan or a consolidation request is submitted prior to October 31, 2022.
  2. Verify eligible employment with the PSLF Help Tool Step 1, Employment History
    • Log into PSLF Help Tool with your FSA ID: https://studentaid.gov/pslf
    • In the Employment Section check employer eligibility by searching by the employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number which can be found on your W-2 form.
  3. Consolidate - if you have verified your employer is eligible and have a loan that requires consolidation to receive benefits request loan consolidation by October 31, 2022.
  4. Submit a PSLF Certification and Application Form with the PSLF Help Tool by October 31, 2022
    • Log in to PSFL Help Tool with your FSA ID: https://studentaid.gov/pslf
    • The PSLF form certifies your public service employment and allows FSA to automatically count periods of repayment towards forgiveness

For additional information please visit:

PSLF Limited Waiver: https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/pslf-limited-waiver
PSLF: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
PSLF Help Tool: https://studentaid.gov/pslf