PHOENIX–Desert Financial Credit Union said it has selected CU Student Choice to provide it with student lending solutions.

The $8.7-billion Desert Financial will offer Student Choice’s flagship education line of credit for undergraduate students, as well as student loan refinance.

“Having utilized a student loan referral program in the past, we are excited to now offer an in-house solution to help our members pay for college and refinance their student loans,” Chief Lending Officer Andrea Mosher said in a statement. “With Student Choice, we’re fully in control of the programs and can set parameters for the loans that benefit both the credit union and our members.”

“Desert Financial was founded by a group of teachers in 1939, so serving the educational needs of our community as a local, trusted lender is a cornerstone of our identity,” Mosher added.

‘Incredibly Excited’

Said Student Choice President and CEO Scott Patterson, “Through our partnership with the largest credit union in the state, we are incredibly excited to deliver fair-value education financing to students and families across Arizona. Desert Financial and their borrowers will recognize the Student Choice difference from day one. Our education line of credit is truly unique in the marketplace, and the support and education from our staff makes it evident that this is not just a transaction, but the first step in a long-term member relationship.”

More Than $4 Billion in Loans

Student Choice reported that since launching in 2008, the CUSO has helped nearly 300 partner credit unions originate more than $4 billion in private education loans, assisting more than 130,000 families in the process.

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