Ascent Services Terms of Use

These Ascent Services Terms of Use (“Terms of Use”) apply to the web sites, mobile apps, applications, and other online interactive features or services that post a link to these Terms of Use, including without limitation the AscentConnect mobile application and Bootcamp Finder (each, a “Service” and collectively, the “Services”). Ascent Funding, LLC, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partner banks, and programs are referred to collectively in these Terms of Use as “Ascent, “we” or “our.” Partner banks include DR Bank, Bank of Lake Mills and Richland State Bank, each a Members FDIC. “You,” “your” and “user” refer to any person or entity using the Services.

These Terms of Use govern your use of the Services, regardless of how you access them, whether by computer, mobile device, or otherwise; and whether directly through our Services, or through any third-party website that links to them (“Linked Services”). By using the Services, you agree to these Terms of Use, Ascent’s Privacy Policy, and any Additional Terms that may apply. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use and Additional Terms, you are not authorized to use the Services, and you must cease all such use immediately.

In some instances, both these Terms of Use and a separate document that provides additional conditions may apply to a service or product offered via the Services (“Additional Terms”). To the extent there is a conflict between these Terms of Use and any Additional Terms, the Additional Terms will control unless the Additional Terms expressly state otherwise.

Account Registration & Termination

You may only have one Ascent account for use of the Services. You may not create or use more than one account, and you may not share your account or any of the Services with others. All information you provide to create an account must be accurate and complete. You may not impersonate any other person or use a name that is not your own. It is your responsibility to update your account information to keep it current and accurate. When you set up an account, you must also choose a password. You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password, and for any and all use of your account. You agree to notify Ascent immediately if you suspect any unauthorized use of your account or unauthorized access using your password. Ascent has the right to terminate your account for any reason at its sole discretion without notice and without liability.

Your License to Use the Services and Ascent Content

You agree that you will not use any robot, spider, automatic, or manual device to monitor or copy the Services or Ascent Content. You will not interfere or use any device, software, or process to interfere (or attempt to interfere) with the proper working of the Services. You agree that when using the Services, you will not misrepresent your identity or impersonate any other person. Your use of the Services is limited to the intended function of the Services. Unauthorized use of the Services and systems, including but not limited to unauthorized entry into any of our systems or misuse of any Ascent Content posted on the Services, is strictly prohibited. No materials from the Services may be copied, reproduced, modified, republished, downloaded, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means without Ascent’s prior written permission or as expressly provided in these Terms of Use.

You are prohibited from using the Services in any manner that:

  • Constitutes a commercial use other than for your own use;
  • Accesses data that is not intended for you;
  • Attempts to harvest, collect, gather, or assemble information or data;
  • Invades the privacy of, obtain the identity of, or obtain any personal information about any other user of the Services;
  • Probes, scans, or tests the vulnerability of the Services, our network, our security, or authentication measures without proper authorization;
  • Attempts to interfere with service to any user, host, or network or otherwise attempt to disrupt our business, including, without limitation, via means of submitting a virus to the Services, overloading, “flooding,” “spamming,” “mail bombing,” or “crashing”;
  • Sends unsolicited mail, including promotions and/or advertising of products and services;
  • Is unlawful, fraudulent, or deceptive;
  • Communicates any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory, pornographic, or profane material;
  • Encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense or that gives rise to civil liability;
  • Violates these Terms of Use or any other policies or agreements that you enter into with us;
  • Fails to comply with applicable third-party terms; or
  • Constitutes any other inappropriate conduct, as determined by us in our sole discretion.

If you violate any provision of these Terms of Use, we reserve the right to terminate your access to the Services. Additionally, we, in our sole discretion, may suspend or terminate any user account that you have established with us at any time, with or without notice. We may at any time, with or without cause, and without prior notice to you deny you access to the Services.

Financial Wellness & LearnWorlds

In order to complete your loan application and receive your loan, Ascent requires every loan applicant to complete a mandatory Financial Wellness course. By applying for an Ascent loan, you understand that once approved, in order to receive your loan, you must complete the Financial Wellness coursework hosted on LearnWorlds. You consent to Ascent’s sharing of limited personal information with LearnWorlds to help set up your course account. Visit the LearnWorlds Privacy Policy page to learn more about how LearnWorlds collects and uses personal information.

Mobile Use

The Services may offer features and services that are available to you on your mobile device through the AscentConnect mobile application. These features and services may include, without limitation, the ability to apply for a consumer loan or private education loan, request that payments be made on your accounts through your loan servicer, access AscentUP features, or access other features from the Services (collectively, the “Mobile Features”). See Additional Terms – AscentConnect for more information

By accessing the Services on your computer or mobile device, you agree to opt-in to receiving messages or notices sent via email or to your mobile device from us.

Email and Text Message Notifications

Notifications or receipts from us will be delivered to you by email at the email address you provided to us when you created your account or as later updated or by text message (with your consent) at the phone number you provided to us when you created your account or as later updated. Messaging and data rates may apply. We will not ask you for your personal information, account username, and password, or any of your credit or debit card information via email or text message. We will have no responsibility for any misuse of such information if you provide such information via email or text.

Age and Residence Requirements; U.S. Jurisdiction

Subject to individual state law, the Services (excluding Ascent sweepstakes and contests) are only available to individuals aged 18 and over. We reserve the right to limit the availability of the Services and/or the provision of any content, product, service or other feature to any person, geographic area, or jurisdiction, at any time and in our sole discretion, and to limit the quantities of any such content, program, product, service or other feature that we provide.

Proprietary Rights

The Services are owned and operated by Ascent or Ascent’s third-party partners. Unless otherwise explicitly specified by Ascent, all materials that are included in or otherwise a part of the Services, including past, present, and future versions, domain names, source and object code, the text, site design, logos, graphics, bibliographic information, icons, and book cover images, as well as the selection, assembly and arrangement thereof and the “look and feel” of the Services (collectively, “Ascent Content”), are owned, controlled, or licensed by Ascent or Ascent’s third party partners. Ascent Content is protected from unauthorized use, copying and dissemination by copyright, trademark, patent, and other laws, rules, regulations and treaties. Any unauthorized use of Ascent Content is prohibited. Any unauthorized use of the materials appearing on the Services may violate copyright, trademark, patent, and other applicable laws, rules, regulations, and treaties, and could result in criminal or civil penalties.

Service Modifications

Ascent reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to make changes to or discontinue any of the Services at any time without notice.

Third-Party Links, Content and Applications

There may be links in or from the Services, or in communications you receive from the Services to third-party web sites or online features. The Services also may include third-party content that we do not control, maintain or endorse. We do not control any of these third-party sites or any of their content. Accordingly, you expressly acknowledge and agree that we are in no way responsible or liable for any of those third-party sites or online features. YOUR CORRESPONDENCE AND BUSINESS DEALINGS WITH THIRD PARTIES FOUND THROUGH THE SERVICES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE PAYMENT AND DELIVERY OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, AND ANY TERMS, CONDITIONS, WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY SUCH DEALINGS, ARE SOLELY BETWEEN YOU AND THE THIRD PARTY.

Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS,” “AS AVAILABLE,” AND “WITH ALL FAULTS” BASIS AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ASCENT AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, PARTNER BANKS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES OR VENDORS (COLLECTIVELY THE “ASCENT PARTIES”) SPECIFICALLY MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, OR ENDORSEMENTS OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO (A) THE SERVICES; AND/OR (B) SECURITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION TO ASCENT OR VIA THE SERVICES. PARTNER BANKS INCLUDE DR BANK, BANK OF LAKE MILLS AND RICHLAND STATE BANK, EACH A MEMBER FDIC. IN ADDITION, THE ASCENT PARTIES DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORILY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, TITLE, CUSTOM, TRADE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, SYSTEM INTEGRATION, AND FREEDOM FROM COMPUTER VIRUS.

WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE ASCENT PARTIES SPECIFICALLY DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THE SERVICES OR THE SERVER, NETWORK, OR OTHER SOFTWARE AND EQUIPMENT THAT MAKES THEM AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. ASCENT DOES NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES REGARDING THE CONTENT OF ITS PRODUCTS, WEBSITES OR SERVICES, OR REGARDING THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SERVICES IN TERMS OF THEIR COMPLETENESS, CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, USEFULLNESS OR OTHERWISE, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY SET OUT ON BY THE SERVICES. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES ARE AT YOUR SOLE RISK. THE ASCENT PARTIES DO NOT WARRANT THAT YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES ARE LAWFUL IN ANY PARTICULAR JURISDICTION, AND THE ASCENT PARTIES SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM SUCH WARRANTIES. SOME JURISDICTIONS LIMIT OR DO NOT ALLOW THE DISCLAIMER OF IMPLIED OR OTHER WARRANTIES SO THE ABOVE DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO THE EXTENT SUCH JURISDICTION’S LAW IS APPLICABLE TO THESE TERMS. BY ACCESSING OR USING THE SERVICES YOU REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT YOUR ACTIVITIES ARE LAWFUL IN EVERY JURISDICTION WHERE YOU ACCESS OR USE THE SERVICES.

Limitations of Liability; Waiver

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ASCENT PARTIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT, INDIRECT, ECONOMIC, EXEMPLARY, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSSES OR DAMAGES) THAT ARE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RELATED TO: (A) THE SERVICES; (B) YOUR USE OF, INABILITY TO USE, OR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICES; (C) ANY ACTION TAKEN IN CONNECTION WITH AN INVESTIGATION BY THE ASCENT PARTIES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES REGARDING YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES; (D) ANY ACTION TAKEN IN CONNECTION WITH COPYRIGHT OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNERS; (E) ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE SERVICES’S TECHNICAL OPERATION; OR (F) ANY DAMAGE TO ANY USER’S COMPUTER, MOBILE DEVICE, OR OTHER EQUIPMENT OR TECHNOLOGY INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGE FROM ANY SECURITY BREACH OR FROM ANY VIRUS, BUGS, TAMPERING, FRAUD, ERROR, OMISSION, INTERRUPTION, DEFECT, DELAY IN OPERATION OR TRANSMISSION, COMPUTER LINE OR NETWORK FAILURE, OR ANY OTHER TECHNICAL OR OTHER MALFUNCTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF GOODWILL, LOSS OF DATA, WORK STOPPAGE, ACCURACY OF RESULTS, OR COMPUTER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, EVEN IF FORESEEABLE OR EVEN IF THE ASCENT PARTIES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WHETHER CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY NEGLIGENCE, ACTS OF GOD, TELECOMMUNICATIONS FAILURE, OR THEFT OR DESTRUCTION OF THE SITE). IN NO EVENT WILL THE ASCENT PARTIES BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANYONE ELSE FOR LOSS, DAMAGE, OR INJURY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THE EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY IN THESE TERMS OF USE WILL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING ANY FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY. THIS SECTION SHALL SURVIVE ANY EXPIRATION OR TERMINATION OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ASCENT.

YOU AGREE THAT IN THE EVENT YOU INCUR ANY DAMAGES, LOSSES, OR INJURIES THAT ARISE OUT OF THE ASCENT PARTIES’ ACTS OR OMISSIONS, THE DAMAGES, IF ANY, CAUSED TO YOU ARE NOT IRREPARABLE OR SUFFICIENT TO ENTITLE YOU TO AN INJUNCTION PREVENTING ANY EXPLOITATION OF ANY WEB SITE, PROPERTY, PRODUCT, SERVICE, OR OTHER ASCENT CONTENT OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY THE ASCENT PARTIES, AND YOU WILL HAVE NO RIGHTS TO ENJOIN OR RESTRAIN THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, ADVERTISING, EXHIBITION OR EXPLOITATION OF ANY WEB SITE, PROPERTY, PRODUCT, SERVICE, OR OTHER ASCENT CONTENT OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY THE ASCENT PARTIES.

Indemnity

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Ascent Parties from and against any and all loss, liability, damages, judgments, claims, demands, costs, investigations, settlements, and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or directly or indirectly relating to (a) your use of the Services or activities in connection with the Services; (b) your breach or anticipatory breach of these Terms of Use; (c) your violation of any laws, rules, regulations, codes, statutes, ordinances, or orders of any governmental and quasi-governmental authorities, including, without limitation, all regulatory, administrative, and legislative authorities; (d) any misrepresentation made by you; or (e) the Ascent Parties’ use of your information as permitted under these Terms of Use, the Privacy Policy, or any other written agreement between you and Ascent. You will cooperate as fully required by the Ascent Parties in the defense of any claim. The Ascent Parties reserve the right to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, and you will not in any event settle any claim without the prior written consent of a duly authorized employee of the Ascent Parties. These indemnity obligations shall survive any expiration or termination of your relationship with Ascent.

Legal Disputes

If a dispute arises between you and Ascent, you agree that we will resolve any claim or controversy at law or equity that relates to or arises out of the Terms of Use or the Services or your use of the Services (a “Claim”) in accordance with the subsections below.

Arbitration

Except as expressly provided below, you agree that any claim, dispute or controversy arising out of or that is related to the Services, your use of the Services, breach of this Terms of Use or any other related agreement, whether based on statute, contract, tort or any other legal theory (any “Claim”) shall be, at our or your election, submitted to and resolved on an individual basis by binding arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§1 et seq. (the “FAA”) before the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, in effect at the time the arbitration is brought, or before any other party that you and we agree to in writing, provided that such party must not have in place a formal or informal policy that is inconsistent and purports to override the terms of this Arbitration Agreement. The AAA Rules are available online at www.adr.org.

EFFECT OF ARBITRATION AWARD: Any state or federal court with jurisdiction and venue may enter an order enforcing this Arbitration Agreement, enter judgment upon the arbitrator’s award and/or take any action authorized under the FAA. For any arbitration-related proceedings in which courts are authorized to take action under the FAA, each party expressly consents to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any state court of general jurisdiction or any state court of equity that is reasonably convenient to me, provided that the parties to any such judicial proceeding shall have the right to initiate such proceeding in a federal court or remove the proceeding to federal court if authorized to do so under applicable federal law.

IMPORTANT WAIVERS: WHETHER OR NOT A PARTY CHOOSES ARBITRATION, NEITHER PARTY WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL, TO ENGAGE IN DISCOVERY, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THE APPLICABLE ARBITRATION RULES, OR OTHERWISE TO LITIGATE THE DISPUTE OR CLAIM IN ANY COURT (OTHER THAN IN AN ACTION TO ENFORCE THE ARBITRATOR’S AWARD). FURTHER, WHETHER OR NOT A PARTY CHOOSES ARBITRATION, NO PARTY WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OR MEMBER OF ANY CLASS OF CLAIMANTS PERTAINING TO ANY CLAIM SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION. THE ARBITRATOR’S DECISION WILL BE FINAL AND BINDING. OTHER RIGHTS THAT PARTIES WOULD HAVE IN COURT ALSO MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN ARBITRATION. THE ARBITRATOR SHALL HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO ARBITRATE CLAIMS ON A CLASS BASIS, AND CLAIMS BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST ME MAY NOT BE JOINED OR CONSOLIDATED WITH CLAIMS BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST ANY OTHER PERSON. If you reside in the U.S., any arbitration hearing shall take place within the federal judicial district in which you reside. Each party will bear the expense of its own attorneys, experts and witnesses, regardless of which party prevails, unless applicable law gives a right to recover any of those fees from the other party. If the claim is for $10,000 or less, parties agree that counterparty may choose whether the arbitration will be conducted solely based on documents submitted to the arbitrator, through a telephonic hearing or by an in-person hearing as established by the AAA Rules. If the claim exceeds $10,000, the right to a hearing will be determined by the AAA rules. All fees and expenses of the arbitrator and administrative fees and expenses of the arbitration shall be paid by the parties as provided by the Consumer Arbitration Rules of the AAA, or by specific ruling by the arbitrator, or by agreement of the parties. The arbitrator shall have the authority to award in favor of the individual party seeking relief all remedies permitted by applicable substantive law, including, without limitation, compensatory, statutory and punitive damages (subject to constitutional limits that would apply in court), and attorneys’ fees and costs. In addition, the arbitrator may award declaratory or injunctive relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted in that party’s individual claim. Upon the timely request of either party, the arbitrator shall write a brief explanation of the basis of his or her award. If the arbitrator determines that any claim or defense is frivolous or wrongfully intended to oppress the other party, the arbitrator may award sanctions in the form of fees and expenses reasonably incurred by the other party (including arbitration administration fees, arbitrator’s fees, and attorney, expert and witness fees), to the extent such fees and expenses could be imposed under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Changes to Terms of Use

Ascent may modify the Terms of Use and any Additional terms, including the linked policies contained herein from time to time, without prior notice. By using our Services after we have updated the terms (or engaging in such other conduct as we may reasonably specify), you agree to be bound by the then-current version of the Terms of Use, including any changes we may have made since the last time you used our Services. It is therefore important that you review the Terms of Use and Additional Terms regularly to ensure you are aware of any such changes. The updated Terms of Use and Additional Terms will be effective as of the time of posting (include current version effective date), or such later date as may be specified in the updated Terms of Use and will apply to your use of the Services from that point forward.

Entire Agreement

The then-current Ascent Terms of Use, including (a) any related policies and terms referenced in the Terms of Use and (b) any Additional Terms, are the entire agreement between you and Ascent regarding the Services. This “Entire Agreement” section shall survive any expiration or termination of your relationship with Ascent.

Contacting Ascent

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Ascent Services, please write to us at [email protected].

Effective Date: January 2, 2024

Additional Terms – Ascent Private Education Loans

Ascent private education loans are made available by Ascent on behalf of DR Bank and Bank of Lake Mills, each a Member FDIC. To the extent there is a conflict between the Terms of Use and these Additional Terms, these Additional Terms will control unless they expressly state otherwise. Please read these Additional Terms carefully. Before taking out private student loans, you should explore and compare all financial aid alternatives, including grants, scholarships, and federal student loans and consider your future monthly payments and income. Applying with a cosigner may improve your chance of getting approved and could help you qualify for a lower interest rate. Ascent college loans are funded by DR Bank and Bank of Lake Mills. Certain restrictions and limitations may apply. Ascent private education loan products are subject to credit qualification, completion of a loan application, verification of application information and certification of loan amount by a participating school. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions and certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. All applications are processed in Pacific Time. Ascent is a federally registered trademark of Ascent Funding, LLC, the loan processor, and may be used by DR Bank and Bank of Lake Mills under limited license.

  1. Competitive variable rates calculated monthly at the time of loan approval based on a margin plus the 30-day Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), rounded to the nearest 1/100th of a percent. The current 30-day SOFR Average is 5.350%, which may adjust monthly. Your interest rate may increase or decrease, based on the 30-day SOFR Average. Rates are effective as of 10/01/2024 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount. Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. (See Automatic Payment Discount Terms & Conditions.)
    • Undergraduate Loans: Variable rate loans have an Annual Percentage (APR) range between 6.00% – 15.21%. Fixed rate loans have an APR range between 3.59% and 14.16% based on your credit worthiness and your selected program. Rates reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% (for Credit-Based Loans) on the lowest offered rate and a 1.00% (for Undergraduate Outcomes-Based Loans) discount on the highest offered rate. (See Undergraduate Loan repayment examples.)
    • Graduate Loans: Variable rate loans have an APR range between 7.85% and 15.21%. Fixed rate loans have an APR range between 4.59% and 14.16% based on your credit worthiness and your selected program. Rates reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25%. (See Graduate Loan repayment examples.)
  2. Payments may be deferred. Subject to lender discretion, forbearance and/or deferment options may be available for borrowers who are encountering financial distress.
  3. Making interest only or partial interest payments while in school will not reduce the principal balance of the loan. There are four (4) flexible in-school repayment options[1] that include immediate repayment, fully deferred, interest only, and $25 minimum repayment. Click here for a repayment example.
  4. Flexible repayment plans may be offered with up to a twenty (20) year repayment term (for variable rate Graduate Medical and Dental School Loans), fifteen (15) year repayment term for other variable rate loans and a fifteen (15) year repayment term for fixed rate loans. Students must be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school[2]. Minimum loan amount is $2,001 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001. Click here for a repayment example.
  5. Interest rate reduction of either 0.25% (for Credit-Based Loans) or 1.00% (for Undergraduate Outcomes-Based Loans) applies only when the borrower and/or cosigner sign up for automatic payments and the payment amount is successfully deducted from the designated bank account each month. The amount of the discount is dependent upon the loan product and credit history of the borrower at the time of application. Interest rate reduction(s) will not apply during periods when no payment is due, including periods of in-school, deferment, grace or forbearance, unless a regular payment amount has been arranged with the servicer. If you have two (2) consecutive returned payments for Nonsufficient Funds, we may cancel your automatic debit enrollment and you will lose the interest rate reduction. You will then need to re-qualify and re-enroll in automatic debit payments to receive the interest rate reduction. (See Automatic Payment Discount Terms & Conditions.)
    Ascent Loan Type Discount
    Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan 1.00%
    Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan 0.25%
    Cosigned Credit-Based Loan 0.25%
  6. All student applicants are required to complete a brief online financial literacy course as part of the application process to be eligible for funding.
  7. Eligibility, loan amount and other loan terms are dependent on several factors which may include: loan product, other financial aid, creditworthiness, school, program, graduation date, major, cost of attendance and other factors. Aggregate loan limits may apply. The cost of attendance is determined and certified by the educational institution.
  8. The legal age for entering into contracts is eighteen (18) years of age in every state except Alabama where it is nineteen (19) years old, Nebraska where it is nineteen (19) years old (only for wards of the state), and Mississippi and Puerto Rico where it is twenty-one (21) years old.
  9. Undergraduate student borrowers with no credit score, as well as student borrowers that pass the minimum credit requirements, but fail income or repayment capacity requirements for the loan product may qualify for the Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan on the basis of a payment-to-outcome calculation based on several alternative factors which may include: school, program, graduation date, requested loan amount, and other factors that could allow for students to obtain a loan in their own name without a cosigner. Such borrowers are limited to selecting a deferred repayment plan, may not select a 5-year repayment term, and a fixed rate is only available upon selecting 10-year or 15-year repayment term. Additionally, students must:

Be a college junior or senior enrolled full-time (or with an expected graduation date within 9-months of the date the loan application is submitted) in a degree program at an eligible institution.

Be a U.S. citizen or have U.S. permanent resident status or Deferred Action Childhood Arrival (DACA) status.

Have satisfactory academic performance of 3.0 GPA or greater.

[1] See Item 9 for limitations on students that qualify on the basis of a payment-to-outcome calculation.

[2] See Item 9 for limitations on students that qualify on the basis of a payment-to-outcome calculation.

Automatic Payment Discount Terms & Conditions – Ascent Private Education Loans

*Not applicable to Zero Percent Loans. For Zero Percent Loan Automatic Payment Discount Terms & Conditions see below.

These Terms and Conditions are applicable to eligible loan applications received on or after 07/01/2021.

  • The current offered Automatic Payment Discount is an interest rate reduction of either 0.25% (for Credit-Based Loans) or 1.00% (for Undergraduate Outcomes-Based Loans).
  • Eligibility for the Automatic Payment Discount is limited to borrowers that submitted an application for an Ascent loan originated by Richland State Bank prior to 02/01/2021, or borrowers who submitted an Ascent loan originated by DR Bank or Bank of Lake Mills thereafter and have enrolled in and are making automatic debit payments from their personal checking account and whose amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month with the loan servicer.
  • The loan must be current. Loans in a delinquency and/or default or charge-off status, or loans in modified or reduced repayment programs other than the Ascent Progressive Repayment program are not eligible.
  • Your required minimum monthly payment amount must successfully be made on time.
  • If you have a deferred repayment plan, you will still need to make a monthly payment of $1.00 or more while in school to be eligible for the Automatic Payment Discount.

Eligibility for the Automatic Payment Discount by repayment plan or status:

Interest-Only Repayment: You are eligible to receive the Automatic Payment Discount when you are enrolled in automatic debit payments with the loan servicer and pay at least the in-school interest payment amount on-time each month during the in-school and grace periods. Full principal and interest payments will be debited when the loan enters repayment at the end of the grace period.

$25 Minimum Repayment: You are eligible to receive the Automatic Payment Discount when you are enrolled in automatic debit payments with the loan servicer and pay at least the $25 minimum payment amount on-time each month during the in-school and grace periods. Full principal and interest payments will be debited when the loan enters repayment at the end of the grace period.

Deferred Repayment: You are eligible to receive the Automatic Payment Discount only when a payment amount of at least $1.00 is debited from your account. You may satisfy this requirement by enrolling in automatic debit payments with the servicer and authorizing an optional additional fixed payment amount of at least $1.00 more than the minimum monthly payment. During deferment, the minimum monthly payment is zero ($0.00), but the fixed amount will be debited. When the loan enters repayment at the end of the grace period, full principal and interest payments plus the fixed payment amount will be debited.

Full Principal and Interest Repayment (and Progressive Repayment): You are eligible to receive the Automatic Payment Discount when you are enrolled in automatic debit payments with the loan servicer and pay at least the required minimum principal and interest payment amount on-time each month.

Under any repayment options listed above, you may elect to include an optional additional fixed payment amount to be debited in addition to the required monthly minimum.

Automatic Payment Discounts are applied as a reduction in the rate at which interest accrues on an eligible student loan. This may change the amount of your minimum monthly payment, may change the total number of payments necessary to pay off your loan and may change the amount of your final payment.

The amount of the Automatic Payment Discount offered is dependent upon proprietary credit decisioning criteria used in rendering a loan approval. The available Automatic Payment Discount for a particular loan is disclosed to applicants upon presentation of the loan offer.

  • It is your responsibility to notify the loan servicer if you believe the Automatic Payment Discount has not been applied correctly.
  • No more than one Automatic Payment Discount may be applied to an eligible student loan.
  • To enroll in automatic payments, you must contact Ascent’s loan servicer, Launch Servicing, directly after your loan has been disbursed:

Ascent Funding, LLC
c/o Launch Servicing, LLC
P.O. Box 91910 | Sioux Falls, SD 57109
Phone: 877-209-5297
Email: [email protected]
Website: AscentFunding.LaunchServicing.com

  • The Automatic Payment Discount will begin after successful completion of your first payment that is made through automatic debit.
  • If you cancel your enrollment in automatic debit, the Automatic Payment Discount will be discontinued as of the date of the last payment made through automatic debit.

These Terms and Conditions are subject to change without notice. We may change them at any time including, but not limited to, changing the eligibility criteria or imposing additional conditions.

Automatic Payment Discount Terms & Conditions for Zero Percent Loans Only

These Terms and Conditions are applicable to eligible Zero Percent Loan applications received on or after 1/31/2024.

  • The current offered Automatic Payment Discount is a statement credit in the maximum amount of $25.
  • Eligibility for the Automatic Payment Discount is limited to borrowers that submitted an application for an Ascent Zero Percent Loan originated by Richland State Bank on or after 01/31/2024 and elected to enroll during the application process in automatic debit payments from their personal checking account.
  • Automatic Payment Discount statement credit will be applied to outstanding loan balance within 90 days of first payment due date.
  • For questions regarding automatic payments and this Automatic Payment Discount, contact Ascent’s loan servicer, Launch Servicing, after your loan has been disbursed:

Ascent Funding, LLC
c/o Launch Servicing, LLC
P.O. Box 91910 | Sioux Falls, SD 57109
Phone: 877-209-5297
Email: [email protected]
Website: AscentFunding.LaunchServicing.com

These Terms and Conditions are subject to change without notice. We may change them at any time including, but not limited to, changing the eligibility criteria or imposing additional conditions.

Your Options to Modify or Pause Payments:

Progressive Repayment Option

Upon graduation or no longer being enrolled at least half-time, borrowers may be eligible for the Progressive Repayment option. The Progressive Repayment option requires monthly payment amounts that start with an amount that is less than a fully amortizing payment amount that step-up over time such that the loan would be fully paid within the original loan term. Ascent’s Progressive Repayment option helps make payments more affordable for students who are making payments on their Ascent loan upon graduation or are no longer enrolled at least half-time. If you submitted an Ascent loan on or after May 17, 2019, you may be eligible for Ascent’s Progressive Repayment option allowing you to reduce your current monthly payment that would gradually increase over time so that the loan would be fully paid off within the original loan term. To calculate your adjusted monthly payment amounts under the Progressive Repayment Option, please contact Ascent’s loan servicer, Launch Servicing, directly after your loan has been disbursed:

Phone: 877-209-5297
Email: [email protected]
Website: AscentFunding.LaunchServicing.com

Deferment & Forbearance

A borrower may request deferment through Launch Servicing, Ascent’s loan servicer, in writing, or by completing and signing a deferment form and providing the appropriate documentation requested on the form. All deferments after the In-School period are provided solely at the lender’s discretion. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized deferment. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the deferment period ends. Ascent Student Loans include the following deferment and forbearance options:

  • Active-Duty Military Deferment
  • In-School Deferment
  • Residency / Internship Deferment
  • Temporary Hardship Forbearance
  • Administrative Forbearance
  • Natural Disaster / Declared Emergency Forbearance

Active-Duty Military Deferment

A borrower is eligible for an Active Duty Military Deferment upon submitting an application for such and eligible documentation to the repayment Servicer showing that he or she is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency or performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency.

  • Active Duty Military Deferment is available up to a cumulative limit of 36-months.
  • This deferment DOES extend the repayment term.

In-School Deferment

Student borrowers that have exited an In-School Status, either by separating from school (or dropping to less than half-time enrollment) and subsequently entering a repayment status prior to re-establishing at least half-time enrollment at an eligible institution, or by using the maximum allowable months of In-School Status, may be eligible for an In-School Deferment. Student borrowers must apply for an In-School deferment, and eligibility is based on verification of at least half-time enrollment at an eligible institution.

  • This deferment DOES extend the repayment term.

Residency / Clerkship / Internship / Fellowship Deferment

Student borrowers may be eligible for a Residency / Clerkship / Internship / Fellowship Deferment if the student:

• Has been accepted into a Residency / Clerkship / Internship / Fellowship program which must be a supervised program; and
• Require that the student hold at least a bachelor’s degree before acceptance into the program; and
• Must either:
* Lead to a degree or certificate from an institution of higher education, a hospital, or a health facility that offers postgraduate training, or
* Be required before the student may be certified for professional practice or service, which must be verified by the relevant state licensing agency.
• This deferment DOES extend the repayment term.

Borrowers are limited to a total of 48 months of eligibility in increments of up to 12-months at a time for In-School & Residency / Clerkship / Internship / Fellowship Deferment described above.

Temporary Hardship Forbearance

Borrowers experiencing periods of financial difficulty may be granted forbearance. The forbearance period duration may be from a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 3 months. A borrower may apply for up to 4 consecutive periods of Temporary Hardship Forbearance. A maximum of 24 total months of Temporary Hardship Forbearance may be granted during the life of the loan. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized forbearance. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the forbearance period ends.

  • This forbearance DOES extend the repayment term.

Administrative Forbearance

An administrative forbearance may be used for temporary suspension of collection activity while researching borrower disputes, awaiting bankruptcy and death documents, or for other circumstances as approved by the Lender. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized forbearance. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the forbearance period ends.

  • This forbearance DOES extend the repayment term.

Natural Disaster / Declared Emergency Forbearance

Student borrowers that are adversely affected by a natural disaster, a local or national emergency (declared by the appropriate government agency), or a military mobilization, may be granted Natural Disaster / Declared Emergency Forbearance for a period not to exceed 3 months. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized forbearance. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the forbearance period ends.

  • This forbearance DOES extend the repayment term.

Effective Date: June 3, 2024

Additional Terms – Ascent Parent Loan

Ascent Parent Loans are made available by Ascent on behalf of DR Bank and Bank of Lake Mills, each a Member FDIC. To the extent there is a conflict between the Terms of Use and these Additional Terms, these Additional Terms will control unless they expressly state otherwise. Please read these Additional Terms carefully. Before taking a Parent Loan, you and your student should explore and compare all financial aid alternatives, including grants, scholarships, and federal student loans and consider your future monthly payments and income. Certain restrictions apply. Ascent Parent Loans are subject to, among other things, credit qualification, completion of a loan application, verification of application information, and certification of loan amount by an eligible school. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions and certain restrictions, limitations, and terms and conditions may apply. All applications are processed in Pacific Time. Ascent is a federally registered trademark of Ascent Funding, LLC, the loan processor, and may be used by DR Bank and Bank of Lake Mills under limited license.

  1. Competitive variable rates calculated monthly at the time of loan approval based on a margin plus the 30-day Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), rounded to the nearest 1/100th of a percent. The current 30-day SOFR Average is 5.350%, which may adjust monthly. Your interest rate may increase or decrease, based on the 30-day SOFR Average. Rates are effective as of 10/01/2024 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount. Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month.
  2. Making interest only or partial interest payments while your student is in school will not reduce the principal balance of the loan. There are two (2) repayment options, and include interest only payments, and full principal and interest payments.
  3. Flexible repayment plans may be offered with up to a fifteen (15) year repayment term. Minimum loan amount is $2,001, except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.
  4. ACH interest rate reduction of 0.25% applies only when the borrower signs up for automatic payments and the payment amount is successfully deducted from the designated bank account each month. The amount of the discount is dependent upon the loan product and credit history of the borrower at the time of application. Interest rate reduction(s) will not apply during periods when no payment is due, including periods of in-school, deferment, grace, or forbearance, unless a regular payment amount has been arranged with the servicer. If you have two (2) consecutive returned payments for nonsufficient funds, we may cancel your automatic debit enrollment and you will lose the interest rate reduction. You will then need to re-qualify and re-enroll in automatic debit payments to receive the interest rate reduction.
  5. All borrowers are required to compete a brief online financial literacy course as part of the application process to be eligible for funding.
  6. Eligibility, loan amount, and other loan terms are dependent on several factors which may include: loan product, other financial aid, creditworthiness, and other factors. Aggregate loan limits may apply. The cost of attendance is determined and certified by the educational institution.
  7. The legal age for entering into contracts is eighteen (18) years of age in every state except Alabama where it is nineteen (19) years old, Nebraska where it is nineteen (19) years old (only for wards of the state), and Mississippi and Puerto Rico where it is twenty-one (21) years old.
  8. Students must be enrolled in an eligible educational institution.
  9. Borrowers must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents.

Parent Loan Deferment & Forbearance

A borrower may request deferment through Launch Servicing, Ascent’s loan servicer, in writing, or by completing and signing a deferment form and providing the appropriate documentation requested on the form. All deferments are provided solely at the lender’s discretion. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized deferment. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the deferment period ends. Ascent Parent Loans include the following deferment and forbearance options:

  • Active-Duty Military Deferment
  • Temporary Hardship Forbearance
  • Administrative Forbearance
  • Natural Disaster / Declared Emergency Forbearance

Active-Duty Military Deferment

A Parent Loan borrower is eligible for an Active Duty Military Deferment upon submitting an application for such and eligible documentation to the repayment Servicer showing that he or she (the borrower, not the student) is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency or performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency. Active Duty Military Deferment is available up to a cumulative limit of 36-months.

Temporary Hardship Forbearance

Borrowers experiencing periods of financial difficulty may be granted forbearance. The forbearance period duration may be from a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 3 months. A borrower may apply for up to 4 consecutive periods of Temporary Hardship Forbearance. A maximum of 24 total months of Temporary Hardship Forbearance may be granted during the life of the loan. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized forbearance. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the forbearance period ends.

Administrative Forbearance

An administrative forbearance may be used for temporary suspension of collection activity while researching borrower disputes, awaiting bankruptcy and death documents, or for other circumstances as approved by the Lender. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized forbearance. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the forbearance period ends.

Natural Disaster / Declared Emergency Forbearance

Parent Loan borrowers that are adversely affected by a natural disaster, a local or national emergency (declared by the appropriate government agency), or a military mobilization, may be granted Natural Disaster / Declared Emergency Forbearance for a period not to exceed 3 months. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized forbearance. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the forbearance period ends.

Effective Date: April 22, 2024

Additional Terms – Ascent Consumer Loans

Ascent consumer loans are made available by Ascent on behalf of Richland State Bank, and DR Bank, each a Member FDIC. To the extent there is a conflict between the Terms of Use and these Additional Terms, these Additional Terms will control unless they expressly state otherwise. Please read these Additional Terms carefully. Before taking out consumer loans, you should explore and compare all financial aid alternatives including grants and scholarships and consider your future monthly payments and income. Applying with a cosigner may improve your chance of getting approved and could help you qualify for a lower interest rate. Ascent consumer loans are funded by Richland State Bank and DR Bank. Certain restrictions and limitations may apply. Ascent consumer loan products are subject to credit qualification, completion of a loan application, verification of application information and certification of loan amount by a participating program. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions and certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. All applications are processed in Pacific Time. Ascent is a federally registered trademark of Ascent Funding, LLC, the loan processor, and may be used by Richland State Bank and DR Bank under limited license.

Automatic Payment Discounts

  • For Ascent Consumer Loans made prior to March 3, 2024, the current offered Automatic Payment Discount is an interest rate reduction of 0.25%.
  • For Ascent Consumer Loans made after March 3, 2024, the current offered Automatic Payment Discount is an interest rate reduction of 1.00%.
  • Eligibility for Automatic Payment Discount is limited to borrowers that have Ascent consumer loans originated by Richland State Bank or DR Bank, are enrolled in and making automatic debit payments from the personal checking account, and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month with the loan servicer.

Effective Date: March 1, 2024

Additional Terms – Ascent Career Loan

The Ascent career loan is made available by Ascent on behalf of Richland State Bank, Member FDIC. To the extent there is a conflict between the Terms of Use and these Additional Terms, these Additional Terms will control unless they expressly state otherwise. Please read these Additional Terms carefully. Certain restrictions and limitations may apply. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions and certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. Ascent is a federally registered trademark of Ascent Funding, LLC, the loan processor, and may be used by Richland State Bank under limited license.

Effective Date: June 29th, 2022

Additional Terms – Bootcamp Finder

These Additional Terms of service (the “Bootcamp Finder Terms”) govern your use of Ascent’s Bootcamp Finder. To the extent there is a conflict between the Terms of Use and these Bootcamp Finder Terms, the Bootcamp Finder Terms will control unless they expressly state otherwise. Please read these Bootcamp Finder Terms carefully before using Ascent’s Bootcamp Finder. By accessing or using the Bootcamp Finder in any manner, including, but not limited to, visiting or browsing the Ascent Bootcamp Finder, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use and Additional Terms. Capitalized terms are defined herein. If you do not accept these Additional Terms, then you may not use the Ascent Bootcamp Finder.

  1. What Ascent’s Bootcamp Finder Does. The Bootcamp Finder allows users to match with potential schools based on a set of user filters related to interests, preferred learning style, program pace, location, and more. Ascent does not recommend any school, the choice is yours and you should do your homework before making your selection
  2. Links to Other Sites. Ascent’s Bootcamp Finder contain links to third-party sites that we do not own or control. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services. We strongly advise you to read the terms and conditions and privacy policy of any third-party site that you visit.
  3. Warranty Disclaimer. ASCENT’S BOOTCAMP FINDER IS PROVIDED TO YOU ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITH ALL FAULTS AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, AND ASCENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.
  4. Disclaimer of Liability. Although data found using Ascent’s Bootcamp Finder has been produced and processed from sources believed to be reliable, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, or reliability of any information.

Effective Date: June 29th, 2022

Additional Terms – AscentConnect

These Additional Terms of service (the “AscentConnect Terms”), along with the Terms of Use and relevant Additional Terms, govern your use of the AscentConnect mobile application (“AscentConnect”). To the extent there is a conflict between the Terms of Use and these AscentConnect Terms, the AscentConnect Terms will control unless they expressly state otherwise. Please read these AscentConnect Terms carefully before using AscentConnect. By accessing or using AscentConnect in any manner, including, but not limited to, visiting or browsing the mobile application, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use and Additional Terms, as applicable. Capitalized terms are defined herein. If you do not accept these Additional Terms, then you may not use AscentConnect.

Access, Availability, Speed, and Compatibility

General access to AscentConnect is provided to you at no additional cost. AscentConnect should be accessible on any up to date iOS or Android mobile device. Wireless network coverable and Wi-Fi network speed varies by provider and geographic location. Ascent is not responsible for limitations and/or failures in performance associated with any wireless or Wi-Fi service used to access AscentConnect.

Records, Communications

Our records shall be presumed to accurately reflect your instructions to us and, in the absence of manifest error, will be binding and conclusive. By accessing the Services through AscentConnect, you agree that we may send you emails and other notifications through your mobile device or tablet regarding benefits and features that you may receive in connection with the Services or AscentConnect.

Log Out

AscentConnect will automatically log you out after 15 minutes of inactivity, unless you have modified your device settings to a shorter or longer timeframe. Anytime you log into Ascent Connect, click the ‘Sign Out’ button to exit the application and prevent anyone else from accessing your account data.

Push Notifications

You will only receive push notifications from AscentConnect if you opt-in to receive them. To opt-out of push notifications after opting in, visit the Settings page of the AscentConnect app and toggle Push Notifications to the off position. To access Settings, visit the AscentConnect app’s Profile tab. AscentConnect uses OneSignal to enable push notifications on your mobile device. Ascent does not share your personal information with OneSignal. For more information, visit OneSignal.

Differences from Online Services

Not all Ascent Services may be available when using a mobile device. Additionally, the method of entering information via AscentConnect may also differ from the method of entering information on the website.

Identity Verification

You authorize your wireless carrier to use and/or disclose information about you and your wireless device to Ascent for the duration of your relationship with us, to help identify you or your wireless device and to help protect against fraud or unauthorized use of our services under these Terms of User and Additional Terms. Those details may include, among others, name, billing address, email, and phone number.

Effective Date: January 22, 2024