Ready to pass a cut in student loan interest rates, House members on Wednesday clashed over education priorities — helping college graduates pay off debts or expanding federal grants for low-income students.
Democrats were pushing the interest rate bill through without amendments, eager to check off one more accomplishment in their list of early legislative goals. [...]

Four Malden banks have committed $8 million to a loan pool for a first- and second-time homebuyer program run by the Malden Redevelopment Authority.
Eastern Bank, Century Bank, Central Bank, and BankMalden each pledged $2 million to fund the program over the next two years.
The loan pool will make below-market-rate loans to low- and moderate-income home [...]

College students have until Friday, June 30, to consolidate their education loans and lock in their variable-rate borrowings at a fixed rate, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, said Monday.
With the financial aid office at Youngstown State University as a backdrop, Ryan, D-17, urged reporters to get the word out to college students that if they fail [...]

Student Funding Group, LLC. - - or StuFund — today launched its student loan business, offering FFEL and private loans to college-bound students nationwide, and support services to help families navigate the maze of educational lending options on the market.
The new company, believed to be the first minority enterprise in the student loan origination arena, [...]