KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) has reported encouraging participation in its recently launched debt reset programme, with more than 6,000 clients already onboarded through the customer portal.

Approximately 3,600 clients have already applied for the debt reset programme. Of this group, 800 have sought the arrears credit, while 2,900 have applied for the ‘good standing’ credit of $100,000.

Overall, some 25,000 customers stand to benefit from the initiative, according to director of client relationship management services, Cheryl Surjue.

Under the programme, SLB is offering a limited-time initiative to assist borrowers with targeted loan accounts that are in arrears as at October 31, 2025.

Eligible individuals will receive a 100 per cent waiver of late fees and insurance charges, a 50 per cent waiver of interest arrears as at October 31, 2025 (once the borrower pays the difference in the outstanding arrears within the programme window).

Additionally, a one-time credit of up to $100,000 will be made to accounts in Good Standing as at October 31, 2025.

Speaking during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, Surjue noted that the good standing credit for onboarded applicants has been successfully applied to their accounts.

“So if they should go online now, they will see that amount applied to their account,” she stated.

Surjue reiterated that clients will be required to make principal payments in arrears to receive the benefits under the programme.

“The customer can either clear the principal arrears in one go, or they can schedule the payments for the principal arrears and the 50 per cent interest arrears over the period. That will give them a… fresh start in terms of getting back on track and start making their monthly payments on time,” she said.

Debt Recovery Manager at the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB), Owin Watson, speaks about the agency’s Debt Reset Programme during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’. (JIS photo)

Meanwhile, SLB’s debt recovery manager, Owin Watson, emphasised that customers qualifying for the good standing credit must first be onboarded on the platform in order to access the bureau’s portal and confirm that the benefit has been, or will be, applied to their loan accounts.

The onboarding process includes visiting the agency’s website at register.slbja.com, selecting ‘Start Onboarding’, completing the Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) verification, and filling out personal information (name, email address, telephone). Once all relevant fields are completed, applicants click ‘Submit’.

“Once they have successfully onboarded, they’ll be able to download their statements and they’ll see the credit visibly on their loan statements,” Watson said.

-JIS