STATE OFFICIALS ENCOURAGE PUBLIC TO ATTEND
MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE EVENT

For immediate release                                                                       MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014

HARTFORD – Connecticut’s homeowners experiencing trouble with their mortgages have another opportunity to meet face to face with their lenders and explore options for preventing foreclosure, such as loan modification.  This day-long forum will take place on Thursday, October 9, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Conference Center at CoCo Key in Waterbury, CT.  Free parking is available for attendees.

This mortgage assistance event, the eighth sponsored by the state since 2011, was announced at a news conference today by Attorney General George Jepsen and Banking Commissioner Howard F. Pitkin.  The state has hosted events in Hartford (2011 and 2013), Waterbury (2012), Bridgeport (2012), Storrs (2012), New Haven (2013), and Trumbull (2014).

“Bringing lenders and borrowers together to discuss the issues is the first step to helping people keep their homes,” said Governor Malloy.  “These events make those important conversations happen—as the thousands of residents who have already received assistance can attest.  I strongly encourage any distressed homeowner to attend."

“Homeowners that may be struggling to stay in their homes could benefit enormously from this opportunity,” said Attorney General Jepsen. “We continue to see from recent reports that banks are providing real debt relief to Connecticut borrowers in need. More than 6,300 borrowers have been able to benefit since March 1, 2012 alone.”

Commissioner Pitkin added, “Our experience with these events has shown that meeting directly with your lender or loan servicer is often the fastest and best way to resolve your mortgage problems.  In addition to the lenders, local housing counselors will be on hand, as well as a host of state and federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Infoline 2-1-1.  If you can’t attend you can still receive help through the Department’s Foreclosure Assistance Hotline, at 1-877-472-8313.”

Johnny Khantikone, a homeowner from East Hartford, CT, expressed his appreciation after his experience attending a previous event.  Said Khantikone, “Going through this program helped us save our home and get back to normal.  I believe other people who are going through the same problem will find similar help."

Among the loan servicers sending representatives are: Bank of America; CitiMortgage; Fannie Mae; Green Tree Servicing; HSBC National Bank USA; JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Nationstar Mortgage; Ocwen Loan Servicing; People's United Bank; Select Portfolio Servicing; U.S. Bank Home Mortgage;

Webster Bank and Wells Fargo Bank.  Also attending will be HUD-approved housing counselors, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, pro bono attorneys, Judicial Branch foreclosure mediators and other federal, state and non-profit agencies.

The purpose of these events is to allow homeowners the opportunity to meet one-on-one with their lender to evaluate their options, start the loan review process, or even to expedite it.  If additional paperwork is necessary, the homeowner will leave with a single point of contact to ensure that information gets to where it needs to be.

More information about the mortgage assistance event, including the paperwork homeowners should bring to help them get answers quickly, is available at www.ct.gov/dob, or by calling the Department of Banking at 860-240-8170 or Toll-free 1-877-472-8313.

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CONTACTS:

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, David Bednarz, David.Bednarz@ct.gov, 860-524-7315, 860.770.9792 (cell)

Attorney General, Jaclyn Falkowski,Jaclyn.Falkowski@ct.gov, 860.808.5324, 860.655.3903 (cell)

Department of Banking, Bruce Adams, Bruce.Adams@ct.gov; 860.240.8105, 860.977.0751 (cell