SCRA Team
Santander's SCRA Team is here to answer questions about the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
Financial Protection For Those Who Serve
The Servicemember's Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides a wide range of protections and benefits for individuals in the military who are called to active duty or deployed. The intent of SCRA is to postpone or suspend certain civil obligations to enable servicemembers to devote full attention to duty and to relieve stress on family members of those deployed servicemembers.
It's important to all of us at Santander that the persons who serve in our country's military be aware of the protections and benefits SCRA provides. The questions and answers below provide valuable information that applies to the products and services offered by Santander.
Who is eligible under SCRA?
The SCRA covers full-time active duty members of the five military branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Space Force); reservists on federal active duty; and members of the National Guard on federal orders for a period of more than 30 days. Servicemembers absent from duty for a lawful cause or because of sickness, wounds, or leave; commissioned officers in active service of the Public Health Service (PHS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are also covered by the SCRA.
What are your SCRA benefits?
The SCRA is a broad statute that provides many benefits. Visit http://www.consumerfinance.gov/servicemembers/ for more details.
What types of loan accounts are covered by SCRA?
- Credit cards
- Installment and auto loans
- Mortgages and home equity loans and lines of credit
- Loans secured by a deposit account, such as a CD
- Other loans and lines of credit
It is important to remember that the SCRA interest benefit applies only to any existing loan made to a servicemember prior to the servicemember being called to active duty.
Key Benefits of the SCRA
| Reduction on Interest Rates and Reduced Payments | Your loan or credit card rate will be reduced to 6%, if you incurred the debt before entering active military duty. This reduced rate is effective for the entire period of your active military duty. If the debt is secured by collateral, such as your home, vehicle, or Certificate of Deposit, the reduced rate will continue to apply for a period of time after your active military duty ends. |
| Auto Lease Termination | In order to terminate an auto lease without penalty under the SCRA, you must have entered into the lease:
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| Protection From Repossession | Your vehicle may not be repossessed while you are in military service without a court order if you purchased or leased your vehicle and made a deposit or installment payment before you entered military service. |
| Protection From Foreclosure | Your property may not be foreclosed on during any period of military service and for 12 months thereafter, without a court order, if you obtained a mortgage on your property before you entered into military service. |
How do I take advantage of the benefits?
You can request benefits by doing one of the following:
- Call 1.844.SAN.SCRA (844.726.7272) to request the benefit
- Submit a written request with a copy of your military orders to:
Santander Bank, N.A.,
SCRA Mailcode: MAQ- SCRA6
PO Box 841001
Boston, MA 02284 - Email a request with a copy of military orders to SCRABenefits@santander.us
- Hearing-and speech-impaired customers may also call 7-1-1 or their preferred relay service.
Additional Servicemember Resources:
Military
US Department of Veteran Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Veterans Crisis Line