By Sherry Byers, CPN Housing Department Homeownership Manager
A great collaboration between Citizen Potawatomi Nation and First National Bank & Trust Co. is entering its third decade of existence. The One Time Grant has now been in operation for more than 20 years. This program has evolved and improved over the course of time, assisting hundreds of Citizen Potawatomi with funds for their down payment or closing costs associated with the purchase, building or refinancing of a home.
In addition to assisting individual Tribal members with this program, we would also like to see the Citizen Potawatomi Nation First National Bank & Trust benefit by originating the mortgage loans. FNB offers most loan programs offered by other lending institutions, with the exception of those offered by predatory lenders.
Despite more than two decades of success, I often hear from CPN members who did not know about this program and the Tribal-owned bank.
All Citizen Potawatomi tribal members are eligible for this grant, one time only. The maximum amount available is $2,125 and does not have to be repaid. The grant cannot be used for any type of mobile home; convicted felons or other household member felons are ineligible; the home being purchased must be their primary residence; and the Tribal member’s name must be on the loan.
The application must be completed thoroughly with the following submitted:
- Copy of borrowers CPN membership card
- Copy of Social Security cards for household member without Tribal cards
- Copy of the “loan estimate” from lender
- Income verification for all household members (last 3 to 4 pay stubs, or if same employer for years, the last two years of tax returns — first page and signature page only)
- Name of the closing entity (Title Co., Escrow Co., Attorney, etc.)
- Completed W-9 form
- Copy of appraisal
The application and support information is required in our office at least three weeks prior to the closing date. This gives our office enough time to get the paperwork processed and the check mailed back to the Tribal member by the specified date.
To request the application and/or general information regarding the One Time Grant, please contact me at 405-273-2833 or at sbyers@potawatomi.org.
This grant may also done after closing. The required paperwork must be in our office at least 30 days from the loan closing date. Please contact our office if applying after closing.
For information regarding loan products and lending requirements at First National Bank & Trust, please contact Jeff Scroggins, mortgage loan officer, at 405-275-8830 or at 1-800-227-8362.