Chase to Open an Additional 24 Counseling Centers

Chase is adding another 24 mortgage counseling centers within the next four months bringing the number of such centers that provide face-to-face assistance to distressed homeowners in 14 states up to 51. These centers are located in Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Boca Raton, Fla., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The addition, according to the head of retail financial services at Chase, Charlie Scharf, responds to the unusually high demand for loan modifications and follows the so far successful engagement of its initial 27 centers in providing a complete document packages looking for permanent payment relief. Borrowers can schedule appointments or walk in six days a week. Since they first opened 11 months ago, Chase centers have provided counseling for over 60,000 borrowers, the bank said.