Treasurer Giannoulias Offers Aid to Disaster Areas in Southern Illinois
19 counties declared disaster areas

March 24, 2008

Low-interest loans are available to southern Illinois residents affected by the recent flooding
through the state’s Opportunity Illinois Disaster Recovery Loan program, State Treasurer Alexi
Giannoulias said today.

Residents living in the following 19 counties are eligible: Alexander, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin,
Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph,
Saline, Union, White and Williamson.

“This is an opportunity for southern Illinois residents to get their lives back on track faster,”
Giannoulias said. “Waiting months for insurance settlements can be very frustrating and we want to
help as much as we can in the meantime.”

Under the Opportunity Illinois Disaster Recovery Loan program, the Treasurer’s Office provides
low-interest loans to residents of declared disaster areas who are waiting for insurance settlements
or other aid programs to take effect and to residents whose insurance policies do not fully cover
natural disaster damage.

To receive the low interest rate, residents may secure a loan up to the damage amount at a bank
or financial institution that participates in the state’s linked deposit program. The bank must file the
Opportunity Illinois loan application on the resident’s behalf within 90 days from the date that the
county was officially declared a natural disaster by the state, or March 20 in this particular
declaration.

Storm victims with insurance are eligible for low-interest-rate loans that cover the costs of repairs
and expenses with interest-only payments for one year. The loan is designed to be paid off with an
insurance settlement or other aid payment within the 12-month term.

Those without insurance coverage are eligible for low-interest-rate loans that cover their damage amount with interest-only payments for one year or interest and principal payments for up to five years. A compliance review is required for loans with terms lasting more than two years.

Under the program, borrowers can currently lock in an interest rate no higher than 4.5 percent.

Since the program was started in May 1995, the Treasurer's Office has backed more than $48.6
million in low-interest loans to storm victims in Illinois.

For more information on applying for a loan, finding a participating financial institution, or becoming
a participating financial institution, call the Disaster Recovery hotline at (866) 523-0641 or email
opportunityillinois@treasurer.state.il.us.