They sought a $15 million high-interest loan to cover the costs of the prize money, and to complete the construction of the course.

But, she added, the family took out $5,000 in high-interest loans to pay for his trip.

The banks call the programs a service; critics say they amount to high-interest loans.

Congress tried to phase out the high-interest loans in 1993, when rates declined and federal subsidies were no longer needed.

This case is unrelated to separate class-action litigation brought against Block over its high-interest loans.

The problem is no longer high-interest subprime loans, many of which have worked their way out of the system.

Northwest plans to use that money to expand its operations and to refinance high-interest loans.

In addition, the principal balance on a high-interest 30-year loan shrinks very slowly during the first few years.

The Harvard study found that such high-interest loans had risen fivefold from 1993 to 1998.