Case Study of the Week: Justifiable Loans

Jan 15, 2024

Personal Financial Literacy

You are to assume the role of a loan officer at Trust Bank. A customer has asked you to explain why certain loans are justifiable and others are not.

The customer has a job earning $50,000/year and only has rent and utilities as expenses. The customer has $20,000 in savings.

The customer has inquired about loans. The customer wants to purchase a house and would need to finance a $200,000 mortgage. The customer wants to purchase a vehicle and would need a $30,000 loan for payment. The customer is also interested in a $1,000 personal loan for a vacation.

You must explain which loans are justifiable and which are not. You must also explain which loans may require a down payment and how failing to repay loans can negatively impact the customer’s finances.

Questions?

Randi Bibiano
Competitive Events Specialist
randi@deca.org

Randi Bibiano is DECA's competitive events specialist. In this role, she conceptualizes and authors role-play scenarios for the collegiate and high school division’s competitive events programs. She also manages DECA's online competitive events and serves as a liaison to volunteer efforts at DECA's educational conferences.

Discussion Questions

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Classroom Connection

Career CLuster:

Personal Financial Literacy

Instructional Area(s):

Managing Credit

Performance Indicators:

Justify the use of credit for a specific purchase
Identify examples of loans that may require down payments
Describe how failing to repay a loan can negatively impact a person’s finances and life