Lisa Madigan alleges fraud at student loan company

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office is suing the nation’s largest student loan company, alleging unfair and deceptive practices with lending and debt collection.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Cook County seeks restitution and penalties. It names Navient Corp. and subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank.

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a separate lawsuit Wednesday, alleging Navient made it harder to repay loans by giving bad information, processing payments incorrectly and failing to address complaints.

Madigan alleges the companies knowingly put students in expensive and risky loans they knew would fail. Madigan estimates tens of thousands of Illinoisans were affected. She says it’s unknown how much money was involved.

Navient officials dispute the allegations in both lawsuits and claim they’re politically motivated days ahead of a new presidential administration.