News Release
Prime Partner financial institutions, which
currently pay one percent on IOLTA accounts, have a
direct impact on the amount of money available to
help low-income Texans with their civil legal
issues. Nearly
5.7 million Texans qualify for legal aid and the
increasing civil legal needs of the poor continue to
outpace the funding available for civil legal
services.
Legal aid offices assist in matters dealing
with family, housing, employment and consumer law,
and those recovering from the effects of natural
disasters.
Legal Aid of NorthWest
“By
making the choice to pay higher interest rates on
IOLTA accounts, First State Bank and our other Prime
Partners help ensure that low-income Texans will
have access to basic civil legal services,” Betty
Balli Torres, executive director of the Texas Access
to Justice Foundation, said. “During these economic
times, many Texans are facing serious challenges,
such as foreclosures or domestic violence
situations, and simply do not have the funds to hire
an attorney.”
“At First State
Bank, we are committed to serving and helping our
local community,” said Mike Montgomery, President.
“We are proud to become a Prime Partner and hope
that the additional funds generated will make a
significant difference in the lives of low-income
Texans in need of civil legal services.”
The Texas Access to
Justice Foundation has seen a 73 percent decline in
IOLTA revenue since 2007 due to the impact of low
interest rates. Prime Partners, such as First State
Bank, help to mitigate the decline in revenue
available to fund legal aid. -30- The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (www.teajf.org), created by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1984, is the primary state-based funding source for the provision of civil legal aid in Texas. The organization is committed to the vision that all Texans will have equal access to justice, regardless of their income. The Foundation administers a variety of funding sources, which are earmarked to assist nonprofit organizations in providing legal aid to more than 100,000 Texans each year.
Contact: Kimberly Schmitt
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