How Do I Get a Keystone HELP® Loan

Funding for special low rate Keystone HELP loans is still available.

Effective 11:59 PM August 4, however, no new applications for rebates were being accepted under the Keystone HELP program. Initial funding for the rebate portion of the program has been exhausted and no additional funding is scheduled to be provided. Applications received before this date will be processed as usual.

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Please note that a household may receive only one Keystone HELP loan or one Keystone HELP rebate each fiscal year, which is defined as the period from July 1 until the following June 30.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions


Applying for a Loan for Energy Star or Advance Performance Home Improvements

  • Apply online, by phone at (888) 232-3477, by fax at (610) 433-7488 or complete the application and give it to your Approved Contractor for submission.
  • We’ll have a quick decision on your loan application, and are happy to answer any of your questions.
  • Complete the Home Energy Yardstick on the application or provide us or your contractor with how much energy you used and how much you paid for energy for the past 12 months so we can complete the Yardstick for you.
  • Get an estimate for qualifying improvements from your Approved Contractor and sign the Keystone HELP Specification Sheet that details the qualifying improvements.
  • For an Unsecured ENERGY STAR Loan, sign the Keystone HELP® Retail Installment Agreement, utility bill release form, and auto-payment authorization provided to you.
  • For a Secured Renovate and Repair ENERGY STAR Loan, we will send you disclosure information and a closing agent will come to you at a mutually convenient time and location to close your loan.
  • When the work is done to your satisfaction, sign the Completion Certificate your Contractor will provide you.
  • We’ll call you to confirm and pay the contractor upon your authorization.

Applying for a Loan for "Whole House Improvements" with a Certified Energy Audit

  • Apply online, by phone at (888) 232-3477, by fax at (610) 433-7488 or complete the application and give it to your Approved Contractor for submission.
  • We’ll have a quick decision on your loan application, and are happy to answer any of your questions.
  • Complete the Home Energy Yardstick on the application or provide us or your contractor with how much energy you used and how much you paid for energy for the past 12 months so we can complete the Yardstick for you.
  • Obtain your energy audit from a Certified Auditor and select sufficient qualifying improvements from those recommended to meet program requirements (minimum 25% reduction for an initial HERS index greater than 100; minimum 15% reduction for an initial HERS index of 100 or lower).
  • Get an estimate for selected qualifying improvements from a Certified Contractor or a Trained Contractor working under the supervision of a Certified Auditor and sign the Keystone HELP Specification Sheet that details the qualifying improvements.
  • For an Unsecured Whole House Improvement Loan, sign the Keystone HELP® Retail Installment Agreement, utility bill release form, and auto-payment authorization provided to you.
  • For a Secured Whole House Improvement Loan, we will send you disclosure information and a closing agent will come to you at a mutually convenient time and location to close your loan and have you sign the utility release form.
  • A Certified Auditor will conduct a post-construction audit.
  • When the work is done to your satisfaction, sign the Completion Certificate your Contractor will provide you.
  • We’ll call you to confirm and pay the contractor upon your authorization and send you a check for $325 toward the cost of the audit.

Apply Online

1.888.AFC FIRST

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