The personal savings rate has increased rather sharply the past year. The average U.S. savings rate as a percentage of disposable income is up to 7%, compared with 0% about a year ago. So here’s a thought: Maybe lenders should consider a pricing program to leverage their customers’ newfound savings by touting the benefits of a lump-sum payment, mid-term. It would be sort of like a second down payment. For instance, lenders could play up the savings in interest payments and shortening of the loan term. The program would appear to borrowers as an effort to save them money and get them to the end of their loans faster. Thoughts, anyone?