Washington — After investigations last year raised critical questions about the relationships between student-loan companies and college financial-aid administrators, the lobby group representing aid officials took steps to reduce its reliance on the banks.

The group, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, promised steps that included ending lender-specific sponsorships of social events and meetings at the association’s annual conference. That step alone cost the group, known as Nasfaa, an estimated $80,000.

Such changes, apparently, are now being felt at Nasfaa headquarters, here in Washington. According to a letter today to Nasfaa members from its president, Philip R. Day Jr., the group is taking a series of belt-tightening measures in response to various economic pressures.

The steps identified by Mr. Day include reducing Nasfaa’s use of equipment leases, cutting paper and postage costs, and moving into new facilities where some staffers share office space and where conference rooms are so small that some participants must stand. “Clearly we are making every effort to reduce our financial footprint,” Mr. Day wrote.

The economic pain, however, may not have reduced Nasfaa’s political support for its loan-company members. From his group’s smaller offices, Mr. Day has argued that federal law should overrule any attempts by the states to impose tougher regulations on the industry, and he continues to lobby Congress on behalf of a financial-bailout plan favored by the loan companies. —Paul Basken