21 Best Companies to Consolidate Credit Card Debt

Refinancing credit card debt is one of the best steps you can take to get out of debt. Chances are, your credit cards have a high interest rate.

By refinancing to a lower interest rate, more of your monthly payment goes to the balance instead of the banker’s pockets.

As a result, you can become debt-free sooner.

When you refinance you can enjoy these benefits:

• Fixed monthly payments
• Potentially lower interest rates
• The choice of canceling your credit cards to prevent more debt

As you pay off your debt, you will gradually see your credit score improve. And you will have more disposable income as your monthly payments disappear.

The Best Companies for Refinancing Credit Card Debt

Before you get loan quotes from one of these lenders, get your free credit score. After you know your credit score, it’s time to see what your new rate will be.

When getting a quote, lenders will ask your loan purpose. If the option “credit card refinancing” is available, choose that one.

Otherwise, look for a “debt consolidation” or “personal loan” option. The more precise you are, the more accurate your repayment terms will be.

Getting free rate quotes doesn’t affect your credit score. But if you decide to refinance with a lender, they will pull your credit score when you officially apply for credit. We have a few lenders we recommend. We also recommend you check loan companies with a trusted source like the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

1. Fiona

Compare interest rates from multiple lenders in a single query with Fiona. You can borrow up to $100,000 for 84 months. For credit card refinancing, this is one of the highest borrowing limits you will see.

The good news is that if you don’t need to borrow 100 grand, you can still get a loan for $1,000. Lower interests rates can help make monthly payments less painful.

To get an instant quote, you must provide these details:

• Your credit score
• Desired borrowing amount
• Loan purpose
• Personal contact information
• Employment information
• Highest level of education

If you don’t know your credit score, you can get your score for free through Credit Sesame.

2. Credible

Credible is one of the easiest ways to consolidate your credit card debt quickly. They are a loan comparison site that provides at least three lender quotes from peer lending platforms and online banks. You can request to borrow up to $100,000 through Credible’s lending network.

Remember, the sooner you refinance, the more money you save. Rate shopping takes time, but Credible speeds up the comparison process.

For example, Credible lets you refinance your credit card debt with interest rates as low as 4.99% with autopay. If you currently pay 15% or 20% interest with your credit card, imagine the savings.

3. LendingTree

While you can get separate quotes from each lender, LendingTree provides free quotes from five lenders with a single request. You simply state how much debt you have to refinance and you receive instant quotes.

The offers show your loan interest rate, loan fees and your estimated monthly payment. Once you find an offer you like, you start the application process on the lender’s website.

You also won’t pay extra fees by getting your quote through LendingTree.

Check out our full Lendingtree Review.

4. LendingClub

A relatively new way for refinancing credit card debt is LendingClub. They are a peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform where individual investors lend you their money. For instance, investors invest in your loan instead of the stock market. Such a creative idea, right?

If you have “average credit’ of at least 640, your approval odds and interest rate can be better than getting a personal loan from a regular bank. You pay a one-time origination fee but won’t pay any prepayment penalties or application fees.

LendingClub lets you borrow up to $40,000 in either three or five-year repayment terms. Unlike a regular bank, you must wait for investors to fund the loan request before you receive it. But you can receive your loan in as little as seven days.

LendingClub is the largest peer lending platform. However, more investors may be willing to fund your request.

But on smaller platforms, there may not be enough investors interested in funding your loan. So this means you might only get a partial loan. Or you could re-apply and hope for better results.

Here is another reason to consider LendingClub. You can apply for refinancing with a minimum 600 credit score. Other lenders might require your credit rating to be at least 700 to qualify for a loan.

5. Payoff

You might prefer working with a company that specializes in refinancing credit card debt. Payoff offers their signature “Payoff Loan” when you have between $5,000 and $35,000 in unpaid balances. Your repayment term can be between two and five years.

Each month, Payoff provides your updated FICO credit score. Your FICO score isn’t quite the same as your free VantageScore credit score.

FICO is the credit score lenders look at to provide a firm credit offer when you apply for a new loan. Without Payoff, you almost always have to pay to see your FICO score.

Another benefit Payoff offers is job loss support. If you lose your job, contact Payoff and they will work with you on creating a flexible repayment plan. Very few lenders offer similar support in tough times like these.

One final reason to consider Payoff is if you prefer writing a check to make your monthly payments. Other lenders charge an extra fee each month if you mail your payment.

6. Upstart

Founded by ex-Google employees, Upstart is a pioneer in the lending industry. Young professionals with minimal credit history should consider Upstart. Instead of only using your credit report, Upstart considers these factors too:

• Work history
• Field of study
• Future potential salary

Being in a lucrative career field means that you might get a lower rate than what other lenders offer. This detailed underwriting process makes Upstart unique.

Besides credit card debt, you can also refinance student loans. Or consolidate other personal debts.

With Upstart, your balance can be between $1,000 – $50,000. Three-year and five-year loan terms are your two options. It takes two minutes to see if you qualify. If approved, Upstart will send you funds as fast as the next business day.

7. SoFi

Another one of our favorite companies for refinancing credit card debt is SoFi. Most lenders don’t charge application or prepayment fees. But they will charge you a one-time origination fee. And it will usually range between 1% and 6% of the loan balance.

However, SoFi doesn’t charge an origination fee.

Also, by enrolling in AutoPay, you get a 0.25% interest rate discount. Although SoFi doesn’t charge any upfront fees, you should still compare their loan APR to lenders that do charge an origination fee. Sometimes, lenders “bake in” the fees by charging a slightly higher interest rate.

To consolidate your debt with SoFi, apply for a personal loan. Then deposit the loan amount into your credit card accounts.

Like Payoff, SoFi also offers unemployment protection. They help you find a new job. And they place your loan into forbearance until you get back on your feet. During this time, you may still be responsible for paying the monthly interest payment.

Here’s one final witty way you can pay off your credit cards faster. Referring your friends to SoFi. Once you join SoFi, you and your friend earn a bonus if they get a SoFi loan.

In total, SoFi will give you up to $6,000 if you refer 20 friends. Imagine the dent that would put into your debt balance.

All rates, terms, and figures are subject to change by the lender without notice. For the most up-to-date information, visit the lender’s website directly.

8. Tally

For free, Tally (Currently Only On IOS) analyzes your current credit card balances. Then they help you choose the best repayment option.

Sometimes, the best option is to keep your current balances on your credit cards. This can be the case if you don’t qualify for a lower interest rate. Or if you have to pay a high origination fee to refinance.

In this situation, Tally makes a payment plan for you. Then they send payments to your credit card companies.

But when refinancing is cheaper, Tally provides a line of credit with interest rates comparable to other lenders. In fact, you might save money because they don’t charge loan origination fees like most lenders.

One downside for Tally is that it’s only available in 19 states and the District of Columbia. If you don’t live in one of these states, you can join the waitlist. But instead of waiting, we recommend refinancing with another company below.

Read our Tally review to learn more about paying off your credit cards fast.

9. Best Egg

With Best Egg, you can refinance $2,000 to $35,000 of credit card debt. If you also get quotes from a loan comparison site like LendingTree or Fiona, you might see a Best Egg quote too.

Their credit card refinance rates start at 5.99% APR with a minimum 700 FICO score and an annual household income of $100,000. To get the best rates, choose a repayment term of 5 years or less. Otherwise, your interest rate and origination fee will be higher.

10. Prosper

You can get a debt consolidation loan from Prosper with a $2,000 to $40,000 balance. Like other lenders, you have either three years or five years to repay the balance.

Loan rates as of April 15, 2020 start at 7.95% to 35.99%. Origination fees range 2.41% to 5.0%. You can get an instant rate quote by providing your basic personal information. And you won’t pay any prepayment or early payoff fees either.

11. Upgrade

Fixed interest rates and 36-month or 60-month terms are what to expect from Upgrade. You can also get a loan balance up to $50,000. And you won’t pay a prepayment penalty with Upgrade.

After you’re approved, the money lands in your bank the next day. So you can literally start saving money right away!

If you prefer to mail your payment to Upgrade, you won’t pay an extra fee. Other online lenders charge a fee for mail-in payments. Of course, electronic payments may still be the best option with Upgrade. Yes, they offer an auto-pay discount too.

With a $1,000 borrowing minimum and an APR as low as 6.98%, Upgrade is one of the most affordable lenders.

12. LendingPoint

If you have “Near Prime Credit” with a 600s credit score, peer lending platforms can be a more affordable option than a regular bank. LendingPoint is one online bank that’s an exception to this rule. They offer credit card refinancing loans between $2,000 and $25,000.

However, prepare to repay your refinance loan at a slightly faster rate than other lenders.

LendingPoint loans are only 24 to 48 months in length. If you need five years to repay your balance, choose a different lender. See if you can afford the more aggressive repayment schedule. If so, LendingPoint might offer a better interest rate than peer lending platforms.

Since LendingPoint is a direct lender, they offer next-day loan disbursement after approving your loan. As a result, you can receive your loan funds sooner than a peer lending platform.

Tip: Boost your credit score by lending money to yourself with Self Lender.

13. PersonalLoans.com

Another loan comparison site is PersonalLoans.com. You can get quotes from multiple lenders for loan balances between $1,000 and $35,000. Depending on how much you refinance, you have between 90 days and six years (72 months) to repay the loan in full.

The PersonalLoans lender network consists of peer lenders and traditional banks. It’s possible to get approved for financing with a 580 credit score. Also, you need to earn at least $2,000 in monthly income to be considered by lenders.

14. LightStream

When you prefer using a national bank, try LightStream. This online division of SunTrust Bank offers debt consolidation loans with rates as low as 5.95% APR with autopay as of 12/23/2019.

To get this low rate, you need to borrow between $10,000 and $25,000 with a term of 24-36 months. But LightStream begins issuing loans with a $5,000 balance.

It’s possible to receive your cash the same day you apply to refinance if today is a banking business day, your application is approved, and you complete the following steps by 2:30 p.m. Eastern time:

• Review and electronically sign your loan agreement
• Provide us with your funding preferences and relevant banking information
• Complete the final verification process

And don’t forget to enroll in AutoPay to get a 0.50% rate discount.

If another lender offers a better interest rate than LightStream, they will beat their rate by 0.10%. As you see, rate shopping has its advantages to save you extra money.

15. FreedomPlus

If your balance is at least $7,500, FreedomPlus offers competitive rates. Rates start at 4.99% for a two-year term. FreedomPlus approves most loans within three hours. And you can receive your funds within 48 hours.

For extra flexibility, FreedomPlus let you choose your payment due date.

To apply for FreedomPlus loan, you must meet these three minimum requirements:

• 640 credit score or higher
• An annual income of $34,000 or higher
• A debt-to-income ratio below 40%

When you qualify, you can get a loan with a two to five-year repayment term. And you can get an extra rate discount when you add a co-signer. But to get the discount, they must have at least $40,000 in retirement savings.

16. CashUSA

CashUSA provides you with access to a network of lenders. So this is a preferable option if you have poor credit or less-than-perfect credit. That is a credit score in the 500s or low 600s.

You can get loans up to $10,000. This isn’t a high borrowing amount. But your approval odds can be higher if you earn a limited income as well.

To submit your loan request, you must have these traits:

• At least 18 years old
• Steady monthly income of at least $1,000 after taxes
• Have a personal checking account
• Ability to provide work and home phone numbers, plus a valid email address

CashUSA is a loan comparison site but doesn’t charge any fees for their service. They connect you with potential lenders and earn a referral bonus when the lenders approve your application.

Your repayment term can be as short as 90 days or up to 72 months. How long you have to repay depends on the loan balance. And to some extent, your credit score and monthly income.

17. Discover

One of the best online banks is Discover. When Discover approves your application, Discover offers to pay off creditors directly. They save you a step and send the money directly to the credit card company.

Other lenders only place the money in the bank account. Then you’re responsible for sending the money to the credit card company to pay off your balance.

Also, you won’t pay an origination fee. And repayment terms range between three and seven years. Their starting interest rates of 6.99% are competitive. And they have zero prepayment penalties.

Finally, Discover provides a free FICO credit score, just like Payoff.

18. Avant

Avant offers loans for borrowers with average credit. Average credit is between 600 and 700. You can borrow between $2,000 and $35,000. And you still pay less interest than your current loan interest rate.

But their lowest interest rate is 9.95% APR. So you’ll only want to consider this loan for your credit cards. Your new rate can be 5% to 10% lower with Avant.

Besides lower interest rates, Avant also offers next-day deposits. To do so, they need to approve your application by 4:30 PM Central Standard Time.

Other lenders offer next-day deposits too, so pick one with the lowest rate. However, other lenders might take up to seven days to deposit your cash. If you pay the same interest rate with these lenders, why wait a week?

19. Marcus

A relatively new online bank and lender is Marcus by Goldman Sachs. Credit card consolidation loans start at $3,500 with a maximum borrowing amount of $40,000. You will need a credit score of 660 or higher to qualify for a Marcus loan.

You also won’t pay any loan fees that other online banks and peer lenders tend to charge.

Besides competitive loan rates, Marcus also offers high-yield savings accounts. Your savings can earn more interest while you save money by lowering the interest rate on your credit card debt. That’s a win-win solution.

20. OneMain Financial

You might prefer using a local bank to refinance credit card debt. OneMain Financial lets you start the refinance process online. Then you bring your proof of identity and income statements to a local branch.

But with online-only lenders, the only way to send your supporting documents is a digital scan.

One advantage of using OneMain Financial is that you can receive your funds in-person after signing the closing documents. But they can also use direct deposit for your bank account.

21. Peerform

Peerform is another P2P platform that can be cheaper than a bank. Sometimes, this is your best option with a 600 to 700 credit score. Credit card refinancing loan amounts range between $4,000 and $25,000.

With any peer investing platform, the application process can take longer than using a bank. You must wait for investors to fund your loan. Sometimes, it can take two weeks for investors to fund your loan fully.

To apply, your FICO credit score must be at least 600 points. If your score is less than 600, Peerform automatically declines your application.

Tip: Check your FICO credit score with MyFICO.

FAQ’s

Refinancing credit card debt isn’t hard. But the process might be confusing at first because you have several options. This section helps you figure out the best way to refinance credit card debt.

What Legit Consolidation Companies Look Like

There are dozens of companies that can refinance or consolidate your debt. Maybe they even call you or send a postcard in the mail. They might be legit companies, but be careful. They might not be working in your best interest if they have hidden fees.

The best debt consolidation loan companies do not charge these fees:

• Application fee
• Early payoff penalties
• No temporary or “teaser” interest rates

Many lenders don’t charge a loan opening fee. Some lenders call this an origination fee. If they charge this fee, it can be up to 6% of the opening balance. Always read the “fine print” for any lender before you accept their offer.

Fixed Interest Rates vs. Variable Interest Rates

In most cases, you should apply for a fixed interest rate loan first. You pay the same interest rate for the entire loan term. Even if interest rates rise, your rate stays the same.

With variable rate loans, your payments increase if rates rise. Make it easier, secure a fixed rate today. You will know exactly how much to pay each month until you pay the loan in full.

Only get a variable rate loan when you can pay off the balance in one year. For most people, it’s better to hedge your bets and choose a fixed rate loan.

You’ll still save money compared to your original interest rate. And you’ll have the extra peace of mind that comes with a fixed interest rate.

Some lenders only offer fixed interest rates. This makes the loan process easy since you only have one option. In this case, you just have to decide on how long the loan term needs to be.

Avoid These Types of Companies

You want to avoid debt relief and debt management companies. There are legit companies in this sector, but they can be expensive.

To save money, consolidate your debt yourself. Yes, doing it yourself takes effort. But give it a try first with the companies we recommend.

Debt management companies charge a monthly fee between $50 and $100. These companies will negotiate lower rates for your credit cards and other loan debt. And they will help you apply for a debt consolidation loan.

So they do help you. But in truth, you can do both of these tasks yourself.

For the convenience, these companies are better than nothing. If it’s the only way to consolidate your debt, do it. Having someone else make a plan for you to get debt-free is better than staying in debt.

You might also consider these companies if you have sub-prime credit. That is a credit score below 580. Most banks won’t lend you money with a credit score below 580.

Debt management companies can lend you money to refinance credit card debt at a lower interest rate.

If you go this route, verify the company is legit. Ask the National Foundation of Credit Counselors. For many, this is the leading agency for credit counselors.

What to Do When You Consolidate Your Debt

This is not a “get out of jail free card” to borrow more money. You must still repay your current balance. The only difference is that you’ll pay less in interest.

These three tactics below will help you stay on track.

Follow the Debt Snowball Method

To repay your debt faster, you should pursue Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps. His debt snowball strategy focuses on paying the smallest debt balance first. If you have two identical balances, choose the highest interest rate first.

Try our debt snowball calculator to get started.

Sell Your Unused Items for Extra Payments

The lenders we recommend won’t charge you an early payment penalty. So challenge yourself to pay off your debts sooner by making extra payments.

An easy way to do this is to sell your unused items. Use the proceeds to make extra monthly payments.

The sooner you make an extra payment, the less interest you pay overall. Even if it’s only an extra $20 a month, it’s still progress.

To help us get out of debt, I sold my $20,000 car. Then I replaced it with a $4,000 vehicle. The extra cash was used to pay off debt. You can also find some extra cash by selling some of these items:

• Used Electronics
• Clothing
• Anything else you own

Make Extra Money with a Side Hustle

When selling your used items isn’t enough, you can start a side hustle. You can earn extra cash with your knowledge and muscle!

The beauty of side hustles is that they are a source of recurring income. You work as much or little as you want with side hustles. So flexible gigs let you can balance work and family too!

Other Ways to Pay off Your Credit Card Debt

In some cases, it doesn’t make sense to consolidate your credit card debt. These are three cases when you shouldn’t consolidate or refinance:

• The interest rate is not lower
• Loan fees negate any interest rate savings
• You don’t have enough debt to consolidate

But this doesn’t mean you must continue making the minimum monthly payment. Below are a few ways you can save money without refinancing.

Negotiate a Lower Interest Rate With Your Current Lender

If you have a history of on-time payments, you might be able to get a lower interest rate. Credit card companies don’t want to lose your business to another lender.

Call the credit card company and ask for a lower rate. For instance, you pay 15% instead of 20% APR.

In some cases, they might reduce your rate for several months. This can be enough time to repay your balance in full.

And it’s less hassle than applying for a loan and having to transfer funds.

Sign Up for a 0% APR Credit Card

This is also called a “balance transfer credit card offer.” You will pay a balance transfer fee of up to 3%. But your balance doesn’t accrue interest for several months.

A credit card with a 0% APR can save you big money too! You won’t pay interest during the promotion period. So you can transfer your current balances to the new card and enjoy interest-free payments.

Just make sure you can pay off the balance before the 0% interest ends. For most cards, you have between 12 and 18 months.

After the promo period ends, you pay the regular interest rate again. So only choose this option if you are responsible with credit cards.

We still prefer refinancing credit card debt with a debt consolidation loan when you need several years to repay your balance.

But this can be a cheaper option if you have a small balance.

Pull From Your Savings

Avoid the 3% balance transfer fee and opening yet another credit card. You can borrow money from yourself. And no credit check is necessary either.

If you have money in your savings account, make extra payments.

Then repay yourself in the coming months with interest-free payments. This is the tactic my wife and I took to make the final payments on our loans. The money we saved by getting out of debt sooner exceeded the interest we would have earned.

But when using your savings, don’t tap your emergency fund to pay off your credit card debt.

How Does Refinancing Credit Card Debt Affect Your Credit Score?

Another question you might have is how refinancing credit card debt affects your credit score. We have all heard about why it is best to have good credit versus bad credit.

When you apply for a loan, the lender pulls your credit report and credit score with a hard pull. As a result, your credit score will drop a few points. But it will soon improve for these reasons:

• Your credit card balances go to $0
• You make fixed monthly loan payments that the lender reports to the credit bureau
• Your debt-to-credit ratio drops as you repay the loan balance

So after the initial credit score ding from opening a new credit account, your score will improve.

Summary

In brief, the sooner you choose to consolidate your credit card debt, the more cash you save. Lowering your interest rate will save you a lot of money with lower monthly payment. When possible, make extra payments. Then you will be debt free and see your credit score grow at the same time.

How do you plan to eliminate your credit card debt? Let us know.

Disclaimers

For example, a three-year $10,000 personal loan would have an interest rate of 11.74% and a 5.00% origination fee for an annual percentage rate (APR) of 15.34% APR. You would receive $9,500 and make 36 scheduled monthly payments of $330.9. A five-year $10,000 personal loan would have an interest rate of 11.99% and a 5.00% origination fee with a 14.27% APR. You would receive $9,500 and make 60 scheduled monthly payments of $222.39. Origination fees vary between 2.41%-5%. Personal loan APRs through Prosper range from 7.95% to 35.99%, with the lowest rates for the most creditworthy borrowers.

Eligibility for personal loans up to $40,000 depends on the information provided by the applicant in the application form. Eligibility for personal loans is not guaranteed, and requires that a sufficient number of investors commit funds to your account and that you meet credit and other conditions. Refer to Borrower Registration Agreement for details and all terms and conditions. All personal loans made by WebBank, Member FDIC.

Personal loans made through Upgrade feature APRs of 6.98%-35.89%. All personal loans have a 1.5% to 6% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay and paying off a portion of existing debt directly. For example, if you receive a $10,000 loan with a 36-month term and a 17.98% APR (which includes a 14.32% yearly interest rate and a 5% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,500 in your account and would have a required monthly payment of $343.33. Over the life of the loan, your payments would total $12,359.97. The APR on your loan may be higher or lower and your loan offers may not have multiple term lengths available. Actual rate depends on credit score, credit usage history, loan term, and other factors. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. There is no fee or penalty for repaying a loan early. Personal loans issued by Upgrade’s lending partners. Information on Upgrade’s lending partners can be found at https://www.upgrade.com/lending-partners/.

Accept your loan offer and your funds will be sent to your bank via ACH within one (1) business day of clearing necessary verifications. Availability of the funds is dependent on how quickly your bank processes this transaction. From the time of approval, funds should be available within four (4) business days. All loans made by WebBank, member FDIC.

All loans available through FreedomPlus.com are made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. All loan and rate terms are subject to eligibility restrictions, application review, credit score, loan amount, loan term, lender approval, and credit usage and history. Eligibility for a loan is not guaranteed. Loans are not available to residents of all states – please call a FreedomPlus representative for further details. The following limitations, in addition to others, shall apply: FreedomPlus does not arrange loans in: (i) Arizona under $10,500; (ii) Massachusetts under $6,500, (iii) Ohio under $5,500, and (iv) Georgia under $3,500. Repayment periods range from 24 to 60 months. The range of APRs on loans made available through FreedomPlus is 4.99% to a maximum of 29.99%. APR. The APR calculation includes all applicable fees, including the loan origination fee. For Example, a four year $20,000 loan with an interest rate of 15.49% and corresponding APR of 18.34% would have an estimated monthly payment of $561.60 and a total cost payable of $7,948.13. To qualify for a 4.99% APR loan, a borrower will need excellent credit on a loan for an amount less than $14,000.00, and with a term equal to 24 months.  Adding a co-borrower with sufficient income; using at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the loan proceeds to directly pay off qualifying existing debt; or showing proof of sufficient retirement savings, could help you qualify.

All loans made by WebBank, Member FDIC. Your actual rate depends upon credit score, loan amount, loan term, and credit usage and history. The APR ranges from 6.95% to 35.89%. For example, you could receive a loan of $6,000 with an interest rate of 7.99% and a 5.00% origination fee of $300 for an APR of 11.51%. In this example, you will receive $5,700 and will make 36 monthly payments of $187.99. The total amount repayable will be $6,767.64. Your APR will be determined based on your credit at time of application. The origination fee ranges from 1% to 6%; the average origination fee is  5.2% (as of 12/5/18 YTD).*There is no down payment and there is never a prepayment penalty. Closing of your loan is contingent upon your agreement of all the required agreements and disclosures on the www.lendingclub.com website. All loans via LendingClub have a minimum repayment term of 36 months or longer.

Fixed rates from 5.99% APR to 21.16% (with AutoPay). SoFi rate ranges are current as of January 30, 2020 and are subject to change without notice. See APR examples and terms. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. If approved for a loan, to qualify for the lowest rate, you must have excellent credit and meet other conditions. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including credit score, credit usage and history, years of experience, our ability to verify your income and employment and other factors. The SoFi 0.25% AutoPay interest rate reduction applies if you make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. AutoPay is not required to obtain a loan.

If you lose your job through no fault of your own, you may apply for Unemployment Protection. SoFi will suspend your monthly SoFi loan payments and provide job placement assistance during your forbearance period. Interest will continue to accrue and will be added to your principal balance at the end of each forbearance period, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Benefits are offered in three month increments, and capped at 12 months, in aggregate, over the life of the loan. To be eligible for this assistance you must provide proof that you have applied for and are eligible for unemployment compensation, and you must actively work with our Career Advisory Group to look for new employment. If the loan is co-signed the unemployment protection applies where both the borrower and cosigner lose their job and meet conditions.