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Are you stuck with a personal loan that no longer fits your situation? If so, you may want to learn how to refinance a personal loan. To help you prepare, we'll cover what you need to do before you refinance, which documents you should gather, and when refinancing is the best option. Whatever your reasons, here's a rundown of how to refinance a personal loan.
A personal loan refinance is when you replace your current loan with a new one, potentially to get a reduced annual percentage rate or a lower monthly payment. Refinancing a personal loan can be broken down into five steps (four if your credit score is up to snuff). Here's how to refinance your loan:
The first thing you must do is to check your credit score. Your credit score is a three-digit number between 300 and 850. That number represents how well you have managed credit in the past. Fortunately, finding your credit score is easier than ever. Credit card companies, auto lenders, and some other lenders offer a free monthly credit score to their customers as a perk. Look out for your FICO® Score in particular, as this is the credit scoring model that 90% of all lenders use.
When you refinance a personal loan, your credit score should be at least as strong as when you first borrowed the money -- ideally higher. In fact, personal loan refinancing makes the most sense when your credit score and other qualifications are strong enough to snag a lower interest rate.
If your credit score is strong, it's time to refinance a personal loan. If not, your immediate focus should be on the next step.
If your credit score is lower than you'd hoped, take steps to raise it before applying for a new loan. Loan refinancing is all about improving your financial situation, which only works if your loan credentials are good enough to inspire a lender to offer a lower interest rate and better loan terms.
Increasing your credit score takes time and patience, but there are some quick ways to boost your score. Check your credit report for errors and get them corrected if you find any. If you're able, it helps to pay down high interest credit card debt. In the long term, make sure you pay all your bills on time, as that will have the biggest impact on your score. A good credit score will help you refinance a personal loan and could save you hundreds of dollars.
For example, by checking The Ascent's favorite lenders today, we see that borrowers with strong credit scores (660 and above) could qualify for interest rates that are below 3%. Interest rates on personal loans for those with credit scores between 580 and 659 begin at around 8%. Personal loans for those with credit scores under 580 are more difficult to find, though not impossible. And if your credit score is below 580 and you manage to find a lender, you're likely to be charged the highest interest rate the lender offers.
Most personal loan lenders offer a refinance personal loan product. Your current lender may refinance your existing loan, but you should get quotes from several lenders to get the best deal. Work out how much you'll need to borrow and how much you want to pay each month.
A good lender will offer three things:
You should also check whether your current loan will charge a prepayment fee, and whether a refinance loan is right for you. For example, if you also have credit card or other consumer debt, you might be better off with a debt consolidation loan.
Many personal loan lenders offer a pre-approval process so they can give you a loan estimate with just a soft credit check. If that's the case, there's no need to worry about it dinging your credit until you commit to a lender. At that point, they'll conduct a hard credit check and finalize the details of your loan.
Get the best rates and terms to fit your needs. Here are a few loans we'd like to highlight, including our award winners.
The steps to refinance a personal loan are the same ones you took to get approved for the original loan. Make it easier to refinance a personal loan by gathering the following documents ahead of time:
If you're self-employed, you'll need the following:
Everything you've done to refinance a personal loan has led to this moment. Once the funds have been distributed, you get to pay off the old loan. Be sure to rework your monthly budget in preparation for the new loan payment. And take a moment to enjoy what will hopefully be a lower interest rate and better loan term.
Here are some of the times it makes sense to refinance a personal loan:
Earlier, we talked about soft and hard credit checks. When you rate shop, most lenders will only conduct a soft check, which has no impact on your credit whatsoever. Once you've committed to a loan, the lender conducts a hard credit check to make sure they know everything there is to know about your credit. This hard credit check typically causes a small dip in your credit score. However, your credit score will begin to creep back up when you make on-time payments on your new loan. Don't be so concerned about a temporary dip that you miss out on saving money.
Most personal loan lenders allow customers to refinance a personal loan. In fact, they would probably love it if you did, particularly if your original loan was with another lender. Among the lenders we currently recommend are:
Marcus. If you have an excellent credit score, Marcus may be the right personal loan lender for you. They don't mess around by charging pesky fees and offer some of the lowest interest rates around.
LightStream is another great option for those with strong credit scores, particularly if you want to refinance a personal loan from another lender. Like Marcus, LightStream will not charge fees or prepayment penalties. And currently, they offer the lowest personal loan interest rate we've come across.
Avant is a good option for borrowers with less-than-stellar credit. With a credit score of at least 580, Avant will consider you for a $2,000 to $35,000 loan. Avant also stands out for its transparency. You'll know about any fees they charge before signing on the dotted line.
If none of these loans ends up being right for you, there are some other great personal loan options.
There are several reasons to refinance a personal loan, most of which boil down to saving money or reducing your monthly costs.
If your credit score has risen enough to qualify for a lower interest rate loan, you should definitely consider refinancing. If your payment is too high, you might be able to land a lower payment by refinancing the reduced balance or increasing your loan repayment period.
In short, the decision to refinance a personal loan depends on your specific situation. If doing so can save you money and make your life easier, go for it.
Looking for a personal loan but don’t know where to start? Our favorites offer quick approval and rock-bottom interest rates. Check out our list to find the best loan for you.
Yes, you absolutely can refinance a personal loan.
When doing so lowers your payment, either through a lower interest rate, a longer repayment term, or by refinancing a reduced balance.
When your credit score is too low to qualify for a lower interest rate, or the fees you would pay to refinance will cost more than any savings. If you extend your loan term when you refinance a personal loan, you also need to factor in the increased interest cost.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Rates quoted are with AutoPay. Your loan terms are not guaranteed and may vary based on loan purpose, length of loan, loan amount, credit history and payment method (AutoPay or Invoice). AutoPay discount is only available when selected prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. To obtain a loan, you must complete an application on LightStream.com which may affect your credit score. You may be required to verify income, identity and other stated application information. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 8.49% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $205.12. Some additional conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2024 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.
*Upstart Loan Disclaimer
The full range of available rates varies by state. The average 3-year loan offered across all lenders using the Upstart platform will have an APR of 21.97% and 36 monthly payments of $35 per $1,000 borrowed. For example, the total cost of a $10,000 loan would be $12,646 including a $626 origination fee. APR is calculated based on 3-year rates offered in the last 1 month. There is no down payment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application.
Citi Personal Loan disclaimer:
**Rates as of 05-31-2024. Your APR may be as low as 11.49% or as high as 20.49% for the term of your loan. The lowest rate quoted assumes excellent credit and a loan term of 24 or 36 months. Your APR will depend on a variety of factors including your creditworthiness, term of loan, and existing relationship with Citi. For example, if you borrow $10,000 for 36 months at 15.99% APR, to repay your loan you will have to make 36 monthly payments of approximately $351.52.
There is a 0.5% APR discount if you enroll in automatic payments at loan origination. Additionally, existing Citigold and Citi Priority customers will receive a 0.25% discount to the interest rate. If you are in default, your APR may increase by 2.00%. No down payment is required. Rates subject to change without notice.
You must be at least 18 years of age (21 years of age in Puerto Rico). Co-applicants are not permitted. Loan proceeds cannot be used for post-secondary educational or business purposes.
If you apply online, you must agree to receive the loan note and all other account disclosures provided at loan origination in an electronic format and provide your signature electronically.
Credit cards issued by Citibank, N.A. or its affiliates, as well as Checking Plus and Ready Credit accounts, are not eligible for debt consolidation, and Citibank will not issue payoff checks for these accounts. If you are unsure of the issuer on the account, please visit https://www.citi.com/affiliatesproducts for a list of Citi products and affiliates.