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Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by and edited by , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Our loans reporters and editors focus on the points consumers care about most — the different types of lending options, the best rates, the best lenders, how to pay off debt and more — so you can feel confident when investing your money. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. is when you roll multiple debts into one loan with one monthly payment and a (hopefully lower) interest rate. This can help you stay organized and possibly save money, especially when you have a pile of debt and it doesn’t seem like you’re making any progress towards repaying what you owe. Not all debt consolidation loans are the same, though. Understand how they work and weigh the benefits and drawbacks of these loan products before deciding if they make financial sense for you. What is a debt consolidation loan
A is one way to refinance your debt. You’ll apply for a loan for the amount you owe on your existing debts, and once approved, you’ll use the funds to pay off your debt balances. Then you’ll pay down the new loan over time. When choosing a debt consolidation loan, you’ll have to evaluate features like: Loan type: The most common loan types include , credit cards with an introductory 0 percent APR, 401(k) loans and . Some require collateral while others don’t, so it’s worth understanding how each debt product works as it could impact other areas of your finances. Loan terms: The loan amount, interest rate and length depend on your loan type and financial health. Longer loan terms could mean your monthly payments are more affordable, but you should also be mindful of the interest rate as it determines how much you’ll pay the lender to borrow funds. You may find that a shorter repayment period is ideal despite the higher monthly payments, as you’ll pay far less in interest. Secured versus unsecured: You have to put down collateral with a secured loan. For example, a home equity loan is secured by your home. If you fall behind on payments, the lender can take that collateral to satisfy your unpaid balance. If you don’t want to risk your assets, consider sticking to your unsecured options, such as personal loans and 0 percent APR credit cards. How does a debt consolidation loan work
Most debt consolidation loans are fixed-rate installment loans, which means the interest rate never changes and you make one predictable payment every month. So if you have three credit cards with different interest rates and minimum payments, you could use a debt consolidation loan to pay off those cards — leaving you with just one monthly payment to manage instead of three. Let’s say you’re paying down credit card debt. Here’s how a debt consolidation loan can help you save on interest costs: Card 1 has a balance of $5,000 with an APR of 20 percent. Card 2 has a balance of $2,000 with an APR of 25 percent. Card 3 has a balance of $1,000 with an APR of 16 percent. If you pay down these credit card balances over 12 months, your interest costs would amount to $927. But let’s say you take out a 12-month personal loan for the amount you owe — $8,000 — with a 10 percent APR. If you pay off the loan in one year, you knock down the interest cost to just $440. To calculate the savings on your debt, try using a and a . Benefits of a debt consolidation loan
If you’re looking to save money, streamline your monthly payments and circle the payoff date on your calendar, then debt consolidation may be a good fit. Here’s a breakdown of the main benefits: Pay down debt quicker. Making the minimum payment on your credit cards can stretch your repayment timeline for years. A debt consolidation loan may put you on a faster track to paying it off. Save on interest costs. Generally, if you qualify for a lower rate than what you’re paying now, you’ll save on interest costs. As of early August 2022, the was 17.58 percent, compared to the of 10.60 percent. Simplify your monthly payments. It’s easier to manage one monthly payment than multiple payments with different due dates. This reduces your chances of missing payments, which is good for your credit. Repay on a fixed schedule. Many debt consolidation loans are fixed installment loans, which means you’ll know exactly when you’ll be debt-free. This can help motivate you while you pay down debt. Risks of a debt consolidation loan
Before moving forward, you’ll need to weigh your immediate needs with your long-term goals. Some people choose to consolidate debt to save money and organize their monthly payments, but there are downsides: It won’t solve all your financial issues. Once you use the debt consolidation loan to pay off your debt, you might be tempted to start using your credit cards again. This increases your overall debt, which can impact your credit and make it harder to pay down your balances. There may be some upfront costs. Some debt consolidation loans come with fees, including origination fees, balance transfer fees, prepayment penalties, annual fees and more. Before taking out the loan, ask the lender whether any apply. You may pay more in interest. This might happen in two ways. Depending on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio and loan amount, you might pay a higher interest rate than you would on the original debt. Or, if you use the debt consolidation loan to lower your monthly payments by stretching out your repayment term, you may end up paying more in interest in the long run. Debt consolidation loan interest rates
When you pay back a debt consolidation loan, you’re not just paying back the amount you borrowed — you’ll also pay an additional sum each month in the form of interest. generally range from 5.99 percent to 35.99 percent. A higher interest rate will cost you more over the life of the loan than a lower interest rate. Every lender has different criteria for setting rates, so shopping around can help you find the best deal. Generally, lenders check these factors when deciding your interest rate: Your credit score: Borrowers typically need a credit score in the mid-600s to qualify for a debt consolidation loan, and a higher score may help you get a lower interest rate. Your DTI ratio: Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio shows lenders how much of your monthly income goes toward debt payments. Lenders tend to look for a lower DTI ratio. Income: The lender will verify your employment and check that you earn enough to make payments. If you don’t quite meet the credit requirements, you may be able to find , although you may get a higher interest rate. If you’re in this situation, consider adding a co-signer to the loan. This person promises to take over payments if you fall behind — so they should understand what’s involved before saying yes. How to apply for a debt consolidation loan
There’s a little legwork involved, but taking these steps will be worth it if it saves you money: Understand your finances. A strong credit score gives you a better chance of qualifying for a debt consolidation loan and getting a good interest rate. Check your credit score before applying to see . Compare lender terms. Shopping around for the best deal can help you save money on debt consolidation. Get quotes from multiple lenders and compare the interest rates, feess, loan terms and monthly payments. The loan with the lowest interest rate doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best option. You could find that you’ll pay far more in fees for the loan with the lower interest rate than you would if you choose the lender that charges more in interest but fewer fees. Get prequalified. Some lenders offer prequalification, which gives you a sneak peek of the offers you may receive. Many can perform a soft credit pull, which means the prequalification won’t affect your credit score. You can generally get started online and check your rate by providing your name, physical address, email address, phone number, date of birth, Social Security number, housing and income information, and desired loan amount. Gather what you need to apply. When applying for a debt consolidation loan, you’ll need the information you used to get prequalified and documentation to prove your income. This could include your recent pay stubs, bank statements or tax returns (if you’re self-employed). Some lenders also request additional information, so it’s worth inquiring about documentation requirements before applying. Once you’re approved, the lender may disburse your loan proceeds to your creditors or send the funds to you. Make sure the original debt is paid off, then work on your new loan. Set up automatic payments or use reminders to make on-time payments every month. Over time, you’ll be debt-free. How to tell if a debt consolidation loan is right for you
A debt consolidation loan is if: You qualify for a lower interest rate. If you have good or excellent credit and plan to consolidate credit card debt, you’ll likely get a lower interest rate on a debt consolidation loan than you currently have on all your credit cards. You want a predictable monthly payment. The interest rate is fixed on most debt consolidation loans, which means you’ll get a predictable monthly payment that you can work into your budget. But a debt consolidation loan only makes sense if you can afford this amount. You’d prefer to pay a single creditor each month. Instead of scrambling to pay several creditors by the payment due dates, you’ll only pay one creditor each month and can avoid late payment fees and adverse credit reporting. However, there are instances where it could be more sensible to explore other options. If your credit score is on the lower end, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll qualify for a debt consolidation loan with a lower interest rate than you currently have. It’s best to avoid taking out a debt consolidation loan if money’s tight or you tend to overspend, making it challenging to afford the monthly loan payments or risk racking up even more debt. In this case, you’re better off reaching out to lenders and creditors to negotiate a payment arrangement that works for your finances. Bottom line
You might be able to pay off debt balances much sooner and save a ton of money with a debt consolidation loan. You’d also enjoy the convenience of only making one payment each month instead of worrying about paying several lenders on time. However, you could incur additional costs that you didn’t have beforehand, and there’s a chance you’ll get a higher interest rate. Ultimately, you want to assess your situation and run the numbers to decide if a debt consolidation loan makes financial sense for you. It is equally important to focus on developing more sound money-management habits over time. Learn more
SHARE: Aylea Wilkins is an editor specializing in personal and home equity loans. She has previously worked for Bankrate editing content about auto, home and life insurance. She has been editing professionally for nearly a decade in a variety of fields with a primary focus on helping people make financial and purchasing decisions with confidence by providing clear and unbiased information. Related Articles