Learn and Understand: How to Refinance a Personal Loan?

Dec 28, 2023 By Susan Kelly

Introduction

How to refinance a current personal loan? With a personal loan refinance, you can exchange your current loan for a new one with different terms, such as a lower interest rate or a more extended grace period. Refinancing could be a good option if you need more time to pay off your loan or if interest rates have fallen. If you can refinance your loan to a lower interest rate, you will save money over the life of the loan. Minimum monthly payments can be reduced by refinancing to a longer loan term. Extending the loan's repayment period usually means paying more interest over the life of the loan.

Is It Wise To Refinance An Existing Loan?

In the following scenarios, refinancing a personal loan could be beneficial in many ways.

Potential Reduction In Interest Rate

By refinancing, you could lower the interest rate you pay each month. If your credit score has increased since you first obtained your loan, you may now be eligible for a lower interest rate. Or, if interest rates have dropped, you may qualify for a lower interest rate, reducing the total cost of the loan.

Having Lower Regular Expenses

Do you know: how to refinance a high interest personal loan? Refinancing can reduce monthly payment amounts because the loan term is stretched out. If you're having trouble making your payments on a loan for 36 months, remortgaging over 48 months could reduce your cost and give you more time to pay off the loan. Consider, though, that this strategy may result in higher interest payments over the life of the loan.

Cutting Down On The Total Number Of Payments

Conversely, if your financial circumstances have changed, switching from a long payback period (say, 36 months) to a shorter repayment period (say, 24 months) will allow you to pay off your line of credit much faster, getting out of loans sooner, and potentially reducing the amount of interest you pay overall. A complete picture can be obtained using the loan calculator provided in the previous sentence.

Credit Score Effects of Refinancing a Personal Loan

There are a few ways in which refinancing a personal loan could affect your credit rating: To begin, a hard credit check is typically necessary when refinancing a loan, which can harm your score. This drop, however, is usually insignificant, and the advantages of refinancing more than compensate for it. The credit reporting agencies will only count loan applications submitted within a short window (usually 14–45 days) as a single inquiry. If you refinance and close your old loan account, your credit history may take a hit. However, the effects of closing this account will be primarily determined by the timing of the original loan's issuance and the account's good standing. Making timely payments on the new loan is usually all it takes to restore a borrower's credit score to its pre-loan status.

Possible Refinancing Of Private Loans By The Following Financial Institutions

SoFi

SoFi provides its members unique benefits such as an unemployment insurance program, career guidance, financial planning assistance, discounted rates, and an invitation to member-only events.

Avant

To those with less-than-perfect credit, Avant extends loans. View your rate options and see if you qualify for the credit if your credit score is between 600 and 700.

Getting Paid in Happy Money

Payoff provides a personal loan designed for the sole purpose of paying off existing credit card balances. To help you choose the best option for paying off your loan, your lender will likely present you with several options. By logging into the members-only website, you can keep tabs on your development as you work toward your objectives.

Bank of Wells Fargo

Within one to three business days, this national bank can process your request to have payments sent directly to your unsecured creditors. Because of this, the procedure for refinancing may be completed more quickly and with less hassle.

LightStream

If you apply for an unsecured loan with another lender and approve for a lower rate, LightStream will beat that rate by 0.10 percentage points with their Rate Beat program. A good to excellent credit score is needed for a LightStream loan.

Conclusion

Now that you have learned how to refinance a personal loan so, ensure that you will save money before refinancing a personal loan. Longer loan terms with lower monthly payments cost more overall. It would help if you thought about every possible scenario before applying with a new lender, as additional fees can make refinancing an expensive switch. Put off refinancing if doing so will significantly impact your finances. Research your options thoroughly, as you would with anything else. Work with both lenders to make refinancing your loan as easy and stress-free as possible if you decide this is the best course of action.

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