Five Steps to Student Loan Refinance

The idea of making fewer payments and possibly saving money on student loan repayment is appealing, but student loan refinance may seem complicated. Where should you begin? We’ve broken down what to expect in five basic steps to student loan refinance.

1. Compile a list of your current student loans, their balances, and interest rates.

Take stock of whether you have federal student loans, private student loans, or a combination of both, and who your servicers/lenders are. Make note of the current balances, the rates, and whether you have a fixed or variable rate. It may be a good idea to create a secure spreadsheet with the information for easy access later.

• You can find information about federal student loans through the Department of Education’s website.
• If you’re unsure which lender(s) hold your private student loans, you can consult your credit report.

2. Explore current refinance rates and estimated payments.

Most lenders now offer an option to enter your information on their website to view potential rates and offers. By inputting some basic details, the lenders will perform a “soft credit check” which will not affect your credit score. While every lender is different, most will ask for items such as:

• Name and contact information
• Your college or university
• Total of your student loan debt
• Your current income

Your results will include a list of available terms (how many many years the loan is for); rates, which may be fixed or variable; and an estimate of your payments. Compare information from different lenders, and then select the offer that best suits your needs for terms and payments.

3. Gather the necessary information and apply.

Just as you did for your original student loans, you’ll need to provide documentation of your identity and income. In general you will need to provide:

• A government issued photo ID
• Social Security card or number
• Proof of income such as paystubs
• Statements and account information for your current loans

You will need the same information for a co-borrower if applying with one. Be sure to respond to any requests for additional information in a timely manner so the loan process isn’t delayed.

4. Continue making your loan payments until the refinance loan is finalized.

The new lender will notify you when the refinance process is complete, which may take several weeks. Until that time, you should continue to make any scheduled payments on your current loans.

5. Register for online account access for your new lender and make note of your payment date.

Setting up automatic payments is an easy way to be sure your payments are made on time, and many lenders even provide a rate discount for automatic payments.

If you need help preparing for student loan refinance, our College Counselor can provide information via email or phone.