How to Refinance Federal Loans?

Huynh NguyenJanuary 1, 2023

If you’re a student, you might have student loans that are due to be paid off in a few years. If that’s the case, you should be looking into refinancing your federal loans as soon as possible! Refinancing can save you money on interest rates, so it’s an easy way to get more bang for your buck. In this article, they’ll show you how to refinance federal student loans step-by-step.

Step 1: Check Your Credit Score

Before starting the refinancing process, ensure your credit score is high enough to qualify for a lower interest rate. Your credit score is a three-digit number that indicates how likely you are to repay your debt. A higher credit score indicates that you’re more trustworthy of lenders and can get better loan interest rates. There are many places online where you can check your credit report and find out what your current score is:

Step 2: Shop Around

It’s time to shop around for the best deal. Don’t just go with the first company you find, but don’t be afraid to look for a better deal. You may even want to negotiate with them if they offer a different rate than their standard one. And remember that it’s okay if you walk away from an offer—the banks will still be there when you’re ready to refinance again.

Step 3: Apply for Refinancing Your Federal Student Loans

If you have decided to refinance your federal loans, the next step is to fill out an application. Your loan servicer will send you a few documents that you need to review before signing the application and submitting it back to them. If everything checks out, they will issue your new borrower benefits and loan terms as soon as possible. You can receive funds from most lenders within just a few business days after receiving approval on your application!

If you have multiple federal loans being a student, you can combine them all into one loan with a fixed rate of interest based on the avg of the interest rates on the consolidated loans.

Step 4: Close the Deal

Now that you’ve found a loan with the best rate, it’s time to finalize the deal. When the lender sends you a final loan offer, ensure you understand all of your new federal student loan terms. Ensure you understand all fees and interest rates associated with your new loan agreement. Also, make sure that any prepayment penalties are clearly stated so that they don’t impact your ability to pay off your debt early or in full if necessary. Finally, review any repayment options available, so there are no surprises down the road when it comes time for payments to start coming due!

Lantern by SoFi shares, “The average debt owed by individuals carrying federal student loans is $36,510. Their regular repayment term is generally 10 years. Extended and income-driven repayment plans let borrowers stretch out their payments even longer.”

Congratulations! You have successfully refinanced your federal student loans. Now, you can spend more time being happy and less time worrying about debt.