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It is possible to pay bills with a credit card. Using a credit card in this way can help you earn rewards like cash back and travel points.

But it’s not always the right financial move. Keep reading to learn what bills you can pay with a credit card and how using a credit card to pay bills works.

Can You Pay Bills With a Credit Card?

Yes, it is possible to pay certain bills with a credit card. However, using a credit card responsibly is key.

When using a credit card to pay bills, it’s important to make sure doing so won’t cause you to rack up a high balance. Paying bills with a credit card makes the most sense when you can easily pay off your credit card balance in full right away.

If done responsibly, a card holder can earn credit card rewards — like cash back, travel points, and gift cards — for spending on purchases they have to make every month without paying interest. Plus, making regular, on-time payments can help build your credit score.

When Should You Not Use a Credit Card to Pay Bills?

As great as the potential to earn rewards is, if someone can’t afford to pay their credit card balance, charging their bills can lead to high interest charges and late fees (which are two ways credit card companies make money).

It also might not make sense to pay bills with a credit card if it leads to paying an extra fee from the merchant.

What Bills Can You Pay With a Credit Card?

There are limitations on which bills you can pay with a credit card. And, as briefly noted earlier, you may owe a fee for using a credit card to pay bills, which could outweigh the benefits earned.

Here are 10 examples of bills you can pay with a credit card, as well as explanations on how paying these bills with a credit card works.

1. Streaming Services

The vast majority of streaming services accept credit card payments to cover the monthly cost of the subscription. To pay this bill with a credit card, all you’ll need to do is enter their credit card number on the streaming service’s website. The card will then automatically get charged each month unless you cancel or suspend your membership.

It’s unlikely any streaming service will charge an extra fee for using a credit card to pay for their subscription.

2. Utilities

Some utilities providers allow credit card payments, so it’s worth investigating this option to determine if it’s accepted. If your utility provider will take a credit card payment, then setting it up is usually as simple as providing your credit card number when you pay your bill online, over the phone, or through the mail. You can often set up autopay as well.

However, watch out for the additional convenience and processing fees that some providers may charge. Higher bills are more likely to offset this fee given the greater earning potential for credit card points or other rewards.

3. Cable

Cable is another bill you can pay with a credit card. To determine how to do so, you’ll want to consult your cable provider. You may be able to enter your credit card number on the online payment portal or provide this information over the phone. Setting up autopay is also usually an option with a credit card.

There is typically no additional processing fee to pay cable bills.

4. Phone

Another bill you might pay with your credit card is your phone bill. You can likely set this up online on your phone provider’s website or by giving them a call. If you’re unsure of how to pay bills with a credit card, simply consult your phone provider.

You’ll typically face no additional processing fees.

5. Internet

Your internet service is another bill that you can cover using your credit card. As with other utilities and services, consult your internet provider if you need assistance getting this set up. In general, however, you can do so through your online payment portal. If you don’t want to go through the legwork each month, you can usually set up autopay with your credit card.

Most internet providers won’t charge an additional processing fee to pay your bill with a credit card, meaning those costs won’t cut into any rewards you earn with a cash back credit card or other type of rewards credit card.

6. Rent

Most landlords don’t allow credit card payments, but there are third-party solutions that can allow someone to pay their rent with a credit card. This includes services such as Plastiq and PlacePay, which act as intermediaries.

However, you’ll generally pay a convenience charge or other fees. You’ll want to assess whether the benefits of using your credit card to pay rent outweigh the costs.

7. Mortgage

Mortgage servicers generally don’t allow credit card payments. However, there are third-party payment processing services through which you could pay your mortgage. Still, some credit card issuers may prohibit you from paying your mortgage through these services.

In addition to restrictions, you’ll want to look out for processing fees. These could cancel out any rewards you could earn from covering your mortgage with a credit card.

8. Car Loan

Just like mortgage services, most auto lenders also don’t accept credit cards for loan payments. If you do find an auto lender who’s willing to accept a credit card for payment, you’ll likely face a hefty processing fee.

Additionally, credit card interest rates tend to be higher than those of auto loans, so if you’re not confident you could immediately pay off your credit card balance in full, you could simply end up paying a lot more in interest.

9. Taxes

It is possible to pay some taxes with a credit card. The IRS allows you to pay on its website using a credit card. However, you’ll face a processing fee ranging from 1.82% to 1.98%, depending on which payment processor you select. If you opt to pay using an integrated IRS e-file and e-pay service provider, such as TurboTax, your fee could range even higher.

10. Medical Bills

While you can pay medical bills with a credit card, it might not be the most cost-effective option. This is because credit cards can charge high interest and fees, and there’s the potential to damage your credit score. Many medical providers may offer interest-free or low-interest payment plans, or a personal loan could offer a lower rate than a credit card.

If you do think the rewards and convenience of using a credit card is worth the risk, the process of paying bills with a credit card will vary by medical institution. Before charging your medical bills to a credit card, you may want to at least try to negotiate medical bills down.

Recommended: Does Applying For a Credit Card Hurt Your Credit Score

Benefits of Paying Bills With a Credit Card

There are a few key benefits associated with paying bills with a credit card.

1. Ease of Payment

It may be possible to pay a bill with a credit card online, in an app, or over the phone.

2. Easy to Prove Payment

If a payment dispute arises, paying by credit card is an easy way to keep a record of payments.

3. Identity Theft Protection

If either a credit card or someone’s personal information gets stolen, a credit card issuer will pay back some or all of the charges.

4. Autopay

It’s easy to use a credit card to set up autopay for bills so you never accidentally forget to pay them.

5. Can Build Credit History

Given how credit cards work, using a credit card to make payments and then paying that balance off on time and in full can help build your credit score.

6. Earn Rewards

Purchases made with a credit card helps earn cash back and credit card points.

Downsides of Paying Bills With a Credit Card

There are also some downsides to paying bills with a credit card that are worth keeping in mind.

1. May Cost More

Because many bill services charge fees to pay with a credit card, it’s possible to spend more than necessary on processing fees.

2. Can Lead to High-Interest Debt

If someone can’t afford to pay off their credit card balance after using it to pay for bills, they can end up with high-interest debt on their hands.

3. Processing Fees Can Cancel Out Rewards

It’s important to do the math to make sure that the cost of processing fees isn’t canceling out the cash back you’re earning with the purchase.

4. Leads to Another Bill to Pay

Similar to when you pay a credit card with another credit card, paying a bill with a credit card simply leads to another bill to pay. This can cause more hassle than it’s worth.

5. Can Hurt Credit Utilization Ratio

Carrying a higher balance on a credit card can lead to a higher credit utilization ratio, which is damaging to credit scores. One of the common credit card rules is to keep your utilization below 30%, meaning you’re not using more than this percentage of your total available credit at any given time.

Recommended: What Is a Charge Card

Guide to Using a Credit Card to Pay Bills

At this point, it’s clear that it is possible to pay some bills with a credit card. But should you? In short, it depends.

If the bill provider won’t charge a processing fee and the consumer can afford to pay off their credit card balance in full, then paying their bills with a credit card is a great way to earn rewards and build a credit score.

However, in many cases, the processing fee some merchants charge can outweigh the value of cash back or other rewards earned. Not to mention, carrying a credit card balance can lead to incurring expensive interest and fees.

The Takeaway

It is possible to pay some bills with a credit card, but doing so can lead to paying costly processing fees or even accruing interest charges. It’s important to crunch the numbers to see if paying a bill with a credit will result in earning enough rewards to justify any processing fees.

Whether you're looking to build credit, apply for a new credit card, or save money with the cards you have, it's important to understand the options that are best for you. Learn more about credit cards by exploring this credit card guide.

FAQ

Should I put non-debt bills on a credit card?

If someone can afford to pay off their credit card balance in full and the processing fee they’ll owe isn’t, it can make sense to put a non-debt bill on their credit card. They just have to remember to then pay their credit card bill to avoid owing any fees or interest, which could undercut the potential benefits.

Is it wise to pay monthly bills with a credit card?

Paying monthly bills with a credit card can lead to processing fees in some scenarios. If someone won’t owe a fee, they can benefit from earning cash back by paying their bills with a credit card. This can be a savvy move to make if they can afford to pay off their credit card bill in full each month, thus avoiding interest charges.

Is it better to pay bills with a credit or debit card?

Paying a bill with a credit card can lead to earning rewards, which a debit card can’t offer. There’s also often purchase protection. However, if you’re worried about handling credit card debt responsibly, you may opt for using a debit card, as this will draw on money you already have in your bank account. With either a debit or credit card, however, you’ll want to look out for fees.

Should I pay off my credit card in full or leave a small balance?

It’s always best to pay off a credit card balance in full if possible before a credit card’s grace period ends. The grace period is the time between when the billing cycle ends and your payment becomes due. You won’t owe interest as long as you pay off your balance in full before the statement due date. Otherwise, you could owe interest charges and fees.

What happens if you pay the full amount on your credit card?

Paying the full amount on a credit card makes it possible to avoid paying interest. After a credit card is paid off in full, the consumer can simply enjoy the rewards they earned by making purchases with their credit card.

Does paying a bill with a credit card count as a purchase?

Yes, paying a bill with a credit card does count as a purchase. This makes it possible to earn cardholder rewards like cash back when paying bills.

Photo credit: iStock/Damir Khabirov

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

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Your available credit and the total credit limit on a particular credit card are both tied to the potential amount that you can spend. Your credit limit is the total amount of credit that the card issuer is willing to lend you. On the other hand, your available credit is the potential amount you can spend right now.

Unlike your credit limit, your available credit takes into consideration your outstanding balance and any pending charges. So, for example, if your total credit limit is $10,000, and you have an outstanding balance of $2,000, then your available credit is $8,000.

What Is Available Credit?

Your available credit on a credit card is the total amount that you can spend on your credit card. It is usually calculated as the total credit limit minus any outstanding balance or pending charges. If you attempt a transaction that is larger than your available credit, the credit card company will typically decline the transaction.

What Is a Credit Limit?

The way most credit cards work is that the credit card company issues you a maximum amount that they are willing to lend you. This is called your credit limit. It is usually determined by your financial information, such as your credit score, income, and other items on your credit history.

Why Is Available Credit Important?

Your available credit is one of the most important things about your credit card. The amount of available credit you have is the total amount of money that you can spend on your credit card. If you try to make a purchase that’s more than your total available credit, your credit card company will usually decline your transaction.

Differences Between Credit Limit and Available Credit

The main difference between credit limit and available credit is one of a theoretical limit vs. a limit in practice.

Your credit limit is the theoretical limit that represents how much the credit card company is willing to lend you. If you’ve used a portion of your credit limit, then that amount is subtracted from your total credit limit and becomes your available credit. This is the maximum amount that you can spend right now on your credit card.

In other words, your credit limit will generally remain the same, whereas your available credit will vary based on your spending. When you haven’t spent any money using your credit card, meaning your balance is $0, your credit limit and available credit are the same.

What Happens If You Go Over Your Available Credit?

If you have a credit card balance or outstanding pending charges on your credit card, those amounts are subtracted from the total credit limit that you have on that card. This marks your current available credit, and it’s the maximum amount that you can charge on your credit card at the current point in time.

If you try to make a charge for more than your available credit, it’s likely that your credit card company will decline the charge. With some credit card companies or specific credit cards, it’s possible that the credit card company will allow a charge above your available credit, but they may charge interest and/or additional fees. Check with your credit card company for the specific rules and terms for your particular card.

What Happens If You Go Over Your Credit Limit?

If you continue to spend all of your available credit until you’ve reached your total credit limit, you may not be able to continue to use your credit card. You’ll first need to make payments to lower your total balance and raise your available credit.

In some cases, if you continue to keep your outstanding balance near your total credit limit, the credit card company may choose to close your credit card account. If this doesn’t happen, your card issuer may also increase your interest rate, lower your credit limit, or even raise the minimum payment requested.

Going over your credit limit can also have serious implications for your credit score. This is because credit utilization — how much of your available credit you’re currently using — is a major factor used to determine your score. It’s recommended to keep your credit utilization ratio below 30% to maintain a healthy score; if you’ve reached your credit limit, your utilization will be at 100%.

Recommended: When Are Credit Card Payments Due

How to Increase Your Available Credit

The best way to increase the available credit on your credit card is to spend less on your card and make additional payments toward your total outstanding balance. Every dollar that you pay toward your outstanding balance will increase your available credit.

Ideally, you’d get to a situation where you’d pay off your statement balance in full, each and every month. In that scenario, your available credit and your total credit limit would be equal.

How to Increase Your Credit Limit

You have a few options for increasing your credit limit. Some credit card companies will regularly review the accounts of their cardmembers, and proactively increase their credit limits.

You also have the option to contact your card issuer directly and ask them to increase your credit limit. Keep in mind that most issuers are more likely to increase your credit limit if you’re already using your credit card responsibly.

If you’re not having any luck increasing the credit limit on your existing credit card, another option is to open a new credit card. This could substantially increase your available credit if you’re approved — especially if the new card’s limit is at or above the average credit card limit.

Recommended: Tips for Using a Credit Card Responsibly

The Takeaway

Your total credit limit and available credit are two terms that refer to the amount of money that you can spend on your credit card. However, there is a difference between credit limit and available credit. Your credit limit usually refers to the maximum amount that your card’s issuer is willing to lend you. Meanwhile, your available credit is the maximum credit limit, minus any outstanding balance or pending charges on the card.

Whether you're looking to build credit, apply for a new credit card, or save money with the cards you have, it's important to understand the options that are best for you. Learn more about credit cards by exploring this credit card guide.

FAQ

Why is my available credit less than my credit limit?

Your available credit will often be less than your credit limit based on any outstanding balance or pending charges that you have on your credit card. If you have a total credit limit of $7,500 on a particular card, and an outstanding balance of $1,000, then your available credit is $6,500. The available credit amount is the maximum amount that you can charge on your credit card at the current moment.

Why is my available credit higher than my credit limit?

It’s rare that your available credit will be higher than your total credit limit. Instead, it’s much more common for your available credit to be less than (or equal to) your total credit limit. One scenario where your available credit may be higher is if you have a credit on your account, such as from a refunded transaction.

How is my credit limit determined?

Credit card issuers typically determine your total credit limit based on the financial information that you provide when you apply for the card. This includes your employment information, salary, and overall creditworthiness. If your financial situation has materially changed since you first applied or if you have a history of responsibly using your card, you may be able to contact your issuer and have your credit limit increased.

What is a good amount of available credit?

Currently the average credit card limit was just over $30,000, though credit limits vary widely by card issuer, credit card, and individual. A good amount of available credit is one that allows you to make all of the transactions that you need to make each month, with a little bit of buffer room, and without your utilization going above 30% of your limit. You should aim to put yourself into a financial position where you can pay off each of your credit card statements in full, each and every month.

Photo credit: iStock/Georgii Boronin

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The credit limit on a credit card is the maximum amount you can spend before needing to repay it. A high credit card spending limit can provide spending power to people who can pay off their debt on time and not incur too much in the way of interest charges and fees. However, for people who use a high credit card spending limit as permission to overspend, there can be problems.

You can request a credit limit increase, but credit card issuers sometimes automatically increase the credit limit of those who have shown they can manage credit well. But is a higher spending limit a good thing? It may not be for everyone’s financial situation. Here’s how to know if your credit card spending limit is too high.

How Does My Credit Card Spending Limit Work?

Credit cards are a form of revolving debt, which means that there is an upper spending limit. However, the credit can be repaid and used again. It revolves between being available to use, being unavailable because it’s being used, and being available to use again after it’s been repaid.

A credit card issuer typically bases the credit limit on factors such as the applicant’s credit score, income, credit history, and debt-to-income ratio. However, every credit card company differs in which factors it considers and how much emphasis it places on each component.

There may be multiple types of credit limits on the same credit card, e.g., a daily spending limit or cash advance limit.

How much is typical? The current credit card limit for the average American is almost $30,000. However, it’s worth noting, it doesn’t mean you should spend the full amount of your limit.

In fact, you may want to spend no more than 30% of your limit to maintain your financial wellness and to help build your credit score. In fact, many financial experts suggest a credit utilization of 10%. That would mean that if, say, your credit limit was $30,000, you would only carry a balance of $3,000.

Why Your Credit Card Issuer Increased Your Spending Limit

Your spending limit isn’t set in stone, though. Even if you haven’t specifically requested a credit limit increase, your credit card issuer may automatically increase the credit limit on your card.

There are various reasons this might happen.

•   Your credit has improved, resulting in a higher credit score.

•   Your income has increased.

•   The credit card issuer wants to retain you as a customer by offering a higher credit limit.

By increasing your credit card spending limit, the credit card issuer may have hopes that you’ll carry a balance on your card.

One stream of revenue for them is interest charges and fees. If you carry a balance, rather than paying your balance in full each month, you’ll be charged interest on the outstanding amount. And if you fail to make at least the minimum payment due or pay the bill late, you’ll likely be charged a late fee.

Both interest charges and fees are then added to the balance due on the next statement, and themselves incur interest. Essentially, you’ll be paying interest on interest.

Pros of a High Credit Card Spending Limit

For some people, due to their financial needs or goals, there may be practical reasons for having a high credit card spending limit.

•   It can be helpful in an emergency situation. Even if you’ve accumulated an emergency fund or rainy day fund, there might be instances when you need more than that. For instance, if your refrigerator suddenly stops working, you’ll probably want to replace it sooner rather than later. Large appliances can cost several thousand dollars to purchase and have installed.

•   Having a high credit limit while using a small percentage of it can lower your credit utilization rate. Your credit utilization rate is the relationship between your spending limit and your balance at any given time. If your limit is $10,000, and your balance is $1,500, your credit utilization is 15%. Generally, the lower your credit utilization rate, the better (below 30% or closer to 10% is best).

•   If you have a rewards credit card, having a higher spending limit on it could mean reaping greater rewards, whether that’s cash back, miles, or another type of reward. Being financially able to pay the account balance in full each month is key to making the most of this strategy.

Cons of a High Credit Card Spending Limit

As attractive as the benefits might sound, there can be drawbacks to having a high credit card spending limit.

•   You might be tempted to spend because you can, even if you can’t pay your credit card balance in full at the end of the billing period. This will result in purchase interest charges being added to the unpaid balance, and interest will accrue on this new, larger balance. It can become a debt cycle for some people.

•   Having a high credit limit and using a large percentage of it can increase your credit utilization rate. This rate is one of the most important factors in the calculation of your credit score — it accounts for 30% of your FICO® Score, and is considered “extremely influential” to your VantageScore®. It’s generally recommended to keep your credit utilization rate to 30% or less, as mentioned above.

•   Requesting an increase in your credit card spending limit could cause your credit score to decrease slightly. The credit card issuer might do a hard credit inquiry into your credit report, which can mean a ding of several points (say, between five and 10) to your credit score, depending on your overall credit. It’s usually a temporary drop, but if you’re planning to apply for a loan or other type of credit, it could make a difference in the interest rate you’re offered.

What Happens if You Go Over Your Spending Limit

The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (Credit CARD Act) put consumer protections against unfair credit card practices into place. One of the stipulations in this Act is that credit card issuers cannot charge an over-the-limit fee unless the card holder opts into an agreement for charges above the credit limit to be paid.

If you choose not to opt in to this agreement, any charges you try to make that exceed your credit card spending limit will be denied.

If you do opt in, the excess charges will be paid, but the credit card issuer may charge a fee for covering the overage amount. Generally, the first-time fee can be up to $25. If you exceed your spending limit a second time within six months, you could be charged up to $35. The fee can’t be larger than the amount you went over your credit limit by, though. So, if you charge a purchase that’s $100, but you only have $90 of available credit, the over-limit fee would be $10.

Before you opt in to an agreement like this, the credit card issuer must tell you what potential fees there might be. They must also provide you with confirmation that you opted in.

If you opted in to an over-the-limit agreement, but no longer want it, you can opt out at any time by contacting your credit card issuer’s customer service department.

Recommended: Maxed-Out Credit Card: Consequences and Steps to Bounce Back

Taking Control of Credit Card Debt

A higher spending limit can be a good thing if it’s used responsibly. Looking for a credit card that has more favorable rewards or offers perks that your current credit cards don’t have could be a good option for managing your debt.

If you’re struggling with credit card debt and a higher credit card spending limit is not an option for your financial situation or comfort level, another possible option could be to consolidate high-interest credit card debt with a personal loan.

With a credit card consolidation loan, all your balances are merged into one new loan with just one monthly payment and one interest rate instead of several. This new interest rate could end up being lower than the rates on your current individual credit cards, which could lower your monthly debt payment.

Also, a personal loan is installment debt, which means there will be a payment end date. Credit cards are revolving debt with no firm end date.

The Takeaway

A higher credit card spending limit may or may not be a positive thing, depending on your financial situation. You may have requested a credit limit increase or your credit card issuer may have automatically increased your spending limit because of factors such as an improved credit score or increased income, among others. But if the amount of credit you’ve been approved for results in poor financial decision making or increased debt, your credit card spending limit may be too high.

Whether you're looking to build credit, apply for a new credit card, or save money with the cards you have, it's important to understand the options that are best for you. Learn more about credit cards by exploring this credit card guide.

FAQ

What’s the average credit card limit?

Currently, the average credit card limit is close to $30,000.

Can a spending limit be too high?

Depending on your financial situation, a spending limit could be too high. If that high limit encourages you to overspend and carry a high level of debt at a high interest rate, it could be problematic.

Is it bad to use 50% of your credit limit?

Financial experts recommend that you use no more than 30% of your credit limit, preferably close to 10%. Going higher than that can negatively impact your credit score and your financial health.

Photo credit: iStock/mixetto

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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When you’re applying for a home loan, your mortgage lender is going to be interested (understandably) in your ability to repay the likely six-figure sum you are borrowing. And that means providing proof of both your income and your existing assets — which may mean sharing some bank statements with the lender.

The number of bank statements you’ll need to provide depends on the lender you choose as well as the type of loan you’re applying for. You typically won’t have to submit more than two months’ worth of statements. In some cases, however, you may need to provide six to 12 months’ worth of bank statements. To know for sure how many bank statements you need to submit, the best move is to talk to your loan officer.

How to Get Bank Statements

Once you know how many bank statements you need based on your lender’s mortgage requirements, the next question is: how and where do you get them? These days, bank statements can usually be downloaded from your bank’s online portal (you’ll probably be able to access your entire bank statement history). If you have trouble finding the documents, you can contact your bank’s customer service team.

It’s not unusual to wonder how long to keep bank statements and other financial documents, and banks are accustomed to receiving requests for old statements.

Why Are Bank Statements Needed for Mortgage Applications?

Bank statements are used by mortgage lenders in order to ensure you have the money it will take to fund the upfront costs of the loan, as well as to confirm that you have regular income. However, lenders may also use other documents to confirm these eligibility requirements, such as tax returns or W-2s. It can be a hassle to pull together all the paperwork for your mortgage application, but documentation is an important part of the lender’s defense against mortgage fraud.

What Underwriters Look for in Bank Statements

Mortgage underwriters may also be looking at your bank statements to ensure the funds you’re using for your down payment or closing costs are “seasoned money.” That is to say, the money has been in your possession for 60 days or more. This is because some lenders have restrictions against gift funds or family loans being used to pay upfront loan costs, such as the down payment on a home.

What Are Bank Statement Loans?

Bank statement loans are mortgages that use bank statements specifically, rather than tax returns, to qualify applicants for a mortgage loan. If you’re applying for a bank statement mortgage, you will likely need to submit substantially more of those statements — sometimes as much as two years’ worth.

Bank statement loans can make getting a mortgage possible for self-employed borrowers or others whose paperwork might not match the traditional required documentation. However, they can be harder to find, and may come with more stringent credit requirements and higher minimum down payments.

What Other Documents Are Needed for a Mortgage Application?

Of course, the best way to know exactly what documentation is required for your mortgage application is to ask your lender. However, documents that are often required for a mortgage application include the following:

•   W-2 forms

•   Pay stubs

•   Tax returns

•   Bank statements

•   Alimony or child support documentation

•   Retirement and investment account statements

•   Gift letter, if you’re using gift funds

•   Identification documentation

Depending on your specific circumstances, you may also need to provide proof of rental payments, a divorce decree, any bankruptcy or foreclosure records, or other specific documents. Again, your lender will have the full details.

The Takeaway

Depending on the type of loan you’re applying for, you may need to submit only a couple months’ worth of bank statements — or up to two years of banking history. Fortunately, bank statements are easy to generate in most banks’ online management portals, so all you’ll have to do is download and submit them.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.

FAQ

Does FHA require 2 months of bank statements?

Lenders offering Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans have their own specific requirements as far as how many months of bank statements you’ll need to provide. Some lenders offer FHA loans with just two months’ worth of statements, but you may be asked to submit more if the lender has specific requirements or some other part of your application creates the need (such as a lower credit score, for example).

How many months of bank statements do you need to refinance your mortgage?

Refinancing your mortgage is, in many ways, basically just like getting a mortgage in the first place — which means that you’ll again likely be asked to submit two months’ worth of bank statements. However, as always, specific lenders have different requirements, and if you have a nontraditional application, you may be asked to submit more.

What is a 12-month bank statement mortgage?

Also known as a bank statement loan, these mortgages use bank statements as the primary qualifying factor to approve you for a home loan (as opposed to other traditional documentation like W-2s or tax returns). For these loans, you may need to provide 12 or even 24 months’ worth of bank statements, since they’ll be such an important source of information for the lender.

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When deciding on a student loan repayment schedule, the option with the lowest possible monthly payment is not always best.

That’s because of amortization, the process of paying back a loan on a fixed payment schedule over a period of time. A repayment option with the lowest monthly payment typically means the loan is stretched out over a longer time frame. This results in the borrower paying more in interest than they would have with a shorter loan term and a higher monthly payment.

Read on to learn more about an amortized student loan, how it affects your monthly payments, and ways to potentially lower the amount you pay in interest on your student loans.

Exploring Amortization

Amortization is common with installment loans, which have regular monthly payments. Are student loans amortized? Yes, because they are installment loans.

With an amortized student loan, a borrower pays both the principal balance and interest each month. This is called a student loan amortization schedule. The schedule begins with the full balance owed, and the payments are then calculated by the lender over the life of the loan to cover the principal and interest.

At the beginning of an amortization schedule, payments typically cover more interest than principal. As time goes on, a bigger amount goes toward the principal.

To help determine amortization on your student loans, it’s important to first calculate the cost of the loan. You’ll need to know these three variables:

1.    The loan principal

2.    The interest rate and annual percentage rate (APR)

3.    The duration, or term, of the loan (usually given in months or years)

Using this information, it is possible to determine both the monthly payment on the loan and the total interest paid on the loan. A student loan interest calculator can help you figure this out.

The next step is to determine how much of each monthly payment is going toward both interest and principal. That’s when the loan’s amortization schedule comes into play.

💡 Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.

Student Loan Amortization Examples

To understand how student loan amortization works, let’s say a borrower takes out a $30,000 student loan at 7% interest rate amortized over a 10-year repayment period.

The borrower’s monthly payment is approximately $348. Each year, the borrower will pay about $4,180 total on their loan. While these monthly and yearly amounts will remain the same, the proportions allocated to the principal and interest will change.

The chart below shows you what a student loan amortization schedule might look like for a $30,000 loan at 7% interest over 10 years. The chart illustrates the principal and interest amounts monthly for the first year and the last year of the loan, and annually for the years in between.

Amortization schedule for $30,000 student loan with 7% interest over 10 years

Using this estimated example, during the first year, the borrower’s monthly payments would be about half interest and half principal. With each passing month and year of paying down debt, more of each payment is allocated to the principal. By the final year, the borrower pays only $154 to interest and $4,026 to principal.

To see how a longer loan term can affect amortization, here is a student loan amortization schedule with a longer timeline of 20 years. It’s important to note that a 20-year payback period isn’t standard for federal student loans — this example is to illustrate the impact of time on amortization calculations.

Amortization schedule for the first year and last year of payment on a student loan of $60,000 with 7% interest over 20 years:

In this example, each monthly payment for the 20-year duration is $465. In January 2024, the first month of the first year of the loan, $350 is paid towards interest, and $115 is paid towards the principal. That’s less than 25% of the total payment, compared to 50% in the previous example.

In the last year of the loan, only $206 total goes towards interest versus $4,155 in the first year.

If you’re interested in expediting your loan payoff, you may want to explore different loan lengths to see how much you could save on interest if you shorten the term.

Alternative Repayment Plans and Amortization

In addition to the standard 10-year federal student loan repayment plan, there are some alternate repayment plans such as income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. There are four types of IDR plans:

•   SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) plan

•   PAYE (Pay as You Earn) plan

•   Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan

•   Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan

Each of these plans uses your income and family size to determine what your payments are.

Depending on an individual’s discretionary income and family size, the monthly payments with IDR plans are generally lower than with the standard, 10-year repayment plan because repayment is stretched out over 20 or 25 years. At the end of that time, any remaining balance you owe is typically forgiven.

While IDR may be a good option if you’re having trouble affording your monthly payments, it’s important to understand that not only will you likely pay more in total interest over the course of the loan because the term is longer, but it is also possible that your payments will dip into what is called negative amortization.

Negative amortization on a student loan is when your monthly payment is so low that it doesn’t even cover the interest for that month. When this happens, it can cause the loan balance to increase.

This is not ideal, of course, but utilizing an income-driven repayment plan is a far better option than missing payments or defaulting on a federal student loan. Using an income-driven repayment plan is also necessary if the borrower plans on utilizing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

💡 Quick Tip: When refinancing a student loan, you may shorten or extend the loan term. Shortening your loan term may result in higher monthly payments but significantly less total interest paid. A longer loan term typically results in lower monthly payments but more total interest paid.

Managing Student Loan Amortization

To avoid the full impact of an amortized student loan there are several steps you could take to potentially help lower your interest payments.

Pay back your student loans faster than the stated term.

You can do this by paying more than you owe each month, or by making additional payments on your student loan, if you can afford to. Paying off the loan in advance may help you to pay less interest over the life of the loan.

If you opt to pay more than your minimum payments or make additional payments on your loans, it’s a good idea to let your lender know that the additional amount or payment should be applied to the principal of the loan, not the interest. That way, the extra amounts can help lower the principal amount you’re paying interest on.

Explore debt reduction methods.

For borrowers with multiple federal or private student loans who want to expedite their debt repayment, it can sometimes be hard to know where to start.

If your primary goal is to reduce the overall amount of interest you owe, you might want to consider the debt avalanche method of debt repayment. Using this technique, you choose the student loan debt with the highest interest rate and work on tackling it first. You would do this while making the minimum payment on all other loans or sources of debt. After the loan with the highest interest rate is paid off, focus on the loan with the next highest interest rate, and so on.

Refinancing student loans.

When you refinance a student loan, you’re essentially paying off your old loan or loans with a new loan from a private lender. Ideally, with refinancing, you would get a lower interest rate if your credit score and income qualify.

You might also be able to shorten the repayment term to pay off the loan faster, or lengthen the term to lower your monthly payments. Just remember, you may pay more interest over the life of the loan with a longer loan term.

When considering whether to refinance, borrowers should think carefully about the benefits their federal student loans have, such as income-driven repayment and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness option. When you refinance federal loans with a private lender, you lose access to these federal programs.

Weigh all your options to help determine what course of action makes the most sense for you.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). SoFi Student Loan Refinance Loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE. Additional terms and conditions apply. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.