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Getting Approved for a Personal Loan Quickly

Emergencies happen. Even with the most carefully planned budget, you can run up against unexpected costs, fees, or expenses you didn’t anticipate. You might have to pay off unexpected medical expenses or cover moving costs. Sometimes it’s not even necessarily an emergency, but you need money and you need it as quickly as possible.

The thing is, most of us don’t have it—only 40% of Americans are able to cover an unexpected $1,000 expense without resorting to credit. In some cases, a personal loan can provide an alternate strategy for filling in financial gaps. Credit cards often carry high interest rates, the average annual percentage rate (APR) on existing credit card accounts is around 14.14% , according to WalletHub. For some borrowers, a personal loan can offer a lower interest option for filling in financial gaps or paying for a large expense.

While personal loans can help someone get funds, the loan would still accrue interest. Relying on an emergency fund as a first option for unexpected expenses might be a more responsible alternative. But in cases where an emergency fund or long-term savings plan aren’t enough to help make ends meet, a personal loan could provide a lower interest option than credit cards.

There are plenty of other reasons to consider a personal loan. Maybe you want to lock down a home remodel or consolidate high-interest credit card debt. If you’re looking to speed up the approval process for a personal loan there are a few tips that could help you qualify more quickly.

If you’re hoping for swift approval on your personal loan application, there are at least two stages of the process to consider:

•   How you stack up as an applicant

•   The lender you’re borrowing from

If you want to get approved quickly for a personal loan, you’ll first want to get your finances organized and then you’ll want to compare various lenders’ approval times.

Setting Yourself Up as a Better Personal Loan Candidate

There are specific qualifying criteria most lenders, including SoFi, look at when considering approving a personal loan application. Lenders typically review at least some of the following borrower information when reviewing an application for a personal loan:

•   Credit history, score and debt

•   Proof of ongoing stable income

In order to increase their chances of getting approved quickly, borrowers typically want to put their best financial foot forward. That means showing that they have steady income, an unblemished financial history, and a solid credit score.

It’s worth noting that there are a variety of different scoring models and each lender might have their own criteria for reviewing a potential borrowers credit. With that in mind, Experian does offer some insight into interpreting credit scores—generally a score FICO® Score above 670 can be considered “good,” above 740 as “very good,” and above 800 as “exceptional.”

But credit score is just a portion of the information a lender will need. While it is usually a primary factor, it’s likely not the only factor that will determine if your application is approved or not.

To make the application process a little easier, you can assemble the financial information that might be requested. It can save time during the application process if you’ve already gotten together all the information you need to apply for a loan. To apply for an unsecured personal loan, you may need items like:

•   Proof of Identity: The exact documents requested may vary, but you might need to submit a government-issued ID such as a driver’s license, proof of your Social Security number

•   Proof of Address: Certain laws are influenced by your state of residence. Some lenders may also want to know if you rent or own a home.

•   Proof of income: Lenders want to know you can pay back your debt. Some may request your W-2 tax forms, recent pay stubs, or bank statements. Some may require verification from your employer of stated income and to confirm current employment.

Most lenders look at your credit history, credit score, income, and debt-to-income (DTI) ratio when considering your personal loan application (among other factors). Lenders use DTI ratios to get an idea of a borrower’s ability to repay a loan based on how much money a person is making compared to how much money they already owe. The ratio can be calculated by adding up the total monthly debt a person owes and then dividing that total by the individual’s gross monthly income.

The exact criteria used to determine a borrower’s creditworthiness may vary by lender. Compiling commonly reviewed information, like your credit score and DTI, ahead of actually applying, can sometimes shed light on whether you’ll be approved for a personal loan or not. Some things a lender might see as problematic include:

•   A short work or credit history

•   Low, unstable, or no income

•   High debt-to-income ratio (varies by lender)

•   Too many credit inquiries in the recent past

In addition to having all your information ready, you’ll also want to consider how much money you need to borrow. Too small, and you might not fully cover your expenses.

Too large, and you’ll have to pay interest on money you don’t even need. Knowing that magic number before you apply for a loan can save you the back and forth that could be required if you’ve been approved.

If you’re in need of money quickly, but have a less-than-strong credit history, another option may be to apply for a personal loan with a co-borrower. A co-borrower takes out a loan with you, so you’re essentially borrowing the loan together. The co-borrower is equally responsible for loan payments, and if either of you miss any payments on the loan, both of your credit scores could be impacted.

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Finding a Faster Lender

The other half of the personal loan equation is determining which type of lender works best for your needs. Not all lenders work on the same timeline, some will grant approval faster than others. But, speed can sometimes come at a premium.

Traditional banks and credit unions typically take a few days or a few weeks to review and approve applications before disbursing funds. If you have less than ideal credit and are looking for a smaller loan, you might consider shopping rates and terms at a few local lending institutions. However, if speed is required, you may be able to find faster alternatives.

There are a handful of traditional bank lenders who can approve a personal loan for well-qualified applicants in less than a week. Many quick-approval personal loan lenders, however, are online or non-traditional lenders.

With online lenders, like SoFi, funds should generally be available within a few days of approval. One of the major benefits of the online route is the fast application time. If you have all your information ready, it can be quick and easy to apply using an online form.

Since it can be easier and faster to apply for personal loans online, you might take some time to compare rates against different lenders. Another benefit of online lenders is that you can pre-qualify and see your rate before you fill out a full application.

At the pre-qualification stage, you’d usually provide some basic personal information and the lender typically performs a soft credit check to determine the amount of money you could be approved for and at what interest rate and loan term.

A soft credit check shouldn’t impact your credit score (but make sure that’s what the lender is doing during their pre-qualification check—they should make that clear).

After you have gotten quotes from a few different lenders, it’s typically easier to determine which loan meets your needs. Once you have a few different quotes, take time to compare:

•   Each lender’s terms. This includes loan terms, late fees, insufficient funds (NSF) fees, etc.

•   Repayment periods—a typical repayment term can range from 12 to 60 months depending on the lender.

•   Origination fees—some lenders may charge a one time fee up front for processing your loan application and closing the loan. Origination fees on personal loans can range from 1% to 8% of the loan amount in some instances and can typically be rolled back into the loan or paid for through the loan proceeds.

•   Any additional fees or premiums

Once you feel comfortable with the lender and their terms, then you’re probably ready to formalize the loan. As you explore personal loan options, consider a loan with SoFi where there are absolutely no fees — including no prepayment penalties or origination fees required.

Looking for a personal loan? Consider SoFi where the application process can be completed easily online.
 


Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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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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.

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Wedding Loans 101: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re currently in the process of planning a wedding, you’re likely enjoying the endless cake samples and making difficult decisions, like whether to have a donut bar or a candy station at the reception.

Unfortunately, wedding planning isn’t just about delicious dessert samples and seating arrangement logistics.

It can be stressful, especially when it comes to figuring out how you’ll pay for all those savory and sweet treats and gift bags for your guests—let alone the rest of it like, you know, a dress, the actual reception hall, a minister, food, and an open bar if you’re lucky.

According to The Knot’s 2018 Real Weddings Survey, the costs of planning a couple’s special day now averages $33,931, though this number can vary greatly depending on where you live.

Expensive, densely populated cities like New York and Chicago will likely be more expensive than hosting a wedding in a more rural locale.

While there are ways to save on wedding costs—like cutting back on pricey place settings, keeping the wedding parties smaller, opting for a cash bar, and doing a bit of do-it-yourself craft work on flower arrangements—more couples are finding that they need a little bit of extra cash to get them through the wedding planning process. This is especially true when every vendor seems to require an immediate deposit.

That’s why some turn to wedding loans as an alternative to funding their weddings upfront.

Find a venue right out of a Pinterest post, but need a $10,000 deposit by next week to secure it?

Try on the dress of your dreams, then discover it’s $2,500 more than you have in your checking account?

Want the band of your dreams to play but need to plunk down cash to get them?

If your savings are coming up short, an unsecured loan could be just what you need to keep your dream wedding from being derailed. Here’s some more information about the ins and outs of wedding loans to help you decide if it is the right choice for your big day.

What Is a Wedding Loan?

A wedding loan doesn’t come from a wedding fairy godmother with a wave of her wand—although that would make for a better story. Instead, a wedding loan is simply a personal loan that you use to pay for wedding expenses.

So, what’s a personal loan then? A personal loan is just as the name implies—a loan you take out for (almost) any personal reason at all. You could use a personal loan for everything from renovating your home, to consolidating high-interest credit debt, to paying for a vacation or a wedding.

Personal loans are typically given out as one lump sum. For example, a person could take out a $10,000 personal loan for their wedding. They’d receive this payment upfront and could use the cash immediately.

The lender and the recipient would agree upon a repayment plan as part of the terms of the loan. These specific terms will vary by lender but, typically unsecured personal loans are paid back within one to five years.

A personal loan can be either secured or unsecured. With an unsecured personal loan, a lender won’t require a collateral asset. With a secured loan, the lender could require collateral or could require a co-signer on the loan—like a house or other asset of value.

Most lenders also allow borrowers to pay off the loan early, regardless of the loan term. That means if you happen to get a lot of cash as a wedding gift, you could use it to pay on your loan in part or in full.

Consider reviewing the terms and conditions completely before borrowing any loan, while not all lenders do, some may charge a prepayment penalty.

Variable-rate loans may also help save money on interest in the short-term, but it could rise in the long run. Fixed-rate loans mean the interest will remain the same as when the borrower signed on the dotted line, even if other interest rates shoot up faster than the price of a good DJ on a Saturday in the summer.

Considering a Personal Loan for a Wedding?

Personal loans can be a good option for those who have budgeted to pay for their wedding expenses, but just don’t have the cash on hand to cover immediate deposits or a slew of bills at once.

Maybe your parents committed to helping out with wedding costs and promised to send a cash infusion next month, but the florist whose work looks like a living Instagram photo will go with another couple if you don’t book now.

Or maybe you and your betrothed are putting aside a certain amount each month for wedding expenses, but you don’t want to put the catering deposit on your credit card because all the travel rewards points in the world will not outweigh the interest you’ll be charged.

In other words, if you have a good plan for paying your personal loan back and you just need it to bridge the gap, then a personal loan for your wedding might be perfect for you.

However, if you don’t know how you will pay off your loan but you really want a little extra room in your budget to buy that Vera Wang dress, you might want to think twice before signing on the dotted line for a personal loan.

The last thing you want to do is start your marriage off knee-deep in debt you can’t pay back, even if the pictures look amazing.

Pros and Cons of Wedding Loans

Need a little help weighing your options? Here are a few pros to getting an unsecured personal loan to help pay for your big day.

•   Personal loans are typically fast, easy ways to get some extra cash when you have to pay for deposits or cover expenses quickly for a wedding.

•   Many lenders allow you to apply for a personal loan online, making it easy and efficient to secure funding if you qualify.

•   Funds may be available in as little as one business day, depending on the lender. That way you won’t have to wait around to start putting down deposits and checking things off your wedding to-do list.

•   Personal loan lenders typically charge less interest than credit cards. This could make it a more financially viable option for those looking to pay off their vendors without paying extra in interest.

•   Personal loans are one way that could help build your credit over the long-term, if you pay them back on time, which is an excellent gift to give both you and your spouse on your wedding day. But, like all good things in life, personal loans have many downsides. Here are a few cons to be wary of before signing on the dotted line.

•   Personal loans can tempt people to spend more than they can afford. If you take one out, remember you have to pay it all back—plus interest.

•   Some personal loan lenders have prepayment or origination fees. Make sure to check the fine print before agreeing to anything.

•   It’s always a better bet to save up for anticipated expenses rather than financing them. Try to budget and save first, see if your vendors are willing to work out a payment plan, and think about what you really need versus what you want at your wedding.

•   You might be paying off your party years later, with interest. If you still feel like you need extra cash to fund your big day, check to ensure your personal loan has a lower interest rate than credit cards before taking one out.

How Much Can You Borrow for Your Wedding?

To qualify for a personal loan with a competitive rate, you’ll likely need a good credit score and a well-paying job, among other important financial factors, or potentially a co-borrower who has both of those things. Many lenders consider a good credit score to be anything above 700 , though this may vary depending on the scoring model used by the lender.

You might be able to get a loan if your score is below that, though it’s possible you’ll have to pay more in interest or you might qualify to borrow less money.

Things like how much debt you currently have, including student loans or a mortgage, can also impact how much you can borrow. At SoFi, we offer personal loans up to $100,000.

But unless you’re planning a wedding at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan complete with champagne towers and children dressed as cherubs, it’s unlikely you’ll need that much.

Getting the Funds You Need for Your Wedding Day

Just like any loan, you need to have all your financial information and documents in order before you apply. Be sure to have things like proof of income, bank statements, information about your other debt, your Social Security number, and your identification ready.

With most online lenders, you can get pre-qualified and then decide whether to move forward with the online application. From there, you typically choose your rate, answer any additional questions, send copies of the necessary documentation, and sign the loan agreement all within a day or two.

Again, while saving up for your wedding is probably preferable to taking on debt before you say “I do,” expenses can arise that you may not expect, so knowing what your options are for personal loans can be helpful.

Don’t forget to do your research and understand everything you should be looking for in a lender so that you don’t get stuck with a loan that’s about as appealing as that ugly set of grey serving platters your Aunt Ina bought you for your wedding shower.

Ready to say “I do” to a wedding loan? Check out your options with SoFi now.


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 .

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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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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.


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How to Make a Personal Budget

You wouldn’t start out on a trip without a map. Yet, many of us are on a financial journey without a clear plan of where we want to go and how we’re going to get there. Only 67% of Americans report having a budget.

A personal budget can provide a roadmap for achieving financial goals, from saving for retirement to planning for a big trip.

Some people avoid making a personal budget because they don’t know where to start—others find the idea of tracking every single thing they spend money on overwhelming.

But without a personal budget, the little expenses can quickly add up quickly. That can make it harder to save money for the things you really want to have money for.

What is the goal of using a personal budget? Ultimately, it’s to help you achieve your own financial goals. A budget can help with planning expenses, plotting out where the money goes, and how much you need for a home down payment or a new car.

Here’s some information you might find helpful about making a personal budget.

What is a Personal Budget?

A personal budget is what it sounds like—a budget for your life and personal expenses. This can be as complicated or as simple as you want.

Just like budgeting for a company or a business project, budgeting for your life can let you plan out your finances and spend your money on the things you really want, instead of accidentally spending in bits and pieces and then not having enough left over for bigger goals.

To make a personal budget look at your income and expenses, then allocate money in distinct budget categories and plan ahead to figure out how much is needed for your financial goals.

How to Make a Personal Budget in 5 Steps

Step 1. Track Current Spending

A good first step to making a personal budget is tracking current spending. You probably need to know how much money you have and how much you’re spending in order to make a realistic budget and plan for the future.

Tracking your current spending can also help you identify areas of overspending and measure actual expenditures vs. expected expenditures.

It’s possible to track spending manually by gathering account information and going through last month or the past few month’s worth of expenses—don’t forget one-time expenses that might not have occurred in the previous month, like annual insurance payments.

Step 2. Create Spending Categories

You may also want to determine what categories to track in your spending — groceries, car expenses, housing, medical, etc — and then plot it out.
However, it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Too many categories can actually be counterproductive by making it overly difficult to track and harder to stick to. There are also a growing number of personal budgeting apps and services that make it easier to track expenses.

SoFi Relay allows you to connect all your accounts to one mobile dashboard and track spending habits in real-time.

Step 3. Calculate Recurring Expenses and Discretionary Income

After tracking spending, it is then possible to plot out how much you have in recurring expenses each month — rent or mortgage, student loans, utilities, etc. — and how much discretionary income.

You can review expenses and see where there’s room to trim spending in some places or to put more money towards other things. Creating a realistic and straight-forward budget makes it more likely you can stick to it.

Those with a budget are more likely to spend less than their income — generally a good thing.

Step 4. Set Financial Goals

Then you may want to set financial goals. Setting goals is at the crux of making a personal budget. That’s what separates proactively sticking to a budget from just passively tracking spending after the fact.

What do you want to spend money on? What are your long-term goals, short-term goals, debt obligations? How do you want to prioritize different spending and savings goals?

Talking to your significant other about individual and joint financial goals, even planning a weekly or monthly budget meeting, can help with setting a budget as a couple or a family.

Step 5. Create Budget for Each Category

Once expenses, income, and goals, have been plotted out, you could write down your target budget in each general category for the month. Actually writing down goals increases the odds of achieving them. And then at the end of the month you can evaluate how you did and adjust as necessary.

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Tips for Creating a Personal Budget You Can Stick To

•   Simplicity is key to a good personal budget. Yes, you can track dozens and dozens of expense categories and put every single tiny transaction in a different spending bucket, but too often people get overwhelmed by the number of expense categories they’re attempting to track. Keeping it simple cuts down on the time it takes and increases the odds of actually sticking to your budget.

•   The 50/30/20 rule means 50% of after-tax income goes towards essential expenses, 30% goes towards discretionary expenses, and 20% goes towards savings goals. Essential expenses are things like housing, utilities, food, childcare, and medical expenses. Discretionary spending is stuff like shopping, entertainment, and travel. Savings includes retirement funds, like a 401k, and things like emergency funds and long-term goals. While the 50/30/20 rule has been around for years, it was popularized in Elizabeth Warren’s book, All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan.

•   Within these broader guidelines, it’s important to adjust a personal budget based on your specific goals and expenses. For example, if essential expenses take up more than 50% of income, then it might be possible to look at spending in more specific categories and see if there are places to cut down on costs, like eating out at restaurants vs. spending your food budget at a grocery store. Or if discretionary spending is taking up more than 30% of post-tax income, then it might be possible to cut down on shopping or miscellaneous expenses.

•   Aligning goals with spending might make it easier to stick to a budget too, because it can make the budget more realistic and motivating. For example, if travel is important to you, then you might want to build your budget accordingly — spending less somewhere else. If you value getting out of credit card debt above all else, then build your budget accordingly — possibly setting aside more money towards that savings goals.

•   One of the biggest challenges people have is sticking with a personal budget after they make one. It can be important to stay on top of tracking your expenses even after you make a budget and re-evaluating the math regularly, like at the end of every month. If you’re struggling to meet your budget targets, then examine the numbers in more detail and adjust. Why are you struggling? Where is the extra money going? One last thing that can help is to spend only what you can see — ie. using cash or prepaid debit cards can limit your spending in a way credit cards can’t.

Common Mistakes in Personal Budgeting

Besides making a personal budget overly complicated or failing to accurately track expenses and align them with realistic goals, there are some other common mistakes when making a personal budget. Here are some common tips that might help you create a budget you can actually stick to:

•   Budget with after-tax income. This is known as net income, after you pay taxes to Uncle Sam. Gross income is the amount you make before paying taxes, but it doesn’t do much good to budget with money you don’t really have. And maybe don’t plan in a bonus or tax refund until you actually receive it.

•   Though you want to be relatively simple in planning your budget, with the 50/30/20 rule, you do want to be accurate in your recording. It’s easy for small expenses to add up — an Uber ride here, a coffee there — and the only way to really know what kind of money you have is to keep track of all the details. Using a budgeting and financial tracking app, like SoFi Relay, can make that easier.

•   Plan ahead, especially for the inevitable. Christmas is always Dec. 25. Taxes are always due on April 15. In your budgeting, you might want to save for the things you know are coming. As much consistency and planning as possible makes it easier to not get caught by surprise and end up blowing your whole budget on Christmas presents.

•   Set goals and be consistent. It’s one thing to track your spending, but without setting targets it’s hard to know if you’re really on track for what you want. If you don’t set long-term goals, then you’re more likely to spend small amounts of money on immediate gratification (new shoes, an extra glass of wine) and then not have that money later. Consider getting into the habit of paying yourself first — ie. including in your budget an amount designated for savings.

The Benefits of a Personal Budget

Maybe this all sounds like a lot of work and you’re not sure why you should bother. It might not seem clear what the goal of using a personal budget is, but tracking expenses and budgeting your spending have a number of benefits — all of which might be helpful in achieving your overall financial goals and all the things you want to do.

Budgeting can help control spending, especially unnecessary spending, by providing feedback. According to one study , consumers who received feedback on credit card receipts spent 9.6% less over the course of the trial than those who didn’t receive feedback.

This is especially important in the digital era. About 60% of all payments these days are made via non-cash methods, such as credit or debit cards. And research shows many consumers spend more with a credit card than they would with cash. They’ll even spend more on the same thing if they buy with a credit card vs. cash. It’s easy to lose track without budgeting. And that’s why, if you’re struggling to stick to a budget, operating with just cash can help.

Budgeting can also reveal opportunities to reduce expenses, either by highlighting where spending is higher than intended or where there might be a disconnect between your financial goals and financial reality.

Creating a budget can also help reduce financial stress by adding structure and clarity. According to a new study , more than half of all millennial respondents said that they were stressed “a lot” or “some” about their debt. A budget can help!

Tracking Your Spending With SoFi

If you need help with tracking your spending, opening an online bank account with SoFi may be a good option. You can easily see your weekly spending in the SoFi app to help you determine if you are on track with your budget.

Get started with SoFi Checking and Savings® and stay on track with your personal budget.


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SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

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Should You Give up on Student Loan Forgiveness?

Public service loan forgiveness has been in the news a lot over the last year—and not for good reasons. There was the news that very few people have actually had their federal student loans forgiven.

Then there was the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) news that the whole program might be cut . And now a lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a number of teachers who had their PSLF forgiveness denied, alleging mismanagement of the program.

What does this news mean for you? Should you still try to get your federal student loans forgiven, and how can you plan ahead for any more public service loan forgiveness updates?

What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness?

The public service loan forgiveness program is supposed to work in a fairly straight-forward way: After ten years of public service (and making payments on your loans), you can have the remainder of your student loans forgiven.

There are, of course, some requirements—and this is where it gets more complicated. To qualify for public service loan forgiveness you have to:

•   Work full-time in a qualifying public service job.
•   Make 120 monthly loan payments on a qualifying repayment plan, which is typically an income-driven repayment plan.
•   Have a federal Direct Student Loan.

For the majority of people who have their PSLF applications denied, it’s because they allegedly didn’t meet these requirements.

Most importantly, only federal Direct Student Loans qualify. Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) or Perkins loans do not qualify—even though many of the federal loans when the loan forgiveness program was created in 2007 were FFEL loans.

You may still be able to qualify if you have one of those loans, but you would need to consolidate your federal loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan and none of the payments made before the consolidation would count.

You also need to be on a qualifying payment plan, which is either the standard ten-year repayment plan or an income-driven repayment plan. These determine how much you’re required to pay each month as a percentage of your income.

And you need to work for a qualifying employer. To verify that your public service job qualifies, fill out the public service loan forgiveness employer certification form .

Once you meet all these requirements, you still have to apply for loan forgiveness after your ten years of qualifying payments. It doesn’t happen automatically. This is where much of the public service loan forgiveness news comes in.

What Is the Latest Public Service Loan Forgiveness News?

Since the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was launched in 2007, the first federal student loans became eligible for forgiveness in late 2017.

However, instead of a rash of loans being wiped clean, more and more news has come out about the number of applications being denied.

The latest data from the U.S. Department of Education found 73,554 borrowers have submitted applications for loan forgiveness, but only 864 have been approved. That’s not very many.

Over 2 million people also took the first step of having their employer certification approved. Since not all of those people followed through the rest of the process, critics argue it suggests there continues to be confusion around the requirements.

In fact, this was exactly why Congress approved the the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) opportunity in 2018—which allows people who had their loan forgiveness applications initially denied because they were on the wrong repayment plan to get re-approved under the new requirements.

But the most recent numbers found only 442 of those TEPSLF applications had gotten their loans forgiven. That’s been frustrating for a lot of applicants and lawmakers. It’s even prompted a lawsuit from a number of teachers who’ve had their applications denied.

Even with all the distressing public service loan forgiveness news, many were still frustrated to hear the program was at risk of being eliminated in the most recent budget proposal .

What does all this mean for you?

Should You Still Try for PSLF Forgiveness?

Just because there’s been a lot of bad news for PSLF lately doesn’t mean you should necessarily give up on loan forgiveness.

Some of those applicants have been successful and, according to the data, the average amount of loan forgiven was $59,224. That’s worth following up on—even if it takes a lot of attention to detail.

The number-one reason applications were denied was because of qualifying payments—either not enough payments had been made yet or they weren’t made under a qualifying income-driven repayment plan.

That doesn’t mean those applications won’t eventually be approved, either after making additional payments or through the new temporary expanded program. (The average loan amount forgiven under the TEPSLF program was $39,723.) But it does mean you want to double-check all the requirements.

To do this, you may want to use the Department of Education’s PSLF Help Tool. Many who applied for loan forgiveness simply didn’t actually qualify for it in the first place.

It also means you should have a back-up plan and shouldn’t assume you’ll get your loans forgiven. Because employment gaps or payment forbearance periods (for instance, if you went to graduate school) can lead to delays in meeting the 120-month time requirement, you may want to plan ahead.

In this case, it may take an extra year or two to qualify for loan forgiveness. It also may take extra work on the application.

And if you’re working in a qualifying public service job just to get loan forgiveness, then you may want to consider your options if there are other jobs you’d want instead that might have a higher salary.

Regardless of the latest public service loan forgiveness news, you can always ask yourself: Is PSLF right for you?

How Can You Plan Ahead for Any Changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness?

The good news is if you’re currently working towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness, then you could still qualify even if the program is cut. The proposal is only to eliminate loan forgiveness for students taking out new loans starting July 1, 2020, so it hopefully wouldn’t negate those already making qualifying payments.

It also may be true that federal loan forgiveness programs may yet get revised or amended to address the many rejections. But because these things can be uncertain, it may be a good idea to budget with the plan of paying your full student loans.

Ultimately, your goal is probably to save money and do good in the world. Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a great way to have any remaining loan balance after 10 years of payments wiped clean if you work in public service, and if you qualify, but it also has some drawbacks.

It means you have to stick to an income-driven repayment plan, which means your monthly payment amount will increase as your income increases. In that case, the loan could potentially be repaid in full before the standard 10-year repayment period ends, leaving no balance to be forgiven.

If you choose to consolidate federal loans that don’t qualify for PSLF without consolidating them, such as the Federal Perkins Loan and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL), keep in mind that the interest rate for the consolidation loan could be higher due to how the rate is calculated (and the interest rate of a Direct Consolidation Loan has no cap).

So, might you save money with the PSLF Program? The answer is a firm maybe. Another option, which would make you ineligible for loan forgiveness and other federal repayment benefits and protections, is to refinance your student loans at a lower interest rate or more ideal terms for your situation.

Refinancing is typically a better option for those who are in a stronger financial situation than when they graduated.

Through refinancing, borrowers consolidate their student loans into one new loan, ideally with rates and terms that work better for them.

For example, if you qualify for a lower interest rate that could help save money over the life of the loan and could allow you to pay off your student loans quicker— depending on the loan term you choose. You may want to weigh the pros and cons to consider what makes the most sense for you.

Find out what interest rate and terms you qualify for in just two minutes. Check out SoFi student loan refinancing today.


External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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.


SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.


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How to Cancel a Credit Card

Credit card debt is an increasingly severe problem in the U.S. As Americans become more dependent on their small plastic cards, the amount of debt seems to just get bigger. And bigger.

According to Experian , the average American has a credit card balance is almost $6,200. Along with individual and household debt, the total amount of credit card debt in the U.S. has reached its highest level ever.

Whether debt has got you down, or you’re wanting to consolidate your existing credit cards and opt for ones that have the best perks and benefits for your circumstances, the question of canceling a credit card can be an extremely sticky one.

Many of us find ourselves wondering the best course of action to reduce credit card debt without affecting credit score, and the concern is valid.

While closing an account may play a role in getting a better handle on any existing debt, it’s important to understand ways to cancel a credit card in a way that doesn’t end up setting you back even more.

Ahead are some common steps that are typically needed to be taken in order to fully cancel a card, including sending a written confirmation and keeping a watchful eye on your credit report after you’ve put through a cancelation request.

Do You Really Need to Cancel?

It can be tempting to cancel cards or close accounts when things get overwhelming. But sometimes this may not be the best option.

In many cases, canceling a credit card can actually damage one’s credit score. In fact, canceled accounts may remain on a credit history for several years after the date they are closed. (With a card in negative standing, it will remain on your credit history for up to seven years, and a cancelled card in positive standing typically remains for 10 years.)

It’s important to take the time and analyze your motivations behind canceling an account before you actually do. After all, it may be smarter to simply cut up or hide a credit card rather than officially canceling.

As always, the decision is up to you, but it’s helpful to take these considerations into account before finalizing a decision that may have a long-lasting impact on your credit health and your long-term financial future.

Closing One Account at a Time

If you’ve decided that canceling your card is the best way to go for you, there are some things you may want to keep in mind before getting started.

First of all, when it comes to canceling credit cards, it’s important to remember that not all of them are created equal.

Depending on the exact reasons that led you to wanting or needing to cancel a card, you may want to consider a few things before pulling the trigger.

For example, if you’re thinking of canceling a card, you may want to consider canceling new ones instead of old ones to avoid impacting your credit score.

In the world of credit, older, more established credit in good standing is looked upon more favorably than new, and so you may want to keep this in mind when choosing which card you would like to cut.

On top of this, some credit cards may offer more appealing rewards programs for your lifestyle than others, so you may want to take stock of the perks that come with each card before deciding which one you want to stop using.

Paying Off or Transferring Your Balance

Depending on the total amount of credit you have available, closing a card account with a high credit limit could run the risk of damaging one’s credit score.

If you are carrying high balances on other cards or have active loans, this damage could be especially noticeable, since your debt-to-credit ratio (also called your credit utilization ratio) may affect your credit score. (Typically, you’d want to stay at 30% or below.)

If you’re planning on canceling a credit card, you will likely want to ensure that you’ve paid off any remaining balances on that account. If you fail to do so, you may end up having to pay interest charges on any remaining balance.

If you normally carry a balance from one month to another, you may need to take extra care to pay the full statement balance before canceling a card in order to make sure there is no money left in your balance and avoid future interest charges.

You may also want to take some time to brush up on your knowledge of credit card utilization, as it can be important to understand when it comes to canceling your credit cards smartly.

In order to lessen the negative impact of closing one of your credit card accounts, you may want to pay off all of the balances you carry on all of your cards first.

If you cancel a card while carrying zero balances on all your cards, your credit utilization rate should stay at zero, so even if you cancel a card and remove its balance, your rate shouldn’t be impacted.

Contacting a Credit Card Company

Once you’ve paid off your credit card balance, you will want to contact your credit card company to put through your request to close your account.

Sometimes, you will be able to cancel a credit card without making a phone call. It may be helpful to look up how to cancel a particular credit card online to see if your credit card company offers this option.

In most cases, you will want to contact your credit card company by phone. Usually, your customer service number will be printed on your credit card.

From there, you’d inform your credit card company that you are canceling your card. Keep in mind that some companies require you to speak to a customer service representative in order to complete this process, while others are more flexible.

It’s helpful to know that credit card representatives may be trained to try to convince you to keep your account open. Remember that you have the right to close your account at any time.

Before you hang up the phone, you may want to ask your representative for their name so that you can include it along with your written notice of cancelation.

Sending Written Confirmation

Once you’ve called and canceled your card, you may choose to mail a written confirmation letter to your credit card company. This can be a good option in order to protect yourself generally, but also in the event that the customer service representative made a mistake while putting through your card cancelation request.

In the letter, you would write things like your name, phone number, address, and account number as well as the details from the call you had with your credit card representative. If you got their name, you may want to also include it here.

You might choose to also state that you’d like your credit report to show that the account was closed at your request.

If you choose to mail a letter, consider sending it via certified mail so that you can ensure the company receives it, and make sure to keep a copy for your records.

Keeping an Eye on Your Credit Score

When canceling credit cards, patience is key. From the moment you begin the process to the moment your credit card is officially canceled, it may take one month or even longer, depending on the company.

After your account has officially been canceled, you may wish to keep tabs on your credit report to ensure that your credit card has in fact been listed as closed.

If, for some reason, the card is still marked as open, you may need to get back in touch with your credit card representatives and, possibly, repeat some or all steps in this process.

Know that it can sometimes take several weeks for changes to show up on your credit card report. For this reason, it’s good practice to get into the habit of checking your credit score regularly, whether or not you’ve recently closed a card.

Of course, if you did just cancel a card, you may want to wait a month or so to see whether or not closing your account impacted your credit score.

Keep in mind that, every twelve months, you can get one free copy of your credit report online through AnnualCreditReport.com . Some credit card companies may also offer apps that allow you to check your score for free.

Destroying Your Card

Once you’ve confirmed that your card is canceled, then you’re almost done with the process.

If you’ve ensured that the account is in fact closed, then you can officially destroy your card in the manner of your choosing.

Though cutting up a credit card may provide a feeling of freedom and catharsis, it’s important to be careful to choose a method that makes sure the information on your card is not recoverable.

If you have access to a shredder, shredding your card may be the most efficient and secure way of destroying it.

If you’re using scissors, make sure that you properly cut up all the identifying pieces of information on the card, including your signature, the expiration date, CVV number, and the credit card number itself.

From there, ensure you properly dispose of the shards. For an added layer of security, consider throwing them away in more than one garbage can.

Maintaining a Healthy Relationship with Credit

Despite the array of credit card-related woes many Americans experience, it is possible to leverage credit cards in a healthy and productive way.

Depending on your needs and financial circumstances, finding ways to use credit to your advantage is a great way to ensure that you don’t wind up with more debt than you can handle.

A credit card cancelation can often offer an opportunity to take stock of the way you’re using credit, and establish better practices moving forward.

Once you’ve familiarized yourself with your credit utilization, and taken a look at the rewards you are currently signed up for, you may choose to go about things differently in the future.

One of the best ways to help you keep tabs on your credit is to build a practice of checking your balance and your credit score regularly.

This may look like downloading an app that lets you see all of your savings, checking, and credit card accounts in one place, or just getting into the practice of logging into all of your account on a regular basis.

Whichever way you choose to go about it, there are several strategies you can try out that may help you to keep your credit in check.

From leveraging balance transfers to using the snowball method to help pay off any debt balances you currently have, there are ways to help you get your credit card debt and finances under control—regardless of whether or not you decide to get rid of some of that seemingly precious plastic.

Looking for a way to manage credit card debt? With SoFi Personal Loans, you can consolidate with a potentially lower interest rate.


External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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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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.


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