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Best Low-Interest Consolidation Loans & Average Rates

Finding the Best Low-Interest Debt Consolidation Loans

Dealing with debt can be really stressful. If you have multiple high-interest debts like credit cards or payday loans, it can feel like you’re drowning with no way out. But consolidating your debts into one lower interest loan can provide some much-needed relief.

What Is Debt Consolidation?

Debt consolidation simply means taking out one new loan to pay off multiple existing debts. This consolidates all those debts into one single payment each month, ideally at a lower interest rate. This makes managing your debt payments easier since you only have one bill to pay instead of many.The most common types of debt consolidation loans are:

• Personal loans
• Home equity loans or lines of credit
• Balance transfer credit cards
• Debt management plans

Of these, personal loans usually have the lowest interest rates and can help you pay off debt faster.

Benefits of Consolidating Debt

There are a few key benefits to consolidating high-interest debts into a new low-rate loan:

• Lower interest rate – The main goal is getting a much lower APR, saving you money on interest each month.
• Single payment – Instead of tracking several payments, you have one monthly bill.
• Fixed payoff date – Personal loans have set repayment terms, unlike credit cards. This gives you a light at the end of the tunnel.

• Improved credit – Making on-time payments can boost your credit score over time.

Consolidating and paying off debt can be a huge relief both financially and mentally!

What Credit Score Is Needed?

To qualify for the best consolidation loans with lowest interest rates, you generally need good to excellent credit, which is a FICO score of 670 or higher.The better your credit score, the lower rate you can qualify for on a personal loan. For example, here are average APR ranges currently available for debt consolidation:

• Excellent Credit (720+): 3.99% – 8.99% APR
• Good Credit (680-719): 8.99% – 15.99% APR

• Fair Credit (640-679): 15.99% – 24.99% APR
• Poor Credit: May not qualify for personal loans for debt consolidation.

As you can see, having at least a 680 FICO score can make a big difference in saving money on interest charges.If your credit score is under 640, you may need to build your credit first before qualifying for a low rate consolidation loan.

Top Low Interest Consolidation Loans

These lenders currently offer some of the lowest APR debt consolidation loans for borrowers with good credit:

Lightstream Personal Loans

Lightstream offers fixed rate personal loans with APRs starting at 3.99% with autopay.You can borrow from $5,000 up to $100,000 for debt consolidation. They have flexible terms up to 12 years for larger loans.Qualifying requires a minimum 680 FICO score. There are also no fees or early repayment penalties.

PenFed Personal Loans

PenFed offers personal loans with rates starting at 5.99% APR with autopay discount.Loan amounts range from $600 to $50,000, with terms from 1 to 5 years. To qualify you’ll need at least a 660 FICO score.As a credit union, PenFed membership is required to obtain loans and accounts. But joining is easy with a small one-time donation.

Marcus Personal Loans

Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers unsecured personal loans with fixed rates from 6.99% APR.You can borrow $3,500 up to $40,000 for debt consolidation. Loan terms range from 3 to 6 years.They have a minimum credit score requirement of 660. There are also no fees or prepayment penalties.

Upgrade Personal Loans

Upgrade offers personal installment loans with rates as low as 5.94% – 35.97% APR.Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $50,000. Terms are 2 to 7 years based on the loan amount and your state.To qualify you’ll need a minimum credit score of 580. Upgrade considers factors like income, credit mix, and financial health.Upgrade personal loans have an easy online application with fast funding if approved.

Best Egg Personal Loans

Best Egg loans have fixed rates from 5.99% – 29.99% APR for debt consolidation.You can borrow $2,000 up to $50,000 with 3 to 5 year repayment terms.A minimum 680 FICO is recommended for the lowest APR offers from Best Egg. There are also no prepayment penalties.Their online loan application only takes 2-3 minutes. You’ll get an instant decision and funding in 1-3 days if approved.

What Debt Consolidation Loans Avoid

While debt consolidation can save you money in interest charges, there are also some risky loans and options to watch out for:

• Payday loans – These short term loans have astronomically high interest rates, often 400% APR or more. Steer clear of payday lenders!

• Home equity loans – While rates are lower than credit cards, home equity loans put your house at risk if you default. Non-collateral personal loans are often the safer way to consolidate debt.
• Balance transfers – Transferring credit card balances can help in the short term. But balance transfer cards often charge deferred interest or have annual fees after the initial 0% APR period.

The key is finding an affordable option that allows you to pay off debt completely, without the risk of defaulting or accumulating more fees and interest.

5 Tips for Getting the Best Rate on a Debt Consolidation Loan

Here are a few tips to ensure you get the lowest interest rate possible on personal loans for consolidating your debt:

• Check your credit – Getting a free copy of your credit report and FICO score is important to know your starting point. Sites like AnnualCreditReport.com and Credit Karma provide free access to your reports.

• Pay down balances – Having high credit card balances compared to limits can negatively impact your score. Pay down balances before applying.
• Consider a co-signer – Asking a family member with good credit to co-sign can help you qualify for the lowest rates if your score is marginal.
• Compare multiple lenders – Each lender has its own loan eligibility formulas. Shop around with places like Upstart, LendingPoint, and OneMain Financial.
• Optimize your rate – Many lenders provide rate discounts for autopay, loyalty, and other features. Signing up can drop your APR by 0.25% or more.

Taking these steps allows you to present the best possible credit profile when applying for a personal loan. This helps maximize your chances of approval for the lowest interest rate.

Is Debt Consolidation Right for You?

Deciding if debt consolidation is the right move depends on your financial situation.If you have good credit, steady income to afford payments, and high-rate debt accumulating interest quickly, consolidation loans can make sense to reduce interest costs.But it requires discipline to not rack up more credit card balances after paying them off. Developing healthy money management habits is vital so you don’t end up deeper in debt.Consolidating debt with a personal loan can be a smart financial move under the right circumstances. But consider all factors carefully and have a repayment plan before moving forward.We hope this overview gives you a good starting point to explore low interest debt consolidation options. Please reach out with any other questions. We’re happy to help explain the pros and cons and best loans to meet your needs.