Is there a Bank of America debt consolidation loan?

Debt consolidation is a good idea for borrowers with high-interest debts owed to multiple lenders. Whether or not debt consolidation is wise depends largely on if you can get a new loan or credit card that will save you money compared to the current cost of your debts. The simplicity of a single payment can be helpful, too.… read full answer

How Much You Can Save With Debt Consolidation

* Interest rates are from WalletHub data and total interest is calculated on a 2-year basis.

When Debt Consolidation Is a Good Idea

When it gets you lower rates

If you’re able to qualify for a new loan or line of credit with a lower APR than your current creditors are charging, consolidating the debts will reduce the overall cost of what you owe by slowing down the rate at which interest accrues. That in turn will help you pay off what you owe more quickly.

When you’re having trouble managing your payments

If you find yourself with too many individual debts that are hard to keep track of, and you risk missing monthly due dates as a result, consolidating can help simplify your finances.

When the fees aren’t excessive

If you have a credit score of 660+, you should be able to qualify for a personal loan with no origination fee. And some balance transfer credit cards for scores of 700+ have no balance transfer fees. Other loans and cards may charge fees that increase what you owe by 1% to 8%, which might make debt consolidation a bad idea.

When you can get enough funding

Depending on how much you owe and how high your credit score and income are, you might not qualify for a large enough loan or credit limit to accommodate all your existing debts. In that case, you might consider consolidating partially, or you might decide that opening a new account isn’t a good idea.

When you’re not about to make a major financial decision

In the long run, debt consolidation can help you get debt-free more quickly and raise your credit score. But it will cause short-term credit score damage from the hard inquiry required to open a loan or credit card. This could affect your approval odds or the rates you get for things like auto loans or mortgages for up to a year.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, debt consolidation is a good idea when it helps you get organized and obtain better rates. You can click on the button below to compare the best debt consolidation loan offers on WalletHub.

A credit card consolidation loan is a good idea if it reduces the cost of your debt and allows you to repay what you owe sooner than you would otherwise. Furthermore, a credit consolidation loan is the best choice if it will save you more than the top balance transfer credit cards… read full answer.

Credit card debt consolidation loans help put all your balances in one place. But they’re not worth it unless you also get a reduced interest rate relative to what you’re currently paying. Checking with a personal loan provider to see what rates you’re pre-qualified for should give you an idea of whether you’ll actually save money if approved.

If you can qualify for a balance transfer credit card that will accommodate all of your debt and provide a 0% introductory interest rate for 12+ months, that may be a better choice. That’s easier said than done, however, so it’s a good idea to keep your options open.

Credit card consolidation loans are a good idea when they:

1. Save you money on interest.
2. Help you get out of debt sooner.
3. Offer a better deal than balance transfer credit cards.

If you can’t find a credit card consolidation loan that will save you money, or qualify for any good balance transfer cards, there are a few alternatives to consider. A secured personal loan or home equity loan could get you lower rates, but at the risk of losing your property/home if you default. A loan from a friend or relative could get you low rates but could put stress on your relationship. Finally, other debt solutions like settling with your creditors may be helpful.

The minimum credit score for personal loan approval is 585-600, depending on the lender. That means it is possible to get an unsecured personal loan with a bad credit score, though such a loan will likely have an origination fee.

For your reference, WalletHub researched some of the most popular lenders to find out more about their specific loan requirements.… read full answer

Credit Score for Personal Loan Approval by Lender

*According to multiple third-party sources.

Your credit score is a measure of how risky it is for lenders to let you borrow money. The higher your score is, the better your chances of approval are and the better terms you’re likely to receive. Your credit score comes from a combination of factors that include your payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, recent inquiries, and diversity of accounts.

But your credit score is far from the only thing that matters when it comes to personal loan approval. Lenders consider many other factors, including your income, existing debts, monthly expenses and more.

The minimum credit score needed for a personal loan with no origination fee and no collateral requirement is 660, which is fair credit. And borrowers will need good credit or excellent credit – a credit score of 700 or higher – to get the best personal loan rates. Personal loans for credit scores under 700 tend to be for relatively low amounts and have high APRs.

If your credit score is below 585, lower in the bad credit range, you still have options. For example, you could opt for a secured loan, where you put up something valuable as collateral. If you fail to pay back the loan, the lender can take the collateral as compensation. Because this greatly reduces the risk for the lender, people with any credit score may be considered for secured loans.

You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub. You’ll also get personalized advice for how to improve your score. The best way to estimate your odds of approval for a personal loan is to check to see if you’re pre-qualified for any offers before submitting an official application.