Student Loan Refinancing

I have written about student loan refinancing frequently since 2013 when companies started refinancing again. There are a few other companies out there doing this, but these companies generally provide the best rates and experience. I have negotiated a special deal with many of these companies, and most pay you $200-1000 when you refinance with them. Yes, I get paid too, don’t worry.

 

Splash Financial – $300-$2000 back to you 

Splash Financial is a leader in student loan refinancing for doctors. Hundreds of you check your rate with Splash each month and it only takes minutes to do so! No application or origination fees and no prepayment penalties. WCI readers receive a $300 welcome bonus for refinancing with Splash (minimum $30k refinanced to receive bonus). WCI readers who submit an application through our link can receive a $500 bonus if they refinance at least $50,000, $1,000 bonus, if they refinance at least $100,000 and a $2,000 bonus if they refinance at least $200,000. The bonus will be paid between 90-120 days after the loan closes.

 

 

Earnest – $300 back to you

On average, clients with an MD save $48,223 when refinancing with Earnest. Choose custom terms to fit your budget – like picking your exact monthly payment or selecting fixed and variable rates. Earnest’s Precision Pricing matches your custom term with a custom interest rate — saving you even more money when refinancing. You won’t be passed off to a third-party servicer nor penalized for making payments early. Your family is always protected with loan forgiveness in cases of death and dismemberment. Get $300 when you sign a loan with Earnest using links on this page.

 

 

LendKey – $300 back to you

At LendKey, formerly known as CU Student Loans, all loans are funded by community lenders. You can consolidate and refinance federal and private student loans, including undergraduate and graduate school debt for 5, 10, or 15 year terms. Recently, they upgraded their experience and now have even lower rates and more options (over 300) for lenders who will refinance your loans. Parents that took out student loans for their children to attend college are now eligible to refinance their ParentPLUS loans into lower rates through the LendKey Network. As a WCI reader, if you use the links on this page, you get an extra $300 in your pocket when your loan is funded by LendKey.

 

 

 

 

Credible – $1000* back to you

Credible is not a lender, but a marketplace where lenders compete for your business. They’ll show you actual rates from up to a dozen lenders without impacting your credit score; and they don’t share your information with lenders until you choose the specific lender you want to pursue. Even if you think you’ve found a good rate, definitely take the 2 minutes to shop it against the offers available on Credible so you are confident you are getting the best rate. There are no fees and no max balances. Doctors who have used the Credible marketplace to refinance into loans with shorter repayment terms are on track to save $50,516, on average. For medical residents, Credible also partners with multiple lenders that offer graduated repayment plans – that means you can defer full payments until you complete your residency or fellowship. Use the link above and receive a $1000 WCI bonus when refinancing through Credible.  (*To receive $1,000 welcome bonus, WCI readers must refinance a balance equal to or greater than $100K by October 31, 2018. If refinancing a balance below $100K, readers are eligible for a $300 welcome bonus.)

 

 

ELFI – $450 back to you

 ELFI (Education Loan Finance from Southeast Bank) — Education Loan Finance has come highly recommended from readers for low rates. Education Loan Finance offers student loan refinancing and consolidation to both recent graduates as well as parents with Parent PLUS and private student loans. Education Loan Finance offers low rates even without the automatic payment discount that many lenders offer. Loan amounts start at $15,000 and up for qualified borrowers. Education Loan Finance offers repayment terms of 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 years. These wide range of options provide borrowers with the flexibility they need to choose the optimal product to fit their budgets. Those with high income may opt for a shorter repayment term, saving them money over time. Those who want lower monthly payments, on the other hand, can choose a product with lower rates than they are currently paying. For parents, ELFI offers repayment terms of 5, 7, and 10 years. Education Loan Finance also offers Personal Loan Advisors who are dedicated to each borrower providing individual assistance throughout the refinancing process.

*Update: 9/17/18 The ELFI Fast Track Bonus is $100. All you have to do is submit a completed application, including submission of all required documents, and close the refinanced loan with Education Loan Finance within 30 days of the initial application.  The Fast Track Bonus will be applied to your loan as a $100 principal reduction on the new loan.

 

SoFi – $300 back to you*

Hundreds of WCI readers have refinanced with SoFi over the years. If you apply via the links on this page, not only will I get paid if you close a loan, but you’ll get paid too- $300. If you’re smart, you’ll just have them apply that to your loan balance, but I suppose you could use it to buy a frosty at Wendy’s every day for 10 months too if you want.  SoFi is now lending to medical and dental residents with $100 monthly payments. Disclaimer.

 

 

 

First Republic Bank – $200 back to you

Reviewed here, First Republic offers the lowest rates I’ve seen yet, with fixed rates starting at 1.95% (as of September 2017.) Unfortunately, they only lend to folks who live near their branches- in California, New York City, Boston, Greenwich CT, Portland OR, and Palm Beach FL. But if you live in those areas, take advantage! There is a liquidity requirement of 10% of the amount of the loan. In order to get the negotiated WCI deal, email [email protected] with the words “First Republic Referral” in the subject line for a direct referral or contact my banker Kerry Berchtold at 339-235-0419 or [email protected] and let her know you were referred by WCI.

 

 

Laurel Road – $300 back to you

Laurel Road (formerly DRB) is another huge player in this market and is a long time advertiser with The White Coat Investor. Hundreds of WCI readers have refinanced with them, often reporting they offered the lowest rate of all companies. If you apply via the links on this page and close a loan, you’ll get paid $300. They also have a resident refinancing program with $100 per month payments during residency. Laurel Road has a very flexible total allowable residency/fellowship period, allowing for residency periods up to 8 years depending on specialty – may allow for longer if the loan repayment term is 15 years or shorter. The resident rates are now estimated to be only 0.25% higher than full-time attending rates and borrowers now have the ability to get a rate reduction of 0.25% when they receive a full time attending offer without having to re-apply.

 

 

Brazos Higher Education – $400 back to you

Start your Brazos refinance application through this page and you will get a $400 cash bonus after your loan funds! Texas residents only. Brazos is a nonprofit with over 35 years of experience with student loans.  As a nonprofit, Brazos’ rates can be better than the national lenders. You can refinance up to $150,000 with a bachelor’s degree and up to $250,000 with a graduate, law, medical or other professional degree.  If you’re a Texan, visit studentloans.com now and start saving. Disclaimer.

 

 

 

CommonBond – $500 back to you

CommonBond is proud to partner with WCI to help you save more than $50,000, on average, on your medical school loans. Refinancing with CommonBond will simplify your loans and could lower your monthly payments, helping you achieve your life goals faster. Applying is straightforward and getting an initial rate estimate only takes a few minutes. You can even temporarily postpone payments if you run into financial difficulties.

CommonBond is also the only lender to have a “1-for-1” social model—for each loan they fund, they help fund the education of a child in need. Your loan will truly make a difference.

Use the link on this page to start your application today. As a WCI reader, you get an extra $500 in your pocket when you refinance with CommonBond.