An unsecured personal loan from Payoff can help you consolidate credit card debt while simultaneously improving your credit score. That doesn’t sound like a bad deal, does it?
But before you start typing out your loan application, find out more details about Payoff’s loan terms and what their basic qualification standards are like.
You can also discover some unique features that set this lender apart from its competition. We’ll give you all the details you need to know to find out if Payoff is the right fit.
Payoff Personal Loans
Payoff offers personal loans to consolidate credit cards with high-interest payments into a single personal loan with a fixed monthly payment.
Ideally, you’ll qualify for an interest rate that is lower than that of your credit cards. All borrowers must pay an origination fee of 0% to 5% of the loan amount. Payoff’s competitive loan rates range from 5.99% to 24.99%. Loan amounts are between $5,000 and $35,000 with a loan term of between 2 and 5 years.
Considering the average credit card APR is currently around 16.67%, you can save serious money with a Payoff loan. Of course, if you need a personal loan for reasons other than debt consolidation, then you’ll need to look elsewhere. Otherwise, Payoff could be a good fit for you.
You could lower your monthly payment amount and also have the potential to raise your credit score. A recent study found that borrowers who used Payoff loans to pay off at least $5,000 in credit card debt saw a 40 point jump within four months.
Payoff does not currently offer personal loans in the following states:
Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, or West Virginia.
Fees
While you may have to pay an origination fee (0% – 5%), Payoff has eliminated the following standard fees:
- Application fees
- Early or extra payment fees
- Late fees
- Check processing fees
- Returned check fees
- Annual fees
Borrower Profile
Payoff sets clear standards for its application requirements, so you know whether you’re likely to be approved. To start, they will run a credit check. You’ll need a minimum credit score of 660, which falls within the “fair” credit category. In addition, your debt-to-income ratio should be no more than 50%, and you’ll need at least three years of good credit.
On top of that, Payoff expects you to have at least two lines of credit that are open and satisfactory. However, only one can be an installment loan within the last year.
You may not have any current delinquencies, and none from the last 12 months must be under 90 days. These standards help assure Payoff that you have a trustworthy credit history and are likely to repay your loan. Unlike many other lenders, there’s no set income requirement.
Payoff Application Process
You can check your rate with no strings attached before you fill out an in-depth application with Payoff. You don’t have to pay anything, and it won’t affect your credit score since it’s just a soft pull performed.
When you’re pre-approved, you may receive more than one offer. You can review the loan terms and interest rates and choose the one you prefer. From there, you move on to the complete application.
You’ll fill out some more personal information and verify everything you’ve submitted so far. At this point, Payoff will likely perform a hard pull on your credit report, which will be listed as an inquiry for two years.
Next, you’ll need to eSign your loan documents and get ready to receive your loan funds from Payoff. It’s a simple process that can be done entirely from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
How to Qualify
You will need to meet the following requirements to qualify for a Payoff personal loan:
- Minimum credit score: 640
- Minimum credit history: 2 years
- Minimum annual income: $40,000
- Debt-to-income ratio: less than 50%
Individual borrowers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid Social Security number and a valid checking account.
Once You’re Approved
Your funds from Payoff are deposited directly into your bank account so you can pay off your high interest credit card debt. You also get to start taking advantage of some unique member benefits.
One perk for borrowers is that you get your FICO credit score delivered every month. That way, you can track exactly what’s happening to your credit as you replace multiple revolving lines of credit with a single Payoff personal loan.
As you’ll recall, it’s possible to see a double-digit jump within just the first few months of paying off your cards. Once your Payoff loan is approved, you also receive a welcome call with a member advocate, plus quarterly check-ins to make sure you’re on target to pay off your loan as scheduled.
You will receive funds as soon as 2 to 5 business days after verification.
Payoff Special Features
In addition to the member benefits discussed above, Payoff goes above and beyond most traditional lenders by offering job loss support. So if you lose your job for whatever reason, you can call them, and they’ll work out a plan for you until you get back on your feet.
Payoff also invests in what they call “empowerment science.” These resources help members figure out their relationship with money through scientific assessments on personality, stress, and cash flow. They’ve performed a lot of interesting research, including a study linking debt to PTSD-like symptoms.
Payoff’s History
Payoff was founded eight years ago and is located in Costa Mesa, CA. It’s owned by Happy Money, Inc. In 2015, Payoff became the first online lender to offer its borrowers free credit scores. Its business places a significant focus on science and psychology, and its chief scientist used to head up a similar department at eHarmony.
Not surprisingly, the lender’s board of directors is full of corporate heavyweights, including Ariana Huffington (founder of the Huffington Post) and Joe Saunders (former CEO of Visa). That’s certainly not a bad team to have in your corner.
When it comes to customer service, Payoff has an excellent reputation. They have very few complaints online and mostly positive reviews.
Payoff Reviews
One of the best ways to research online lenders is by reading third-party reviews. You can discover what actual customers are saying about them before you choose to do business with them.
Payoff currently has a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of A+, which indicates great customer service. They also have very few complaints. You can find more Payoff reviews at other review sites as well.
Debt Consolidation
No matter how much or how little debt you have, it’s good to check in with your finances every quarter to make sure you’re satisfied with your current repayment plan.
If you don’t need to check in regularly because you’re already struggling to meet your payments every month, you’re ready to explore other options. Consider the following scenarios as you decide on the best path out of debt.
Consolidating credit card debt can be helpful in any number of scenarios. If you’re overburdened with multiple payments each month, particularly if they come with high interest rates, you should find out how a Payoff personal loan can help.
In many cases, particularly with a Payoff loan, you may be able to save on your monthly payments. Even if your payment is higher than your monthly minimum, you can very well save a substantial amount of money on interest. Use a credit card payoff calculator to compare the long-term costs.
It may be better to make higher monthly payments now than smaller minimum payments that cost more over time. Even if your current credit card debt is small, consolidating can be beneficial.
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