Citizens Bank Student Loans Reviews: Legit or Scam?

It is true that college can be demanding, but it may not be the case if you consider students’ funding. With the Citizens Bank Student Loans application, you can get the money you need for college with multi-year approval.

In addition, you can lower your student loan payments— and your stress level with either citizen bank private student loan or student loan refinance.

Private Citizens Bank Student Loan lets you choose from competitive fixed and variable rates and repayment options, allowing you to repay your loan on schedule. But also, by refinancing or consolidating each year, you can save a lot with Citizen Bank Student Loan. For instance, the Citizens Bank Refinance Loan enables you to save an average of $3,036 annually.

Follow through for a guide to obtaining the Citizens’ Bank private student loan, citizen bank student loan refinance and bank student loan login.

Is Citizens Pay Legit or Scam?

Like most student loans, it is normal to question the legitimacy of the Citizen Bank pay.

The Citizen Bank student loans is an offshoot program by Citizens Bank. Citizens Bank is one of the largest US banks situated in Rhode Island. The financial institution offers multiyear student loans, which means students can obtain loans covering their complete year of college with a single application.

Citizens Bank Student Loan Reviews

Citizens Bank is a traditional bank whose roots in the Rhode Island go back to 1828. Its national lending division, Citizens One, offers student loans and student loan refinancing. However, visitors will see either “Citizens Bank” or “Citizens One” on the company’s website, depending on where they live.

Moreso, Citizens Bank is an excellent option for student and parent borrowers in need of private student loans. Also, the company is unique in student lending, as it is the only lender to offer loan approval for over one year.

Furthermore, Citizens Bank regional banks is located in 11 states across the Northeast and Midwest. The states include Delaware, Connecticut, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

So, If you live outside these 11 states or in Puerto Rico, you can still get a student loan through Citizens Bank’s national lending division, Citizens One.

The process is the same, but you may not be allowed to take advantage of the bank’s loyalty perks if you do not have a Citizens Bank account.

What student loans does Citizens Bank Cover?

Citizens Bank offers four types of student loans:

• Student loans for undergraduates. Borrow up to $90,000 to supplement your federal loans with a fixed- or variable-rate term loan. Students without a credit history need a cosigner.
• Loans for parents. Pitched as an alternative to the Federal Direct PLUS loan, this loan allows parents to pay for their children’s higher education.
• Student loans for graduate students. Term loans of up to $295,000 to cover educational costs for graduate degrees that federal loans can’t — like medical residency expenses or bar exam prep courses.

Citizens Bank Graduate Loans

With a Citizens Bank graduate loan, you can get an advanced degree without financial worry.

Citizens Bank offers multi-year approval with a commitment to staying with you through graduation (Bar Study loans are not eligible for multi-year approval).

However, you can get a graduate student loan, Law school student Loans, MBA Student loans, Health Profession Loan, Bar study Loan, and medical residency Loans.

What is the repayment term for Citizens Bank Graduate student loans?

To repay for citizen’s bank Graduate student loans, students are to choose from 5, 10, and 15-year terms. You also get the option to make full or interest-only payments in school or defer payments until after graduation.

Also, you can defer payments for up to 8 years while in school (Note: Interest will accrue during any periods of deferment).

Loan Amount for Citizens Bank Graduate Scholarship?

You may borrow up to the maximum qualifying loan amount or the total cost of education, whichever is lower. The student loan has lifetime aggregate limits (including both federal and private loan debt) of:

• Minimum: $1000
• Graduate Degrees: $150,000
• Mba and Law: $225,000
• Healthcare: $180,000 or $350,000 depending on your degree

Who is Eligible for the Citizens Bank Graduate Scholarship?

To apply for Citizens Bank graduate scholarship, you must be:

• A U.S. citizens or permanent residents. International students can apply with a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner.
• Enrolled at least half time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution
• Have good credit or have a qualified cosigner³
• Attained the age of majority in your state of residence or if you have not met the age of majority in your state of residence, a cosigner will be required
• Have no prior student loan defaults

Who is Firstmark Services?

Firstmark Services is a trusted partner, selected by Citizens Bank for servicing your loan, and is your primary point of contact for all items regarding your loan.

Furthermore, they provide responsive, seamless, and personalized solutions. Their process for providing client solutions begins with active listening.

A collaborative approach enables them to work with their clients to find answers that make sense for their unique loan products, markets, and institutional goals.

What Does Firstmark Services Do?

• They are dedicated to preserving client assets by providing expertise rooted in sound practice.
• They navigate complex regulations based on solid experience in compliance and risk management.
• Value customers, expect their needs, and exceed their expectations.
• Provide scalability, efficiency, consistency in service delivery, and flexibility in their platforms.
• And also, design their products and services specifically to meet the needs of consumer loan borrowers and the lenders who serve them.

What about citizens bank student loan consolidation?

Citizen Bank student loan consolidation simply merge your outstanding loans into one loan. The interest rate is based on the weighted average of the rates on the loans you merge. However, this simplifies repayment.

Note, it doesn’t necessarily help when you’re interested in reducing student loan payments.

Now, when you choose student loan consolidation with a private lender, you may be eligible for a lower rate based on your credit score, plus receive the benefit of combining your loans into one easy-to-manage monthly payment.

Moreso, You could even combine federal and private student loans in your new loan as long as you’re comfortable exchanging the benefits of the existing loans. 

Citizens Bank Refinance Student Loans

With Citizens Bank Student Loan Refinance you can free yourself from costly student loan debt.

Moreso, this student loan gives you the opportunity to save an average of $3,036 per year by refinancing and merging all your private and government, and undergraduate and graduate loans, into one affordable loan.

However, it Lowers your interest rate, reduces your monthly payment, fixes a variable-rate, even removes a cosigner to gain financial independence and control.

Student Loan Refinance Interest Rate

Fixed Rates

Your interest rate will remain constant over the life of your loan, and your monthly payment amount will remain the same.

Variable Rates

Get a potentially lower rate and lower monthly payments. The interest rate will fluctuate monthly, and therefore, your monthly payment amount will vary over time.

Why Choose Citizens Bank?

Choosing Citizens Bank Student Loan Refinance is not a bad idea at you because apart from the Loan you, it offers you the opportunity to get the following:

• Lower Rate: You get discounts of up to 0.50%. With their competitive fixed and variable rates, you can save an average of $253 each month or $3,036 annually. You can also fix a variable rate loan to get predictable monthly payments and peace of mind.
• Lower Payments: You get to make payments on your terms of five or more years. You may lower your monthly payments, giving you more room in your budget.
• Time savings and convenience: A single payment combines all your federal and private loans and citizens bank graduate and undergraduate loans into one loan, allowing you to make one low payment to one lender.

What is the repayment term for citizens bank refinance student loans?

To repay for citizen’s bank student loan, students are to choose from 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20-year repayment periods, depending on your budget. Now after making 36 consecutive on-time payments of principal and interest, a borrower may apply to release the cosigner from their Loan.

What are the Loan Amounts for refinance student loans?

• Minimum: $10,000
• Maximum: $300,000 (bachelor’s degree or below) and ( Graduate degree)

Who is Eligible for the Citizens Bank Students Loan Refinance?

To apply for Student Loan Refinance, You must be:

• At least $10,000 in student loans to refinance
• Permanent residents or US citizens with a valid U.S. Social Security Number.
• Have an Associate’s degree or with no degree must have made at least 12 qualifying payments after leaving school
• No longer be in school
• If you have a bachelor’s degree, you must have made at least three full, on-time repayments on your loans
• Make at least $24,000 a year
• Have strong credit
• If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, you must have made at least 12 full, on-time repayments

Citizens Bank Private Student Loan

With a private Citizens Bank Student Loan, you can choose from competitive fixed and variable rates, and repayment options that give you the freedom to pay back your loan on your schedule.

And also with just one application, you can get the money you need for all your college years.

Private Student Loan Interest Rates

Fixed Rates

Your interest rate will remain constant over the life of your loan and your monthly payment amount will remain the same.

Variable Rates

Get a potentially lower rate and lower monthly payments. The interest rate will fluctuate monthly, so your monthly payment amount will vary over time.

What is the repayment term for Private Citizens Bank Student Loans?

Have you ever ask the question of how to repay citizens bank student loans? Now to do that, choose from 5, 10, and 15-year terms. You can also get the option to make full or interest-only payments in school, or defer payments until after graduation.

However, you can defer payments for up to 8 years while in school (Note: Interest will accrue during any periods of deferment).

What are the Loan Amounts for Citizens Bank Private Student Loan?

You may borrow up to the maximum qualifying loan amount or the total cost of education, whichever is lower. Our student loan has lifetime aggregate limits (including both federal and private loan debt) of:

• Minimum: $1,000
• Maximum: $150,000

Who is Eligible?

To apply for a Citizens Bank Private Student Loan, there must be the following:

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents. International students can apply with a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner
• The student must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution.
• Have good credit or have a qualified cosigner
• Have attained the age of majority in your state of residence, or if you have not met the age of majority in your state of residence, a cosigner will be required.
• No prior student loan defaults

How Long Do Citizens Bank Student Loans Take to Process?

Do you know that you can apply for the Education Refinance Loan without stress or having to take cumbersome procedures? Interestingly, you can do it in 15 minutes with 3 easy steps.

How to Apply

• Complete the online application. Apply from your computer or mobile device. You also have the option to add a cosigner, which may increase your likelihood of approval, and getting the most favourable rate.
• Select your rate and terms. Choose a fixed or variable rate, the loan term, and how and when you want to repay the money.
• Sign and accept.
• You and your cosigner (if applicable) will sign and accept your loan documents electronically.

What do I need to apply?

Have the following information and documents ready before you begin your application:

• Your Social Security number
• A recent pay stub or proof of other income (for you or your cosigner)
• Your employer’s contact information and how long you’ve worked there (for you or your cosigner)
• Your school’s name
• How much it costs to attend your school

You may also need to provide:

• The Financial aid you’ve received
• Your anticipated graduation date
• Your expected amount
• A personal reference (for student borrowers only)
• Your cosigner’s name and email
• Contact information of someone (not your cosigner) who will have contact with you after graduation

I got a student loan from Citizens Bank. Now what?

Student borrowers can choose to start total repayments immediately, make interest-only repayments or defer repayment until after leaving school. Also, Deferral makes sense for students who cannot work, though it could make your loan much more expensive. Try making interest-only payments, at least if you can afford it.

Moreso, Set up autopay — called “auto-debit” by Citizens Bank — to get 0.25% knocked off your interest rate. Just ensure your account has enough funds to make each payment to avoid nonsufficient funds fees.

Furthermore, Keeping an eye on your account is vital when dealing with a company with Citizens Bank’s track record. Document anything suspicious and report it immediately. And don’t forget to follow up on any claims you file.

Why Citizens One private student loan?

This type of private student loan is best for international students and existing Citizens Bank customers.

In a nutshell, It is for students with a qualifying co-signer and those who don’t foresee needing to postpone or lower payments in the future. The company doesn’t offer a generous safety net for struggling borrowers beyond the 12 months of forbearance many lenders provide.

Hence, Citizens One offers multiyear approval for student loans. After freshman year, you can request loans for subsequent school years without you or your co-signer undergoing a hard credit check, which affects your credit. International students cannot receive multiyear approval.

CITIZENS ONE PRIVATE STUDENT LOAN AT A GLANCE

• No personalized rate estimates via a soft credit check.
• International students can qualify with a co-signer.

IN-SCHOOL REPAYMENT OPTIONS

• Immediate: Begin making total monthly payments as soon as the loan is disbursed. This option will save you the most interest.
• Interest-only: Make monthly interest payments in school and during your grace period.
• Deferred: You won’t be required to make any payments until your grace period ends, but you can choose to make payments if you’d like. Interest will accrue while you’re in school and capitalize or get added to your principal balance at the end of your grace period.

POST-SCHOOL REPAYMENT OPTIONS

• Grace period: 6 months.
• Academic deferment: Postpone payments if you return to school at least half-time.
• Military deferment: Postpone payments if you’re on active military duty.
• Grace period extension: Yes, an additional 6 months.
• Forbearance: Postpone payments for up to 12 months if you’re experiencing economic hardship.
• Co-signer release: Yes, after 36 on-time payments.
• Death or disability discharge: Yes.

REPAYMENT PREFERENCES

• Allows greater-than-minimum payments via autopay: Yes.
• Allows biweekly payments via autopay: No.

Note, the Loan amount ranges from $1,000 to $100,000.

How to Get the Lowest Student Loan From Citizen Bank

• Research and compare interest rates.
• Improve your credit score.
• Apply with a creditworthy co-signer.
• Choose a shorter loan term.
• Consider automatic payments.
• Shop around and negotiate.
• Be mindful of additional fees.

FAQs

Sources

• Undergraduate students loan – Citizens Bank
• Citizens Bank Loan Student Review – Forbes.com

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