PenFed Credit Union Student Loans Refinance Review
Consolidate your private and federal student loans from PenFed, the refinance company offering the best interest rates. Refinance Parent Plus loans, Spouse Loans, and Individual Student Loans.
PenFed offers competitive rates for student loans, and unique loan programs such as spouse loans, allowing individuals and couples to consolidate and refinance their federal and private student loans into a single loan.
PenFed Credit Union Student Loans Rates and Fees
| MAX Loan Amount
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MAX Loan Amount It’s the maximum sum of cash advance allowed to apply for in the state. It is often limited to a certain sum but it may vary depending on the lender and his requirements. |
$300,000 |
| Terms
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Terms It's the period of time within which you are to repay the loan. |
5-15 years |
| MIN loan amount
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MIN loan amount It’s the minimal amount of cash advance you can apply for. It’s not always stated, the average sum is $100. But it may vary depending on the lender and the state’s regulations. |
$7,500 |
| Fixed APR
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Fixed APR It is the cost of credit calculating the interest rate, loan amount, repayment term and the timing of payments. |
3.25% - 7.03% |
| Variable APR
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Variable APR Annual Percentage Rate [APR] is the cost of credit calculating the interest rate, loan amount, repayment term and the timing of payments. Variable rates are based on the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") published in The Wall Street Journal on the twenty-fifth day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month. |
2.69% - 7.43% |
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Established in 1935, PenFed today is one of the country’s strongest and most stable financial institutions with over 1.6 million members and over $24 billion in assets. They serve members in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Guam, Puerto Rico, and Okinawa. They are federally insured by NCUA and they are an Equal Housing Lender. They are available to members worldwide, via the web, seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.
Eligibility criteria.
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Cosigners must be a U.S. citizen.
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Cosigners must be age of majority in your state of residence
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Cosigners must co-sign on both the loan application and on the promissory note.
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Cosigners must provide proof of income.
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Cosigners must be able to meet the cosigner credit requirements.
- Applicant Eligibility
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- Applicants must be a U.S. citizen.
- Applicants must be age of majority in your state of residence.
- Applicants must be the borrower on at least one outstanding, fully-disbursed private education loan, federal-backed education loan, or Parent Loan.
- Applicants must be the borrower on the loan application and on the promissory note.
- Applicants with a bachelor’s degree or higher may be eligible to refinance their student loans.
- Applicants must provide proof of income.
- Applicants must be able to meet the borrower credit requirements.
- Cosigner Eligibility
Loan Limits
PenFed has a minimum loan amount of $7,500 and a maximum loan amount of $300,000.
Terms
- Fixed Rate Loan Terms: 5 years/60 monthly payments, 8 years/96 monthly payments, 12 years/144 monthly payments or 15 years/180 monthly payments.
- Variable Rate Loan Terms: 5 years/60 monthly payments, 8 years/96 monthly payments, 12 years/144 monthly payments or 15 years/180 monthly payments.
APR
- Fixed APR: Annual Percentage Rate [APR] is the cost of credit calculating the interest rate, loan amount, repayment term and the timing of payments. Fixed Rates range from 3.25% to 7.03% (3.25% - 7.03% APR) and will vary based on application terms, level of degree and presence of a co-signer. Rates are subject to change without notice.
The following Fixed Rate examples are based on a $10,000 loan amount:
| Term | No. of Monthly Payments |
Lowest APR | Est. Principal & Interest Payments |
| 5 years | 60 months | 3.25% | $181 |
| 8 years | 96 months | 4.04% | $122 |
| 12 years | 144 months | 4.37% | $89 |
| 15 years | 180 months | 4.69% | $77 |
- Variable APR: Annual Percentage Rate [APR] is the cost of credit calculating the interest rate, loan amount, repayment term and the timing of payments. Variable rates are based on the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") published in The Wall Street Journal on the twenty-fifth day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month. As of September 1, 2018, the one-month LIBOR rate is 2.07%. Variable interest rates range from 2.69% - 7.43% (2.69% - 7.43% APR) and will fluctuate over the term of the borrower's loan with changes in the LIBOR rate, and will vary based on applicable terms, level of degree earned and presence of a co-signer. The maximum variable rate on the student refinance loan is 9.00% for 5-year and 8-year terms, and 10.00% for 12-year and 15-year terms. The floor rate is 2.00%. These rates are subject to additional terms and conditions, and rates are subject to change at any time without notice. Such changes will only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change.
The following Variable Rate examples are based on a $10,000 loan amount:
| Term | No. of Monthly Payments |
Lowest APR | Est. Principal & Interest Payments |
| 5 years | 60 months | 2.69% | $178 |
| 8 years | 96 months | 4.10% | $122 |
| 12 years | 144 months | 4.35% | $89 |
| 15 years | 180 months | 4.62% | $77 |
PenFed Student Loan Refinance Program is not offered or endorsed by any college or university. PenFed is not affiliated with and does not endorse any college or university listed on this website.
You should review the benefits of your federal student loan; it may offer specific benefits that a private refinance/consolidation loan may not offer. If you work in the private sector, are in the military or taking advantage of a federal department of relief program, such as income based repayment or public service forgiveness, you may not want to refinance, as these benefits do not transfer to private refinance/consolidation loans.
PenFed reserves the right to modify or discontinue products and benefits at any time without notice. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen and meet PenFed's underwriting requirements. Lowest rates are reserved for the most qualified borrowers. This information is current as of 09/01/2018. PenFed loans are originated by Pentagon Federal Credit Union. This credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.
- What is student loan refinancing?
Student loan refinancing is the process of taking one or more student loans and consolidating them into one new loan. The refinanced loan will often include new terms, such as a lower interest rate, a different monthly payment and a new repayment term length.
- Who should refinance?
Refinancing is a great solution for working graduates who have high interest rates on current outstanding student loans or who need to lower their monthly payments. Most borrowers who refinance determine they can save on interest costs over the life of their loans by lowering their interest rate and/or shortening their loan term. Other borrowers choose to extend their loan term in order to reduce their monthly payment, even though this may result in higher lifetime interest costs. Borrowers should be aware that by refinancing, they may lose certain benefits offered by federal student loan programs, such as deferments, forbearance, income-based repayment plans and pay-off of student loans in event of death or total disability.
- What loans can I include in my refinancing?
PenFed will refinance federal, private, and Parent PLUS student loans. When you refinance with us, we consolidate all of your loans into one easy monthly payment. Spouses may also refinance their loans together, or one partner may "take over" their spouse's loan. When a spouse “takes over” another spouse’s loan, an affidavit (provided by PenFed) must be signed to acknowledge the transfer of the student loans.
- Where can I find my rates?
Use our Find My Rate tool to calculate your exact interest rate, compute your monthly payment, and compare lifetime interest savings all without completing a profile or submitting to a credit check.
- How does applying with a cosigner help my application?
Although you may have good credit yourself, applying with a cosigner who also has good credit and strong income can ensure that you meet our credit criteria. This will increase the likelihood that you will pass our initial credit screening process and can provide you with a lower interest rate on your student loan refinance. PenFed will use the higher of the two credit scores for qualification purposes which means you can max out on savings.
- Please note that when an application has a cosigner, the borrower and the cosigner will both a) jointly apply for credit; and, (b) be jointly liable for the requested loan. Give us a call at 202-888-4320 if you would like to see if you qualify. PenFed borrowers may request a cosigner release after 12 months of consecutive, timely payments are made and a re-evaluation is completed on the borrower's financial and credit profile. Note: this does not mean the borrower would have to reapply.
- For loans up to $150,000: you'll need a cosigner if your credit score is between 670 and 699 and/or your annual income is between $25,000 and $41,999. Your cosigner must have annual income of at least $42,000 and a credit score of 720 or higher.
- For loans exceeding $150,000: you'll need a cosigner if your credit score is between 670 and 724 and/or your annual income is between $25,000 and $49,999. Cosigners need annual income of at least $50,000 and a credit score of 725 or higher.
- How long is my cosigner jointly responsible for my loan?
Your cosigner is jointly responsible for your loan for the life of the loan so make sure you choose wisely and can manage all the payments. If you miss a payment, it will damage your cosigner's credit.
- How much can I borrow?
Our minimum loan amount is $7,500, and the maximum is $300,000.
- Are there any fees associated with this loan?
There are no pre-payment penalties, origination, or application fees with PenFed.
- Can I refinance my student loan while I'm still in school?
You must have graduated with a bachelor's degree or higher and be currently employed in order to be eligible for student loan refinancing with PenFed.
- What are the income requirements?
For loans up to $150,000: the annual income requirement for a solo application is $42,000, or $25,000 with a cosigner. Your cosigner must have annual income of at least $42,000. For loans exceeding $150,000: the annual income requirement for a solo application is $50,000, or $25,000 with a cosigner. Your cosigner must have annual income of at least $50,000.
- What number do I call if I have questions?
We will always provide free consultations about your student loan scenario via email penfed@purefy.com, or via phone, 202-888-4320. We pride ourselves in putting you first and finding the best solution for each unique situation. Whether you have questions regarding an in-process application or you're shopping around for information, we are here to help.
- Where do I send my underwriting documents?
To expedite the processing of your loan documents, and to keep them secure, it is best to upload them directly to your application. If necessary, applicants may also email their documents to: penfed@purefy.com and include the application ID.
- Can I refinance loans for 2 or more borrowers into one loan (i.e. Can two people refinance their loans into 1 loan)?
We can typically facilitate this request for married couples and other unique situations. However, please call one of our student loan experts at 202-888-4320 to discuss options before proceeding with an application so we can find the best solution for you.
- What information is considered in the initial credit review on the application?
The initial credit review considers all of the information you and your cosigner provide during the application process, such as income, degree, and school, as well as the information obtained from your credit report. Once you pass the credit review, the next step is to provide documentation that supports the credit information.
- If I save my application to come back and finish it later, how long is it kept on file?
We'll keep your unsubmitted application saved for 30 days. Once you have submitted your application and your initial credit check is run, we'll keep your submitted application on file for 60 days. But why wait when you can save money on your loan now? You can access your unfinished application here. If you need to upload documents, you may do so here.
- How do I check the status of my loan?
Give us a call at 202-888-4320 and one of our loan advisors can provide a status update. You may also visit your completed application here. Upon logging in, view the "Checklist" tab to determine if any documents are outstanding.
- I can't log into my account. How do I reset my username and/or password?
Visit your application here. On the log-in page, there is a link to reset the password, or to obtain your user name.
- Upon pre-approval, what documents do I need to provide to complete the application process?
We require 5 items during the underwriting process:
- Income verification: A paystub or tax return. See further details in FAQ #9
- Photo ID: A Driver's License, Passport, or state-issued ID card
- Payoff Verification Statements from each existing servicer: a statement that projects the payoff amount 10, 15, or 30 days into the future
- Graduation verification: A copy or photo of your diploma or transcripts
- PenFed Membership Application: included in your application after pre-approval
- No need to break out the fax machine, a smartphone picture or screen shot will suffice.
- What documents are required for income verification?
Because each borrower is different, we try to accommodate various types of income as best we can. Below are our acceptable forms of documents for the pay type:
- Salaried/Hourly: If you are a full-time employee, we'll ask you for a paystub dated within the past 30 days to verify your base pay.
- Self-Employed: For self-employed borrowers, we'll request pages 1 and 2 of the previous two years of your federal income tax returns (Form 1040), as well as any applicable schedules showing the business income. We'll take a two year average of the net income from the schedules.
- Variable Income (e.g. overtime, commission, or bonus pay): If you are an employee with varying hours or receive commissions or bonuses, we'll ask you for your previous two years of W-2s and your most recent paystub in order to utilize this income.
- Rental Income: For rental income, we'll request pages 1 and 2 of the previous two years of your federal income tax returns (Form 1040), as well as Schedule E.
- Retirement Income: For retired borrowers, we'll request the previous two years of 1099-R forms and average out the totals to calculate your income. If you do not have 1099-R forms from the previous two years, then we can also use your most recent benefit award letters.
- Do I need to be a PenFed member to refinance? How do I become a member?
In order to refinance with us, you will need to become a PenFed member but don't worry - it's easy to join, and there is no requirement for military service. You'll fill out a membership form during the underwriting process after you are pre-approved. Once your membership is confirmed, you'll have access to PenFed's award-winning products and services. You do not need to be a member to apply to refinance your student loans, we only require membership after pre-approval.
- What are Payoff Verification Statements?
A Payoff Verification Statement is a statement provided by lenders and servicers that verifies the amount it would take to completely pay off your loan at a certain day in the future (often 10, 15, or 30 days in advance). The amount takes into account the loan balance, interest, fees, and any accrued interest during the time that the statement is requested and the future payoff date provided. This document is critical to the PenFed processing team during the underwriting process as it allows us to prepare an accurate payoff figure for your existing loans. On the contrary, loan statements or monthly billing statements solely provide the loan balance at a certain time, and they do not account for accrued interest.
Following disbursement, when will I receive information about managing my account going forward?
On the day after your loan is disbursed, you will receive an email notification from PenFed with the steps to set up your online account and manage it going forward.
2. When can I expect my old loans to be paid off?
It typically takes 3-14 days for your old servicer(s) to receive our payoff funds, apply them to your account, and process the payoff. Please check your account at your old servicer(s) to ensure that the payoffs have been applied after this timeframe. Give us a call at 202-888-4320 if the balance is still outstanding after 14 days and we will take care of it for you.
3. How long do I need to continue making payments with my old servicer after I refinance?
We recommend that you continue making regular payments with your existing loan servicer to avoid missing a payment while the disbursement goes through. Any overpayment we make on your existing loan will be refunded directly to you by your existing servicer in the form of a paper check sent to the address on your application. If your servicer sends us the refund, we will deposit the funds into your PenFed share account. From there, you can easily apply the refund to your loan or withdraw the funds if desired.
4. Does PenFed offer deferments or forbearance?
We do not advertise for deferments and forbearance. However, if a borrower lost his/her job, or there was an extraordinary circumstance (death, illness), we would absolutely work with the borrower on a case-by-case basis to determine the best remedy. If forbearance is in the interest of both parties, then interest would accrue during the forbearance period, but no payment would be due.
5. What happens if I default on my loan?
Defaulting on a loan is a very serious matter which could have an adverse effect on your personal credit score. Further, bankruptcy does not cancel the obligation to repay an education loan. If you are about to miss a loan payment, contacts us immediately to work out a repayment schedule.
6. Is there a penalty for pre-payment or paying the loan off early?
No, you can pay your loan off early regardless of your repayment terms without any penalty. You will only be charged the amount of interest that has accrued on the loan until the day the loan is paid off.
7. What repayment options are there?
We only offer one type of repayment option; principal and interest payments. Any payment larger than the amount due made before the due date will be applied directly to the loan's principal balance.
8. Who is the loan servicer?
PenFed is the servicer of the student refinance loans. You can contact a representative of our Member Services team at 800-247-5626 or visit our website at www.PenFed.org
9. When will my first payment be due? How do I set up my account?
Your first payment is due 30 days after the loan disburses. To set up an account with PenFed, visit www.PenFed.org and click Create Online Account to register for Online Banking - you will need your member number and security code (call 1-800-247-5626 to establish your security code and obtain your member number).
Mobile App: Once you create your online account, you can pay via our mobile app which is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
By Mail:
PenFed Credit Union
P.O. Box 247009
Omaha, NE 68124-7009
If you have additional questions, please contact a Member Services Representative at 800-247-5626.
10. Is there a deferment period?
Like other private lenders, we do not offer a deferment period.
- Why are your 12-year term loans priced higher than your 8-year or 5-year?
This accounts for the interest rate risk. It's always riskier for both parties to lock-in to a long-term rate without the information of where rates may be headed. To compensate for this risk, PenFed offers the protection of a fixed rate for 12 and 15 year terms, but in return, we ask for a higher premium for this protection.
- How is the interest calculated on my loan?
Interest is calculated as simple daily interest. This means that each day the outstanding principal balance is multiplied by the interest rate and divided by 365 days to calculate that day's interest amount. For example, if you have a $10,000 loan and the interest rate is 7%, one day's interest will be ($10,000 x 0.07) / 365 = $1.92.
- How are your interest rates determined?
Our interest rates are determined by your credit score and the type of degree you have. Your loan amount has no impact on the rates we offer but we do require a minimum of $7,500 to refinance. Your annual income is factored into DTI (debt-to-income) calculations but won't have any effect on your interest rate. If you apply with a cosigner or refinance with your spouse, we'll use the higher credit score to calculate your interest rate and save you even more on your student loans.
- Can a borrower prepay the loan at any time?
Yes, a borrower may prepay the loan either partially or in full at any time without incurring any fees of penalties. So if you won the lottery, and want to take care of that balance, fees won't get in your way.
Variable Rates
- How do variable rates work?
A variable rate means that the interest rate on your loan will fluctuate over the life of the loan based on market conditions. This means that the amount of your monthly payment will change from time to time. In general, if you choose a variable rate, most advisors suggest a shorter term in order to reduce your exposure to a potential increase in market rates. At the time of this writing, variable rates are lower than fixed rates. The interest rate on a variable rate loan is comprised of an index and margin added together. PenFedÃs variable rate index is 1-month LIBOR, based on the LIBOR rate on the 25th of the preceding month (or the next business day if the 25th falls on a weekend or holiday). The index is subject to change (increase or decrease) each month. The margin is a fixed amount (disclosed at the time of your loan application) added each month to the index to determine the next monthÃs variable rate.
- What is the floor and the cap for variable rate loans?
The cap for a PenFed variable rate loan depends on the term you select. For the 5 and 8-year loans the cap is 9.00% and for the 12 and 15-year loans it is 10.00%. PenFed's floor for variable rates is 2.00% for all terms. It's particularly important to compare the cap on variable rate loans. If interest rates were to increase dramatically, a higher cap on a variable rate loan could expose you to significantly higher payments than on a fixed rate loan or on a variable rate loan with a lower cap.
- What is LIBOR?
The London Interbank Offered Rate, more commonly known as LIBOR, is a standard benchmark for short term interest rates. It’s the interest rate at which banks lend to each other. We use the 1-month LIBOR at PenFed. Our variable rates are comprised of a fixed margin (which never changes for the life of the loan) added to an index, in our case, 1-month LIBOR, which can change monthly. The rate will be determined on the 25th day of the preceding month (or the next business day if the 25th falls on a weekend or holiday) and the rate will be updated accordingly the following month. For example, if on the 25th of August the index increases by 0.25%, then on September 1st, your variable rate will reflect the increase of 0.25%.
- How do I choose between a fixed rate and variable rate?
It's up to you to determine what fits your financial situation best. In recent periods, variable rates have been lower than fixed rates, thus offering a borrower savings over the short run but the possibility of significantly higher payments if market rates were to increase over the life of the loan. A variable rate loan may be a good choice for a borrower with high enough income to absorb an unexpected increase in payments. Variable rates are not recommended for borrowers who are risk averse or for those choosing a longer term. By contrast, a fixed rate on a loan means that your interest rate will remain constant over the life of the loan and your monthly payment will never change. A fixed rate loan is a good choice for a majority of borrowers, particularly those who are refinancing and want to lock in their savings.
Think of having a variable rate like paying your electric bill, which fluctuates, and a fixed rate like paying your rent which doesn't change.
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