The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

5 Personal Loans For Credit Card Debt Payoff (March 2024)

Personal Loans For Credit Card Debt
Eric Bank

Written by: Eric Bank

Eric Bank
Eric Bank

Eric Bank is an M.B.A. who has covered financial and business topics since 1985, appearing regularly on Credible, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Zacks, Chron, BadCredit.org and dozens of other outlets. Eric specializes in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences, particularly in the world of personal finance. Eric holds a Master's in Business Administration from New York University and a Master's in Finance from DePaul University.

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Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro
Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Florida. Today, Lillian edits all CardRates content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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Reviewed by: Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker
Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.

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Advertiser Disclosure

Personal loans for credit card debt can rescue anyone who’s racked up unpaid balances on multiple credit cards. An unsecured personal loan can replace all those credit card bills with one monthly fixed payment. 

In addition to the logistical advantages of a consolidation loan, you should also see your FICO score improve after you pay off your credit card debt. Best of all, personal loans for consolidation purposes are available whether you have good credit or poor credit. 

Keep reading to learn about the best consolidation loan providers, all eager to help you reestablish dominion over your credit cards.

Best Networks For Credit Card Debt Consolidation Loans

The following five loan networks can help you arrange a personal loan of up to $10,000 or more. They aren’t direct lenders but rather online services that prequalify borrowers and match them to one or more loan providers. These loan finders charge you nothing for their service, and you’re under no obligation to accept any loan offers that come your way.

  • Loans from $500 to $10,000
  • All credit types accepted
  • Receive a loan decision in minutes
  • Get funds directly to your bank account
  • Use the loan for any purpose
Overall Rating
★★★★★
4.7

You must have a monthly income of at least $1,000 after taxes to prequalify for a personal loan from CashUSA.com. The website provides a personal loan calculator to help you budget your payments.

After you prequalify, a personal loan lender may offer you a medium- to long-term bad credit loan that you repay in monthly installments. You choose a repayment term that fits your budget and use the loan proceeds to pay off your credit cards.

  • Loan amounts range from $500 to $10,000
  • Compare quotes from a network of lenders
  • Flexible credit requirements
  • Easy online application & 5-minute approval
  • Funding in as few as 24 hours
Overall Rating
★★★★★
4.6

BadCreditLoans.com is an excellent choice for folks who need a bad credit loan. The direct lenders on its network work with borrowers who have had credit problems and those without a credit history. 

You can apply for a substantial installment loan through BadCreditLoans.com. The service may find you multiple unsecured loan offers in only a few minutes. The company also advises borrowers on the timing, budgeting, and responsible use of a loan. 

  • Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $35,000
  • All credit types welcome to apply
  • Lending partners in all 50 states
  • Loans can be used for any purpose
  • Fast online approval
  • Funding in as few as 24 hours
Overall Rating
★★★★
4.4

PersonalLoans.com can quickly arrange a large loan. It will attempt to connect you to a direct lender of loans you can repay over as many as 72 months. 

Because of its $35,000 loan ceiling for consumers with good credit, PersonalLoans.com may be the best debt consolidation loan source for sizable borrowings. Still, poor credit may limit the available unsecured loan amount you qualify for. The company can also show you other credit-related products or services you may find helpful.

  • Personal loans from $500 to $35,000
  • All credit types are considered and welcome
  • Simple, no credit impact form
  • Helping consumers since 2001
  • 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot rating with 2,000+ reviews!
Overall Rating
★★★★★
4.7

If credit woes keep you awake at night, you can go online to 24/7 Lending Group anytime to arrange a large consolidation loan. You may receive multiple offers within minutes when you submit the company’s short loan request form. Consumers with good credit will receive more loan offers than those with fair credit or worse. 

Trustpilot awards this loan-finding service an Excellent rating. 24/7 Lending Group demonstrates its commitment to fairness by working exclusively with lenders that comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

  • Personal loans from $100 to $20,000
  • Receive an approval decision in as little as 2 minutes
  • Funds can be deposited into your account in one business day and used for any purpose
  • No hidden fees
Overall Rating
★★★★★
4.6

SmartAdvances.com is an intelligent alternative that can rapidly hook you up with one or more direct lenders. You must collect at least $1,000 a month to prequalify for a personal loan. 

You can use the website’s personal loan calculator to determine the best repayment schedule. As a member of the Online Lenders Alliance (OLA), SmartAdvances.com is committed to a fair credit policy that complies with federal law.

Other Providers Of Credit Card Debt Consolidation Loans

These four websites are a mix of direct and indirect lenders that can offer you a large debt consolidation loan. They all have solid reputations for honest service and quick results.

6. SoFi

SoFi is well known for student loan consolidation, but it also offers personal loans of up to $100,000 you can use to pay off your credit card debt. Its lenders can provide low fixed APRs and loan terms of three to seven years, making it one of the best debt consolidation loan sources for credit card and student loan debt.

SoFi Website
SoFi says “There is no minimum credit score required to secure a personal loan, but lower scores could affect your eligibility, terms, or rate —depending on your lender.”

The company offers unemployment protection that will temporarily pause your payments and help you find a new job. SoFi attracts consumers with good credit but may accept applicants with low scores. 

7. LendingClub

LendingClub is a direct lender of loans as large as $40,000. It may offer you one or more loan options with varying monthly payment amounts and interest rates. The company can fund your unsecured or secured loan in as little as four days. 

LendingClub Website
Applicants must have a minimum credit score of 600 to qualify for a LendingClub loan.

Submitting a short request form can prequalify you for a loan without damaging your credit score. All loans carry a fixed interest rate, with three- or five-year repayment periods and no prepayment penalty (origination and late fees apply).

8. Upstart

Upstart and its partners directly fund installment loans using traditional and non-traditional underwriting criteria, including education and experience. You may qualify for a $1,000 to $50,000 loan with APRs from 5.59% for good credit to 35.99% for poor.

Upstart Website
Upstart says its lenders consider more factors than just your credit score when determining loan approval, including education and employment.

Upstart can approve your loan in just five minutes, subject to verification. The lender may deposit the proceeds into your bank account by the next business day. You can set up automated repayments, and there’s no early repayment penalty. Loans are not available in West Virginia or Iowa. 

9. Credit Unions

Credit unions are not-for-profit, member-owned financial institutions. They offer the usual products you find at a bank, including personal loans. But credit unions offer lower interest rates on loans and more personalized service than national banks. They can also arrange a secured loan if you prefer. 

You must be a member before you can borrow from a credit union. Some credit unions limit membership based on various criteria, while others are open to anyone. 

What Is a Credit Card Debt Consolidation Loan?

The purpose of a credit card consolidation loan is to replace multiple card balances with a single installment loan. While this article focuses on personal consolidation loans, you may be able to use a home equity loan for the same purpose.

Personal loans charge interest on your unpaid balance, with APRs ranging from about 6% to 36%, depending on your credit rating. The loans usually have repayment terms of three months to five or more years. You repay the loan in fixed monthly installments, and you can prepay the loan to save on interest costs. 

With a consolidation loan, you apply the proceeds to the outstanding balances on all your credit cards. This has a few positive effects:

  1. You’ll stop accruing interest on your credit card debt.
  2. You’ll re-establish the grace periods on your credit card purchases. Issuers suspend grace periods (i.e., the interest-free intervals between the statement and payment due dates) when you have an unpaid balance at the start of a billing cycle.
  3. If you ice the cards while repaying the consolidation loan, you won’t have to make any minimum payments. 
  4. Your credit utilization ratio (i.e., credit spent divided by total credit available) will immediately drop to 0%, dramatically improving your credit score. Keeping your CUR below 30% boosts your score, while higher values will hurt your score. If you give your credit cards a holiday following consolidation, your CUR will remain at 0%.

You can apply for an unsecured personal loan by completing a short loan request form or dialog on any of the reviewed lender-finding network websites. A lending service will prequalify your loan request by verifying that you:

  • Are at least 18 years old
  • Are a US citizen or permanent resident
  • Have a Social Security Number or equivalent ID
  • Have a dependable source of income, such as a job or government benefits
  • Have an active banking account in your name
  • Have a valid phone number and email address

Once prequalified, the finder service will share your loan request with its direct lender network. It will either transfer you to the website of an interested direct lender or provide links to multiple loan providers. 

You can then complete the application process by submitting any additional required information to a direct lender. You should get an immediate decision, and if it’s affirmative, your money should arrive in your bank account by the next business day. 

Does Loan Consolidation Hurt Your Credit Score?

A consolidation loan shouldn’t hurt your credit score and may even help it. Initially, there are two offsetting effects:

  • You’ll reduce your credit utilization ratio, which is positive for your credit score.
  • The lender will perform a hard credit check, which may cause your score to drop by a few points for up to one year.

The result, however, should be positive if your pre-consolidation CUR was above 30%.

Much depends on what you do with your credit cards after you repay the balances. If you are serious about controlling your debt and improving your credit score, you’ll stick your credit cards into a deep freeze until you’ve repaid your consolidation loan. With this method, your total debt will only decrease as you repay the loan. 

On the other hand, if you go on a credit card spending spree, you will end up in worse condition than before you consolidated your debt. Your CUR will rise, your credit score will drop, your interest expense will increase, and you’ll once again be making more than one monthly payment. 

As your total debt rises, you may find it challenging to pay your bills on time, leading to possibly dire outcomes, including bankruptcy. This can send your credit score into a tailspin, and you may lose property and/or income.

What Are the Different Methods of Debt Consolidation?

Debt consolidation through a personal loan is a good idea in many situations. But you have a couple of alternatives that you may prefer — credit card balance transfers and debt settlement.

The Balance Transfer Method

Many credit cards allow you to transfer the balances from other cards to create a single large open balance. The best way to execute credit card consolidation through balance transfers is to get a new card with an introductory 0% APR on transfers for a set period, typically six to 18 months or more. 

The following cards earn our top ratings for having the longest 0% intro rates available from major issuers:

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card Review

at Citi’ssecure website

0% BALANCE TRANSFER RATING
★★★★★
4.8
OVERALL RATING
  • 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
  • There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
  • With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
  • No Annual Fee – our low intro rates and all the benefits don’t come with a yearly charge.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% 12 months on Purchases
0% 21 months on Balance Transfers
18.24% – 28.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.

Discover it® Balance Transfer Review

at Discover Card’ssecure website

0% BALANCE TRANSFER RATING
★★★★★
4.8
OVERALL RATING
  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • Your account may not always be eligible for balance transfers. Balance transfer eligibility is determined at Discover’s discretion.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 6 months
0% Intro APR for 18 months
17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good
Citi Double Cash® Card Review

at Citi’ssecure website

0% BALANCE TRANSFER RATING
★★★★★
4.8
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
0% Intro APR Period 18 months on Balance Transfers
19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good, Fair

Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.

+ See More Balance Transfer Offers

Only new cardmembers can take advantage of this lower interest rate. You won’t accrue any interest on your transferred credit card balance during the interest-free period. But be aware that each transfer triggers a one-time fee, usually between 3% and 5%. 

After the intro period ends, the 0% interest rate will give way to the card’s regular APR on any remaining balances.

Consider the following before transferring balances:

  • Your new credit card must give you a big enough credit limit to absorb all the transferred balances. Otherwise, you will have to make multiple card payments each month, defeating the benefits of consolidation.
  • The issuer of the new credit card will pull your credit, which means a hard inquiry will be on your credit report for two years. New credit is responsible for 10% of your credit score. And opening a new credit card will lower the average age of your credit history, which accounts for another 15% of your credit score. 

The balance transfer method of consolidation may be your preferred method if you can get a new card with a long intro 0% APR promotion and a high credit limit. If you don’t think you can fully repay the balance before the promotion ends, you may prefer to take a personal consolidation loan because it supports longer payback periods.

Sometimes, you may do best by combining the personal loan and balance transfer consolidation methods. This will let you repay at least part of your balances interest-free, and you’ll have enough time to complete the consolidation even after the new card’s promotion period ends.

The Debt Settlement Method

Debt settlement (or debt relief) is a more aggressive form of credit card consolidation. Its success rests upon the willingness of your creditors to forgive part of your debt. 

In return, you pledge not to file for bankruptcy, in which case your creditors may have to charge off your entire debt. 

When you work with a debt settlement company, a credit counselor creates an escrow account into which you funnel your credit card payments. The counselor then negotiates with your creditors. If they can reach a consensus, your creditors will forgive part of your debt, and you’ll pay the remainder through the escrow account. 

Debt settlement is a risky business:

  • You have no assurance your creditors will relieve your debt. They may instead decide to put your account into collection or sue you.
  • The debt relief company collects a sizable fee for its services.
  • Settled accounts remain on your credit report for seven years and cause substantial damage to your credit score.

Debt settlement is the only alternative that can actually save you money. Be aware that the IRS will tax forgiven debt as regular income.

What Are the Negative Effects of Debt Consolidation?

The only substantial negative impact of debt consolidation occurs if your discipline waivers. Specifically, you want to avoid creating new debts until you repay your old ones. Otherwise, your total debt will mushroom, leaving you in a far worse financial condition. 

Comparing Debt Consolidation Methods:

Balance TransferPersonal LoanDebt Settlement
Low or 0% intro APRLow fixed APRDebts are negotiated with creditors
Minimum monthly paymentFixed monthly paymentMonthly payment
Balance transfer feeLoan origination feeService fees
For small to moderate debtsFor small to large debtsFor large unsecured debts
Average 670+ FICOAverage 600+ FICOScores below 600 OK

Another possible negative would be failing to repay your consolidation loan on time. You will probably have to pay a late fee, and your lender may try to raise your interest rate. 

If you fall behind by 30 or more days, your lender will report you to the major credit bureaus. Missed payments remain on your reports for seven years and can significantly hurt your credit score if they occur more than once.

While debt consolidation will reduce your CUR, it won’t initially help your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. DTI values above 43% limit your access to credit. Only by repaying the loan will your DTI improve and permit you to access new credit.

Debt consolidation shouldn’t harm your credit score and may even boost it when executed effectively. It will put you on a sounder financial footing and make it easier to access credit in the future.

How Do I Pay Off My Credit Cards Without Consolidating?

You don’t need to consolidate your credit card debt to repay it. You can instead plan a strategy to pay off one card at a time while making only the minimum payments to your other cards.

The two standard techniques for serially repaying credit cards are:

  • Avalanche: You pay off your credit cards in order of descending interest rates. That is, you repay the card with the highest APR first, then move on to the next highest interest rate. This method minimizes your interest costs but doesn’t necessarily provide an immediate pop of positive reinforcement to help you stick to the program.
  • Snowball: In this method, you repay the card with the smallest balance first and then move on to the next smallest balance. While this may increase your overall interest costs, it promises faster success which can be psychologically motivating. 

If you can’t decide which method to pursue, try alternating them until you know the one that better suits your needs.

Choose the Best Personal Loan to Consolidate Your Credit Card Debt

In this review, we’ve identified sources of personal loans for credit card debt that you can use to pay off your card balances and consolidate your debt into a single loan. You can then attack that loan with all your resolve until your debt is no more. 

By performing debt consolidation and avoiding new card debt, you can raise your credit score, reduce your monthly bills, and gain access to new credit with more attractive loan terms. 

Advertiser Disclosure

CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.