Is it a good idea to take out a personal loan to consolidate credit card debt? (2024)

Is it a good idea to take out a personal loan to consolidate credit card debt?

Debt consolidation might be a good idea for you if you can get a lower interest rate than you're currently paying. That will help you reduce your total debt and reorganize it so you can pay it off faster.

Should I get a personal loan for credit card debt?

As of November 2023, the average interest rate on a personal loan with a 24-month term was 12.35%, according to data from the Federal Reserve. So, by using a personal loan to pay off your credit card debt, there could be significant savings, as the average credit card rate is currently 21.47%.

Do debt consolidation loans hurt your credit?

Debt consolidation loans can hurt your credit, but it's only temporary. The lender will perform a credit check when you apply for a debt consolidation loan. This will result in a hard inquiry, which could lower your credit score by 10 points.

What are the disadvantages of debt consolidation loan?

The potential drawbacks of debt consolidation include the temptation to rack up new debt on credit cards that now have a $0 balance and the possibility of hurting your credit score with late payments. Also note that the best personal loans go to consumers with very good or excellent credit, so not everyone can qualify.

Can you get a personal loan to consolidate debt?

A debt consolidation loan allows you to combine multiple higher-rate balances into a single loan with one set regular monthly payment. It is one of several tools you might consider to gain control of your debt, from bills to credit cards. With a Discover® personal loan, for example, you can apply for up to $40,000.

Does a consolidation loan cancel your credit cards?

If you get approved for the card, the creditor will not require you to close your other cards. And even with a debt consolidation loan, you may only face an account closure restriction in some cases.

Can personal loans hurt your credit score?

Your credit score can dip a few points when you formally apply for a personal loan, but missed payments can cause a more significant drop. Getting a personal loan will also increase the amount of debt you owe, which is one of the factors that make up your credit score.

Do personal loans damage your credit?

A personal loan will cause a slight hit to your credit score in the short term, but making on-time payments will bring it back up and can help improve your credit in the long run. A personal loan calculator can be a big help when it comes to determining the loan repayment term that's right for you.

Is it smart to get a loan to pay off debt?

Using a personal loan to pay off debt helps you get rid of multiple payments and go down to one payment per month — and hopefully with a much lower APR. Consider using a debt repayment calculator to determine how much sooner you could pay off your debt with a lower interest rate.

How to get rid of credit card debt without ruining your credit?

How long does it take your credit to recover from debt consolidation?

Debt consolidation itself doesn't show up on your credit reports, but any new loans or credit card accounts you open to consolidate your debt will. Most accounts will show up for 10 years after you close them, and any missed payments will show up for seven years from the date you missed the payment.

Can I get a personal loan to pay off credit cards?

Generally, you can use a personal loan to pay off credit card debt. It typically has lower rates and a fixed monthly payment that can help you pay your debt off sooner compared to making minimum payments on all your cards.

How much debt is too much to consolidate?

Success with a consolidation strategy requires the following: Your monthly debt payments (including your rent or mortgage) don't exceed 50% of your monthly gross income. Your credit is good enough to qualify for a credit card with a 0% interest period or low-interest debt consolidation loan.

What are 4 things debt consolidation can do?

Loan debt consolidation is when you take out a new loan to pay off multiple debts. Four types of debt are commonly consolidated: credit card debt, student loan debt, medical debt and high-interest personal loan debt. You may reduce the overall cost of repayment by securing better terms and interest.

What's the difference between a personal loan and a debt consolidation loan?

Key Takeaways. Personal loans are usually unsecured installment loans. Debt consolidation loans are a type of loan, which can be either personal or business, that you can use to combine multiple outstanding balances into one.

Are consolidation loans hard to get?

If you have excellent credit, high income and are borrowing a relatively small amount of money, it can be easy to get approved for a debt consolidation loan. On the other hand, if you have poor credit, low income and are applying for a large loan, it may be difficult to get approved.

What should you not use a loan to purchase?

You can get a personal loan for almost anything, such as consolidating debt, improving your home or making a large purchase. The short list of things you cannot use a personal loan for includes illegal activities, gambling, investments and, sometimes, post-secondary education expenses.

Does a debt consolidation loan go into your bank account?

Unlike a balance transfer, where you move debt from one account to another, when you get a consolidation loan, the cash is deposited directly into your bank account that you can use to pay off all of your credit card debt at once.

Does your credit score go up when you consolidate?

However, credit cards and personal loans are considered two separate types of debt when assessing your credit mix, which accounts for 10% of your FICO credit score. So if you consolidate multiple credit card debts into one new personal loan, your credit utilization ratio and credit score could improve.

What credit score do you need to get a $30000 loan?

This depends on your financial situation. For those with a good credit score — around 670 and up — a $30,000 personal loan may be pretty easy to get. But those new to credit or with a bad score may find it challenging.

How many points does a personal loan drop your credit score?

Lenders will run a hard credit pull whenever you apply for a loan. This will temporarily drop your score by as much as 10 points. However, your score should go up again in the following months after you start making payments.

How many points does a personal loan take off your credit score?

Hard credit checks temporarily lower your credit score by as much as 10 points. If you have excellent credit, applying for a loan will most likely make your score drop by five points or less.

Do personal loans raise credit score?

Personal loans can boost your credit score by adding to your credit mix and reporting a positive payment history. There are some risks associated with applying for a personal loan, including hard credit inquiries, additional debt and lender fees.

Can you pay off a personal loan early?

It is possible to pay off your personal loan early, but you may not want to. Making an extra payment each month or putting some, or all, of a cash windfall, toward your loans, could help you shave a few months off your repayment period.

Why consolidate credit card debt?

Debt consolidation is the act of taking out a single loan or credit card to pay off multiple debts. The benefits of debt consolidation include a potentially lower interest rate and lower monthly payments. You can consolidate your debts using a personal loan, home equity loan, or balance-transfer credit card.