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Best Debt Consolidation Loans in Florida of 2024
Updated: December 28, 2023
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- Best Overall Debt Consolidation Loan Lender in Florida
- Runner-Up for Best Overall Debt Consolidation Loan Lender in Florida
- Best Debt Consolidation Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Florida
- Best Debt Consolidation Loan Lender for Good Credit in Florida
- How to Choose the Right Personal Loan for You
- What to Do if You Can’t Get a Debt Consolidation Loan in Florida
- Calculate Your Monthly Payment
- Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Florida
Best Debt Consolidation Loan Lenders in Florida
MoneyGeek reviewed lenders for over 30 data parameters to identify the providers that offer the best debt consolidation loans in Florida. We compared their loan terms, APR ranges, minimum credit score and income requirements, disbursement time, origination and late fees, customer service, Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings and other criteria.
Based on our research, Upgrade is the best provider of debt consolidation loans in Florida. However, your financial profile, lender requirements and other considerations will determine the optimal lender for you. For example, while Upgrade is the best lender overall, Upstart is the best lender for those with bad credit.
Best Overall Debt Consolidation Loan in Florida: Upgrade
Runner-Up for Best Debt Consolidation Loan in Florida: Truist
Best Debt Consolidation Loan for Bad Credit in Florida: Upstart
Best Debt Consolidation Loan for Good Credit in Florida: SoFi
How to Choose the Best Debt Consolidation Loan in Florida for You
The average Floridian owes $16,148 in personal loan and credit card debt. By consolidating your debts, you can make a single payment and save money through a lower interest rate.
Lenders generally consider your credit score, monthly income and debt-to-income ratio to determine your eligibility and capacity to repay the loan. MoneyGeek recommends the following strategies for a hassle-free application for debt consolidation loans in Florida:
Ask Yourself the Important Questions
To begin, evaluate your present financial status. By doing so, you will know whether or not a debt consolidation loan is the right course of action for you. Before choosing a lender and submitting an application for a personal loan, ask yourself the following questions:
- How much funds do I need?
- What’s my current credit score?
- Can I afford the monthly payments?
- Do I have existing debts?
- Is my debt manageable through other means?
Do Your Research
When you take out a personal loan for debt consolidation, you are making a long-term commitment because you may have to pay it back over the course of several years. In order to validate your eligibility, certain lenders may conduct a hard credit check, which may further lower your credit score.
Lenders have different interest rates and fees. It's crucial to compare multiple lenders before choosing one, to make sure both the loan and the lender are ideal for you. It’s important to remember that MoneyGeek's recommendations are generic, so you should still conduct your own research before choosing a lender.
Wait
With so many lender options, each with their own features, rates and fees, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed after doing research. Since a loan is a long-term commitment, it’s important to think through your decision before applying. As such, we recommend waiting a few days before submitting your application.
Read the Fine Print
It's easy to overlook the fine print in your loan agreement. Before registering with a lender, you should be aware of any hidden fees, like prepayment penalties, late fees and origination fees. After signing up with the lender, you might be shocked to learn that there are extra costs that weren't disclosed in the lender's terms and conditions. You may save a substantial amount of money in the long run by paying close attention to the details.
Apply
Application submission is the final step of the procedure. Borrowers are often asked to provide documentation that verifies their identity, address and income, as part of the application process. Some people may find it more convenient to apply online, but depending on the lender, you may also be able to apply in person.
What to Do if You Can’t Get a Debt
If your loan application is rejected, you should ask the lender why your application was rejected and if there’s anything you can do to remedy the situation. Lenders generally reject applications for reasons like insufficient income requirements, low credit scores or a high debt-to-income ratio. Your lender may give you suggestions, like lowering the amount of the loan, to help you get approved. If necessary, you can consider a different lender for your debt consolidation loan. However, it’s best to wait and address the initial cause for rejection before reapplying.
After being rejected, some people may seek a payday loan. MoneyGeek strongly advises against this as these loans have very high interest rates and short repayment terms. A collection agency may get involved if you’re unable to make timely payments, further reducing your credit score.
Calculate Your Monthly Payment
Debt consolidation loans are typically repaid in interest-bearing monthly payments. To find out whether you have enough money to afford this payment each month in Florida, you can use the debt consolidation loan calculator from MoneyGeek below.
FAQs About Debt Consolidation Loans in Florida
Before deciding to consolidate debts, it’s essential to evaluate your current financial situation. A few of the most frequently asked questions about Florida debt consolidation loans are addressed below.
Upgrade is the best overall debt consolidation loan lender in Florida. However, your unique needs and financial profile decides which lender works the best for you. For instance, those who have strong credit can turn to SoFi, while those with less-than-perfect credit can turn to Upstart.
Upstart provides Florida's lowest rates starting at 3.22% for eligible borrowers.
Restrictions on the use of your debt consolidation loan depend on the lender. While some do not impose any restrictions, others don’t allow borrowers to consolidate some types of student loans. Before you submit your application, it’s a good idea to inquire about any restrictions placed by your potential lender.
Based on your financial standing, you may be able to borrow up to $100,000 to consolidate debt in Florida. However, the amount you can qualify for varies between lenders.
In most cases, it takes one day up to a week to get a debt consolidation loan in Florida. However, processing timelines vary between lenders, particularly if you need to submit additional papers during the loan processing period.
If you repay your personal loan early, certain lenders may charge a prepayment penalty. You should contact your lender directly to learn more about the terms of your loan agreement.
MoneyGeek reviewed over 30 personal loan lenders using at least 35 individual data points across six key categories: loan affordability, accessibility, consumer friendliness, customer service, flexibility and lender transparency.
Within each ranking category, we considered several individual data points that we feel carry the most weight when choosing a personal loan lender. These factors include APR ranges, available loan amount, minimum credit score, minimum income amount, application fees and disbursement time.
Here at MoneyGeek, we value you, the consumer, so we also factor in each lender’s customer support, business ratings and additional features that could make your experience easier and more accessible — like prequalification, payment options and mobile apps.
After careful consideration and calculation, our picks are chosen with your best interests in mind. Our personal loan recommendations and expert tips are meant to help you make smart financial decisions when choosing a lender that meets your needs.
sources
- Better Business Bureau. "SoFi." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Better Business Bureau. "Upgrade, Inc." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Better Business Bureau. "Upstart." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Better Business Bureau. "Truist." Accessed June 14, 2022.
- Upgrade. "Consolidate Your Debt." Accessed June 27, 2022.
- Upgrade. "What are the Minimum Borrower Requirements?." Accessed June 27, 2022.
- Upgrade. "What are the minimum credit requirements to receive a loan?." Accessed June 14, 2022.
- Upgrade. "Are there any fees?." Accessed June 27, 2022.
- Upstart. "Am I eligible to apply for a loan?." Accessed June 27, 2022.
- SoFi. "Personal Loans." Accessed June 27, 2022.
- Truist. "Personal Loans." Accessed June 27, 2022.
- Wikipedia. "Truist Financial." Accessed June 27, 2022.
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the rates mentioned may have changed. We recommend visiting the lender's website for the most up-to-date information available.
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