Top Lenders & Best Rates for You
Best Debt Consolidation Loans in Maryland of 2024
Updated: December 28, 2023
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- Best Overall Debt Consolidation Loan Lender in Maryland
- Runner-Up for Best Overall Debt Consolidation Loan Lender in Maryland
- Best Debt Consolidation Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Maryland
- Best Debt Consolidation Loan Lender for Good Credit in Maryland
- How to Choose the Right Personal Loan for You
- What to Do if You Can’t Get a Debt Consolidation Loan in Maryland
- Calculate Your Monthly Payment
- Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Maryland
Best Debt Consolidation Loan Lenders in Maryland
To find the top debt consolidation loan providers in Maryland, MoneyGeek looked at more than 30 different data sets. APR ranges, BBB ratings, minimum credit scores, different fees and penalties, payback periods, loan amounts, disbursement times and other information were all evaluated in this study.
Your unique financial objectives will determine which lender is ideal for you for a debt consolidation loan. Overall, Upgrade and Truist are MoneyGeek's top one and two choices for debt consolidation loan providers in Maryland. However, if you have a good credit score, SoFi may be able to offer you better terms. Additionally, Upstart is a fantastic option if you have bad credit.
Best Overall Debt Consolidation Loan in Maryland: Upgrade
Runner-Up for Best Debt Consolidation Loan in Maryland: Truist
Best Debt Consolidation Loan for Bad Credit in Maryland: Upstart
Best Debt Consolidation Loan for Good Credit in Maryland: SoFi
How to Choose the Best Debt Consolidation Loan in Maryland for You
Maryland residents have an average of $6,164 in credit card debt and $16,025 in personal loan debt. Your outstanding debts can be combined through debt consolidation to simplify payments and save money by securing a reduced interest rate.
If you're considering debt consolidation loans in Maryland, be aware that lenders will consider a variety of factors, including your credit score, current debts, work status, income records and more. MoneyGeek discusses how to look around for debt consolidation lenders in the state in the guide below:
Ask Yourself the Important Questions
The first step is to evaluate your existing financial situation and decide whether applying for a debt consolidation loan is the best course of action. Finding the ideal lender for you might be aided by answering the questions below:
- How much funding do you need?
- What’s your credit score?
- Can you afford the monthly payments?
- Do you have existing debts?
- Is your debt manageable through other means?
Do Your Research
It's a good idea to compare lenders before submitting an application. Do not forget that debt consolidation loans are expensive and long-term obligations with borrowers finishing their payments in between two and four years. Furthermore, some lenders run hard credit checks, which might harm your credit score. Take note that this article was written by MoneyGeek to assist consumers in finding the best debt consolidation loan provider in Maryland. However, each customer has unique demands. That is why it’s still best to explore other options if our recommendation isn’t specifically fit for your needs.
Wait
Consider delaying your application for a day or two after you've chosen a lender. Since taking out a debt consolidation loan is a significant investment, you must be certain of your chosen provider. Waiting offers you the opportunity to make a more informed and impartial choice. It may help to spend some time answering the questions above again and doing additional research to ensure you’re making the right decision for you and your financial situation.
Read the Fine Print
The fine print is pretty easy to overlook while looking into debt consolidation loans. In addition to upfront costs that are plainly disclosed in the lender's terms and conditions, there may be hidden fees that you are not aware of until after you have completed the loan application.
Examine a company's fees, such as prepayment fines, late fees and origination fees, before choosing them. Watch out for the interest rate and any potential collateral requirements. In the long run, paying attention to small things might end up saving you a lot of money.
Apply
It's time to submit your application once you've done your research, combed the fine print and contemplated your decision. You’re probably sure of your chosen lender by now and have all the information you need to submit an application. During the loan application process, lenders often need verification of a borrower's identification, residence and income. Although some people might find it more convenient to apply online, there is no harm in giving the lender a call or going in person if that is what you'd prefer.
What to Do if You Can’t Get a Debt Consolidation Loan in Maryland
A lender rejecting your application doesn't have to be the end of your efforts in securing a loan for debt consolidation. A good next step is to inquire why your was application rejected. Many factors, including insufficient income, a poor credit score, a high debt-to-income ratio and a lacking job history might cause a lender to deny your application.
Knowing the specific reasons for your rejection could give you the opportunity to negotiate with your lender and asking them to reconsider after changing various terms on your application. You can perhaps shorten the payback period or decrease the amount of the loan. While nothing is guaranteed, it's not unreasonable to assume your lender might approve of your modified application.
Conversely, you might try applying with a different debt consolidation lender as another option, but be sure to address whatever led to the denial of your application in the first place. We also advise you not to take payday loans unless you have absolutely exhausted all your other options. This type of loan has debilitating terms—a short payment period and very high interest rates.
Calculate Your Monthly Payment
Typically, borrowers repay debt consolidation loans in interest-bearing monthly installments. To find out if you have enough money to afford this fee each month, use the MoneyGeek debt consolidation loan calculator below.
FAQs About Debt Consolidation Loans in Maryland
Your individual circumstances, along with a number of other credit and income considerations, will determine which Maryland debt consolidation loan provider is the right one for you. These are some of the most frequently asked questions on this matter to help you in making an informed decision.
Our study shows that Upgrade is the overall best debt consolidation lender in Maryland, with Truist coming hot second. However, if you have an excellent or poor credit score, SoFi and Upstart, respectively, might be better.
Upstart has potentially the lowest APR for a debt consolidation loan in Maryland with a rate as low as 3.22%.
The lender will decide on this. Some limit the use of debt consolidation funds while others have no restrictions other than funding illegal activities. Before applying, it is advisable to inquire about any restrictions the lender may have.
The amount you can consolidate will depend on the lender and its terms on how much you can borrow, depending on your creditworthiness and other factors. However, several lenders allow debt consolidation loans in Maryland for as much as $100,000.
This will, again, depend on the lender. Some can release funds as early as the same day you got approved while others may take up to a few days.
You can usually pay your loan early in Maryland. However, keep in mind that some lenders impose a prepayment penalty for doing so while others don’t. Make sure to check on your lender before applying, especially if it’s a dealbreaker for you.
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
- Crunchbase. "Truist." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Social Finance. "About Us." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Social Finance. "Personal Loans." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Truist. "Personal loans." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Upgrade. "About Us." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Upgrade. "Personal Loans." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Upstart Network. "About Us." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Upstart Network. "Personal Loans." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Upstart Network. "What fees am I charged." Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Upstart Network. "What happens if I am late on my payment?." Accessed June 28, 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.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, lender or other entity. Learn more about
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