Loans to pay off credit cards
A credit card payoff loan is a personal loan used to clear card balances. You trade a variable card APR and minimum payments for a fixed rate, fixed payment and fixed end date. It makes sense when the loan APR is meaningfully lower than your card APR.
- Encrypted and secure
- No credit impact
- No personal info to CLO
- Free, no obligation
Loan terms from 2 to 60 months. Rates vary depending on the lender, your credit and your state. Maximum APR is 35.99%.
Loan vs. balance transfer card
- A balance transfer card often has a 0% intro APR and a transfer fee, commonly 3% to 5% of the balance.
- Once the intro period ends, the remaining balance moves to the card's regular APR.
- A personal loan has no intro period: the rate is fixed from day one, so the payoff date is certain.
Quick test before you apply
- Find your card APR on your latest statement.
- Compare it with the APRs in your prequalified offers.
- Run both through the loan calculator to see total interest side by side.
Protect the win
- Keep paid-off cards open if they have no annual fee. Closing them can raise utilization.
- Set up autopay on the new loan. Some lenders take a small amount off the APR for it.
See which lenders will work with you
Pre-qualify in minutes. Checking your rate won't affect your credit score.
Common questions
Should I close my credit cards after paying them off with a loan?
Usually not, unless a card has an annual fee or you can't avoid using it. Open cards with zero balances keep your utilization low, which supports your score.
Is it smart to get a loan to pay off credit cards?
It's smart when the loan APR is lower than your card APRs and you stop adding new card debt. Compare total interest, not just the monthly payment.
Can I get a credit card payoff loan with fair credit?
Some lenders approve fair credit (FICO 580 to 669). Expect higher APRs, so check that the loan rate still beats your card rate.
Ready to compare offers?
Pre-qualify in minutes. Checking your rate won't affect your credit score.