Citizens summary
Pros
- Flexible repayment plans
- Multi-year loan approval
- Loyalty discount for existing Citizens account holders
Cons
- Rate not locked in for multi-year loan approval
- Most branches are in the eastern US
Overview
Citizens is a Rhode Island-based bank that has been in business since 1828 and has more than 1,000 branches across 11 states. The bank offers private students loans for degree-granting programs across the country, including undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical programs. It has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Suitable For?
Citizens is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled at least half-time in school. Its student loans offer competitive interest rates, especially if you already have a Citizens account and qualify for a 0.25% rate discount. Loans are available for undergraduate and graduate students, including students in law school and medical school.
Citizens serves not only US citizens and residents but also international students with a US citizen or resident co-signer. Since the bank accepts cosigners and allows deferred payments on private student loans, it is suitable for students with little income while in school.
Loan Features
Here are a few key features of Citizens’ private student loans:
- Multi-year approval: You can be approved for annual loans for up to 4 years, so you don’t need to reapply and undergo a hard credit check at the start of every new school year.
- Flexible repayment plans: Citizens enables you to choose between making payments immediately, making interest-only payments, or deferring payments until after you graduate.
- Cosigner release: You can remove a cosigner from your loan after 36 months of consecutive payments.
- No prepayment penalty: Citizens doesn’t charge fees if you pay off your student loan early.
- Rate discount: Existing Citizens account holders receive a 0.25% rate discount.
The Application Process
You can request a quote for a private student loan online. Getting a quote does not impact your credit score.
If you want to proceed, you can apply at Citizens online or in person at a bank branch. You will need to submit proof of residence, proof of income, and proof of your enrollment in an eligible degree program. If you have a cosigner, they will need to submit proof of residence and income. You and your cosigner will also need to undergo hard credit checks.
Eligibility Requirements
Citizens requires borrowers to be US citizens or residents. International students can also apply but must have a US citizen or resident cosigner. All applicants must be enrolled for at least half-time in a degree program and have no previous student loan defaults. There is no minimum credit score required.
Loan Rates
Citizens offers rates from 3.48% - 11.34% APR, and existing Citizens account holders receive a 0.25% rate discount. Your rate will depend on various factors, including your credit score, whether you have a cosigner, how much you need to borrow, and what repayment plan you select.
Repayment Terms
Borrowers have 3 options to repay student loans from Citizens. You can start making payments immediately, make only interest payments until after graduation, or defer all payments until after graduation. Citizens offers flexible repayment terms.
How Safe Is It?
Citizens has been in business for nearly 200 years and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. The bank uses encryption and biometric tools to keep your online financial information secure.
Customer Service
Citizens offers customer support by phone, email, and live chat from 9am-4pm (ET), Monday-Friday. You can also visit one of the bank’s more than 1,000 branches to speak with a loan officer in person.
How Citizens Compares
| Citizens | College Ave | SoFi | |
| APR | 3.48% - 11.34% | 2.94%-12.99% | 2.99% to 10.66% |
| Minimum credit score | None | 640 | None |
| Loan amounts | $10,000-$350,000 | $1,000-Full cost of degree | $5,000-Full cost of degree |
| Accepts cosigners | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for | International students | Students with good credit | Students who want flexible repayment options |
Summary
Citizens offers private student loans with rates from 3.48% - 11.34% APR. This bank’s offering is unique in that it’s open to international students with a US citizen or resident cosigner. In addition, you can be approved for an annual loan for up to 4 years, so you don’t have to reapply at the start of every school year. Citizens offers a selection of repayment options and doesn’t charge prepayment penalties, and you can manage your loan online.
Methodology
This review was created using information from the Citizens website and the Better Business Bureau.
Disclosures
ERL Variable Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates are based on the 30-day average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) index, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As of May 1, 2022, the 30-day average SOFR index is 0.29%. Variable interest rates will fluctuate over the term of the loan with changes in the SOFR index, and will vary based on applicable terms, level of degree and presence of a co-signer. The maximum variable interest rate is the greater of 21.00% or the prime rate plus 9.00%.
Fixed Rate Disclosure: Fixed rate ranges are based on applicable terms, level of degree, and presence of a co-signer.
Lowest Rate Disclosure: Lowest rates are only available for the most creditworthy applicants, require a 5-year repayment term, immediate repayment, a graduate or medical degree (where applicable), and include our Loyalty and Automatic Payment discounts of 0.25 percentage points each, as outlined in the Loyalty Discount and Automatic Payment Discount disclosures. Rates are subject to additional terms and conditions, and are subject to change at any time without notice. Such changes will only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change.
Student Loan Rate: Fixed interest rates range from 3.48%-11.64% (3.48% - 11.34% APR).
Loyalty Discount: The borrower will be eligible for a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their loan if the borrower or their co-signer (if applicable) has a qualifying account in existence with us at the time the borrower and their co-signer (if applicable) have submitted a completed application authorizing us to review their credit request for the loan. The following are qualifying accounts: any checking account, savings account, money market account, certificate of deposit, automobile loan, home equity loan, home equity line of credit, mortgage, credit card account, or other student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. Please note, our checking and savings account options are only available in the following states: CT, DC, DE, FL, MA, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, and VT and some products may have an associated cost. This discount will be reflected in the interest rate disclosed in the Loan Approval Disclosure that will be provided to the borrower once the loan is approved. Limit of one Loyalty Discount per loan and discount will not be applied to prior loans. The Loyalty Discount will remain in effect for the life of the loan.
Investors Bancorp, Inc. Loyalty Discount: To receive the Loyalty Discount for having a qualifying account with Investors Bancorp, Inc., borrowers must contact Citizens by telephone prior to signing the promissory note. Student loan borrowers please call (877) 291-6385 and education refinance borrowers please call (888) 411-2413.
Automatic Payment Discount: The borrower will be eligible for a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their loan if the borrower or their co-signer (if applicable) has a qualifying account in existence with us at the time the borrower and their co-signer (if applicable) have submitted a completed application authorizing us to review their credit request for the loan. The following are qualifying accounts: any checking account, savings account, money market account, certificate of deposit, automobile loan, home equity loan, home equity line of credit, mortgage, credit card account, or other student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. Please note, our checking and savings account options are only available in the following states: CT, DE, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, and VT and some products may have an associated cost. This discount will be reflected in the interest rate disclosed in the Loan Approval Disclosure that will be provided to the borrower once the loan is approved. Limit of one Loyalty Discount per loan and discount will not be applied to prior loans. The Loyalty Discount will remain in effect for the life of the loan.
Multi-Year Approval: Funds available for future use are subject to a soft credit inquiry at time of your next request to verify continued eligibility. After we make the initial Loan to you, we may refuse to allow you to take out additional loans under the Multi-Year Approval feature, terms and conditions will be outlined in your promissory note. Please Note: International students and non-citizens, including permanent residents, are not eligible to receive an offer for Multi-Year Approval.
Co-signer Release: Borrowers may apply for co-signer release after making 36 consecutive on-time payments of principal and interest. For the purpose of the application for co-signer release, on-time payments are defined as payments received within 15 days of the due date. Interest only payments do not qualify. The borrower must meet certain credit and eligibility guidelines when applying for the co-signer release. Borrowers must complete an application for release and provide income verification documents as part of the review. Borrowers who use deferment or forbearance will need to make 36 consecutive on-time payments after reentering repayment to qualify for release. The borrower applying for co-signer release must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If an application for co-signer release is denied, the borrower may not reapply for co-signer release until at least one year from the date the application for co-signer release was received. Terms and conditions apply. Borrowers whose loans were funded prior to reaching the age of majority may not be eligible for co-signer release. Note: co-signer release is not available on the Student Loan for Parents or Education Refinance Loan for Parents.
Student Loan Aggregate Limits: You may borrow up to the maximum qualified loan amount or the total cost of education, whichever is lower. Our student loan does have lifetime aggregate limits (including both federal and private loan debt) of: Undergraduate Degree: $150,000, Graduate Degrees: $150,000, MBA and Law: $225,000, Healthcare: $180,000 or $350,000 depending on your degree (Aggregate limits up to $350,000 for MD, DMD/DDS, OD, DO, DPM, PharmD, and DVM degrees. Aggregate limits up to $180,000 for cardiac perfusion, chiropractic, cytotechnology, nurse practitioner, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and physician assistant degree).
Student Loan Repayment: Student borrowers can make full payments or pay interest only while in school or defer payments until after graduation (interest continues to accrue during deferment periods).
Student Lending Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen with a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. For applicants who have not attained the age of majority in their state of residence, a co-signer is required. Citizens reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. Citizens private student loans are subject to credit qualification, completion of a loan application/Promissory Note, verification of application information, and if applicable, self-certification form, school certification of the loan amount, and student’s enrollment at a Citizens participating school.
Student Loan Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution.
Student Loan for Parents Eligibility: The student whose education expenses will be paid for with the loan proceeds must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree granting program at a Citizens-participating school.
Student Loan Repayment: Student borrowers can make full payments or pay interest only while in school or defer payments until after graduation (interest continues to accrue during deferment periods).
This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 10.32% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $207.25 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $24,869.86. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
Michael Graw is a Bellingham, Washington-based writer focusing on finance, tech, and science. His work has been featured in print magazines and high-impact websites. He writes for BestMoney and enjoys helping readers make sense of the options on the market.
