3 Credit Unions That Refinance Student Loans
A credit union student loan refinance lender may be right for you if you prefer credit unions over banks, or if it offers the lowest interest rate you qualify for or a unique feature you value, such as initial interest-only payments.
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Refinancing student loans through a credit union is similar to refinancing with a bank or online lender — more on the differences below. But the type of lender you choose is less important than finding the best possible rate and features you’re seeking, like the option to combine your loans with your spouse’s.
Compare credit union refinance rates with other student loan refinance lenders’ rates before making a decision.
Refinancing student loans through a credit union is similar to refinancing with a bank or online lender — more on the differences below. But the type of lender you choose is less important than finding the best possible rate and features you’re seeking, like the option to combine your loans with your spouse’s.
Compare credit union refinance rates with other student loan refinance lenders’ rates before making a decision.
Credit Unions That Refinance Student Loans
Lender | NerdWallet rating | Min. credit score | Fixed APR | Variable APR | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LendKey Student Loan Refinance Check rate on LendKey's website | Best for Borrowers who value payment flexibility | 660 | 4.49- | 4.38- | Check rate on LendKey's website |
![]() Navy Federal Student Loan Refinance | Best for Borrowers who have an associate degree | Does not disclose | 4.60- | 5.23- | Read review |
![]() First Tech Federal Credit Union Student Loan Refinance | Best for Borrowers who expect their income to grow over time | 660 | 6.05- | N/A | Read review |
on LendKey's website
LendKey Student Loan Refinance
Min. credit score
660Fixed APR
4.49-Variable APR
4.38-on LendKey's website
Navy Federal Student Loan Refinance

Min. credit score
Does not discloseFixed APR
4.60-Variable APR
5.23-First Tech Federal Credit Union Student Loan Refinance

Min. credit score
660Fixed APR
6.05-Variable APR
N/AHow credit unions are different
Unlike banks and online lenders, credit unions require membership and are nonprofit institutions.
You may be able to apply for credit union membership as part of your student loan refinancing application. The credit union may require that you live in a certain geographic area, have a certain employer or are a military member, for example.
As nonprofits, credit unions give back to their members in different ways. For instance, some credit unions periodically reward student loan refinance customers for staying current with their loans, says Christian Widhalm, senior vice president of lender partnerships at LendKey.
“They can be very creative with benefits,” Widhalm says, citing lump-sum rebates and small interest rate reductions as two examples.
STUDENT LOAN REFINANCE RATINGS METHODOLOGY
Our survey of more than 29 banks, credit unions and online lenders offering student loans and student loan refinancing includes the top 10 lenders by market share and the top 10 lenders by online search volume, as well as lenders that serve specialty or nontraditional markets.
We consider 41 features and data points for each financial institution. Depending on the category, these include the availability of biweekly payments through autopay, minimum credit score and income requirement disclosures, availability to borrowers in all states, extended grace periods and in-house customer service.
The stars represent ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star.
Read more about our ratings methodologies for student loan refinance and our editorial guidelines.
Last updated on December 19, 2022
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Credit Unions That Refinance Student Loans
- LendKey Student Loan Refinance: Best for Borrowers who value payment flexibility
- Navy Federal Student Loan Refinance: Best for Borrowers who have an associate degree
- First Tech Federal Credit Union Student Loan Refinance: Best for Borrowers who expect their income to grow over time