Consolidate Debt1 to Help Meet Your Financial Goals

December 2024

<p>Consolidate Debt<sup><a title="Click to view disclosures" href="#disclosure">1</a></sup> to Help Meet Your Financial Goals</p>

Now is an excellent time for taking a fresh look at budgeting and reducing debt as part of a long-term financial plan. Consolidating debt1 — paying off several debts and replacing them with a single balance — can help you manage your budget, stabilize your finances and still put money toward savings.1

Why Consolidate Debt?1

  • Combining multiple debts into one balance gives you fewer bills to pay each month.
  • By finding a lower rate – whether through a loan or a credit card balance transfer – you’ll save money by putting less toward interest rates and paying down the principal balance sooner. You may even shorten your repayment term.1
  • Fewer bills and a planned budget can help improve your credit score when you make your payments on time and avoid taking on more debt.

Build New Habits

Paying off debt begins with a solid understanding of your budget, including knowing your monthly income and spending habits. Use Key’s budget worksheet to gather your information, review your financial habits and patterns, and equip yourself to make decisions based on your needs, wants and savings goals.

Seeing your income and spending organized in a budgeting document often makes it easier to recognize opportunities for reducing bills, removing discretionary items and finding additional streams of income. The more information you have available, the better decisions you can make regarding paying off debt and building savings.

Options for Consolidating Debt1

You have several options to explore when it comes to debt consolidation.1 Let’s start with a look at personal loans and balance transfer credit cards:

  • Unsecured personal loans – Using a solution such as a KeyBank personal loan to consolidate your debt won’t require collateral, or fees for originating the loan or paying it off early.1 These loans start at $5,000 and offer flexible terms up to 84 months,2 locking in a fixed rate with a set monthly payment. It helps you maintain a budget and frees up cash flow to pay other debt or build savings – and funds can be available the same day you apply at any branch.3
  • Balance transfer credit cards – Research credit cards that offer 0% introductory APR, and investigate transferring your existing debt onto them. The KeyBank Latitude® Credit Card, for example, charges 0% APR for the first 15 billing cycles on balances from other debts transferred onto this card within the first 60 days. After that, your APR will be 19.24% to 26.24% based on your creditworthiness.4 This option gives you an opportunity to pay that debt down more effectively.

Homeowner Tools

Owning a home also gives you access to other debt consolidation tools, all of which can make your budgeting easier and lower your interest rates, helping you pay off debt and save for the future.

  • Mortgage refinancing – By leveraging the equity in your home for a cash-out refinance, you can get money to help pay off existing high-interest debt. You could also explore a rate/term refinance with the goal of lowering your monthly mortgage payments and using the savings to pay off other debts. Talk to a KeyBank dedicated mortgage loan officer to learn about our mortgage refinancing options, rates and more.
  • Home equity line of credit – This solution creates a continuous line of accessible credit based on the available equity in your home.  It functions similar to a credit card, but with your house used as collateral. A home equity line of credit has a variable interest rate. It provides ongoing flexibility, although, it should be noted that your balance and payments month to month may vary.
  • Home equity loan – While this option also taps into your home equity, it takes the form of a one-time loan distribution. Because it offers a fixed rate and a variety of repayment term options, budgeting is easy through uniform, planned payments, with no worries about rising interest rates.

Bring Your Financial Goals in Reach

If you consolidate some debt but have multiple monthly debt payments remaining, then you can still effectively and methodically pay down debt. Many different strategies and products are available – and we can help you on your journey toward paying off your debt and reaching your savings goals.

Learn more about the debt consolidation options at Key or get in touch with us for a Key Financial Wellness Review. Start the new year with strong steps in the right financial direction.

All credit products are subject to collateral and/or credit approval.

NOTICE: This is not a commitment to lend or extend credit. Conditions and restrictions may apply. All home lending products, including mortgage, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, are subject to credit and collateral approval. Not all home lending products are available in all states. Hazard insurance and, if applicable, flood insurance are required on collateral property. Actual rates, fees, and terms are based on those offered as of the date of application and are subject to change without notice.

NMLS# 399797. Equal Housing Lender.

To apply, you must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older;
  • For Home Equity Loan: live within the following states: AK, CO, CT, ID, IN, MA, ME, MI, NY, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, or WA;
  • For Home Equity Line of Credit: live within any one of the United States except the following: AL, AZ, CA, DC, NV, TX. For subject properties outside of AK, CO, CT, ID, IN, MA, ME, MI, NY, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, or WA call 1-888-KEY-0018 (1-888-539-0018), TDD/TTY (1-800-539-8336) for product information or to submit an application;
  • Agree to provide additional personal and business information, if requested, such as tax returns and financial statements;
  • Certify that all information submitted in the application is true and correct; and
  • Authorize the bank and/or a credit bureau to investigate the information on the application.
1

Savings vary based on rate and term of your existing and refinanced loan(s). Refinancing to a longer repayment term may lower your monthly payments, but may also increase the total interest paid over the life of the loan. Refinancing to a shorter repayment term may increase your monthly payments, but may lower the total interest paid over the life of the loan. Review your loan documentation for total cost of your refinanced loan.

2

The actual rate and payment amount may vary and is determined by the product, term, loan amount and your credit qualifications. For loan terms greater than 60 months, you must meet additional credit requirements and KeyBank will add 0.25% to the stated APR.

Representative example of repayments terms for an unsecured personal loan: For $12,000 borrowed over 36 months at 11.99% APR, the monthly payment is $399.  This example is an estimate only and assumes all payments are made on time.

3

Funds may be available as fast as same business day of application under the following conditions: (1) certain underwriting criteria are met including, but not limited to, credit score; (2) loan funding does not require third-party payoff(s); (3) funds are deposited directly into a KeyBank account; and (4) complete loan signing by 2:00 p.m. ET on a day that the bank is open for business. Income verification may be required, which may delay availability of funds. Additional conditions may apply. All credit products are subject to credit approval and other program terms.

4

The 0% introductory APR does not apply to cash advances and is valid for the first 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers. Thereafter, the APR may vary. Currently the undiscounted variable APR for Purchases and Balance Transfers is 19.24% to 26.24% (depending on your creditworthiness). Balance transfers must be made within 60 days of account opening for introductory APR to apply. The variable APR for Cash Advances is 28.24%. Cash Advance fee: 5%, $10 minimum. Convenience Check fee: 4%, $10 minimum. Cash Equivalent fee: 5%, $10 minimum. Balance Transfer fee: 4%, $10 minimum. Overdraft Protection Transfer fee: $0. There is a $0.50 minimum finance charge where interest is due. Foreign Transaction fee: 3% of each foreign purchase transaction in U.S. dollars. Transactions originating in Canada are excluded from this fee. Refer to Terms & Conditions.

Rates, fees and other information contained on this page are accurate as of 12/20/2024 and are subject to change after that date.

Content provided for informational and educational purposes only and is in no way to be construed as financial, investment, or legal advice. We cannot and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal financial issues.

Call Us

1-800-KEY2YOU® (539-2968)

Dial 711 for TTY/TRS

Clients using a relay service:
1-866-821-9126

Schedule an Appointment

Talk to a Branch Manager in your neighborhood.

Schedule an appointment now

Find a Branch or ATM

Call Us

1-800-KEY2YOU® (539-2968)

Dial 711 for TTY/TRS

Clients using a relay service:
1-866-821-9126

Schedule an Appointment

Talk to a Branch Manager in your neighborhood.

Schedule an appointment now