Many or all of the companies featured compensate us. Compensation and research may determine where and how companies appear. Learn more

Nelnet Bank Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4.5 / 5 (Excellent)
Our content is free because we may earn a commission when you click or make a purchase using our site. Learn more.
Founded in 2020, Nelnet Bank (Member FDIC) provides private student loans for undergraduate education and a wide range of graduate degree programs. Students may borrow up to $500,000 through the bank (depending on degree), which offers flexible repayment options, and complete the student loan application process online. Nelnet Bank is headquartered in Draper, Utah.

How is Nelnet Bank rated?

Breakdown

4.5/5
Loan Details
4.5/5
Eligibility Criteria
4.5/5
Customer Experience
4.5/5
Additional Benefits

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5 (Excellent)

Founded in 2020, Nelnet Bank is a bank that specializes in educational financing. Nelnet Bank is backed by Nelnet Inc corporate which has several decades of experience in the education space.

Nelnet Bank offers an online application process and provides a well-organized website for customers to learn about its product offering. In addition to a straightforward FAQ section, the bank publishes a blog that covers many topics of interest to student borrowers.

Nelnet Bank Loan Specifics

Loan Details - 4.5 / 5

Nelnet Bank offers undergraduate student loans and financing for a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. Undergraduates may borrow up to $125,000. Graduate loans, including financing for MBA and law school degrees, are available up to $175,000. If you're pursuing a graduate health profession degree, you can borrow up to $500,000. The bank offers flexible repayment options and loan deferment while in school.
Loan Types
Undergraduate
Graduate
Parent
Minimum Loan Amount
1000
Maximum Loan Amount
500,000
Loan Term
Multiple options.
Interest Rates
Fixed
Variable
Repayment Options
Deferred
Immediate
Interest-Only
Grace Period
Deferment or Forbearance
Cosigner Release

Fixed APR Range

4.49% with auto debit discount-15.47% APR. (See disclaimer below.)

Variable APR Range

6.29% with auto debit discount-15.51% APR. (See disclaimer below.)

Disclaimer

Fixed interest rates range from 4.49% APR (with auto debit discount) to 15.47% APR (without auto debit discount). Your interest rate will depend on your (and if applicable, your cosigner’s) credit qualifications. The fixed interest rate will remain the same for the life of the loan. Variable interest rates range from 6.29% APR (with auto debit discount) to 15.51% APR (without auto debit discount). Your interest rate will depend on your (and if applicable, your cosigner’s) credit qualifications. Variable rates may increase after consummation. Variable rates for Nelnet Bank Student Loans are calculated using either (a) the One-Month SOFR; (b) the 30-day Average SOFR; or (c) the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and/or The Wall Street Journal “Money Rates” table on the twenty-fifth day (or the next business day) of the immediately preceding calendar month. The variable rate may reprice and change on the first day of each month if the SOFR index changes. This may result in higher monthly payments. The lowest interest rate for each loan type requires automatically withdrawn (“auto debit”) payments. The lowest rate is available only to the most creditworthy applicants. Not all borrowers will receive the lowest rate., The interest rate and Annual Percentage Rate (APR) may be higher depending upon (1) the credit history of the borrower and, if applicable, the cosigner, (2) the repayment option and loan term selected, and (3) the loan type selected. If approved, applicants will be notified of the rate qualified for within the stated range.

Nelnet Bank Qualifications

Eligibility Criteria - 4.5 / 5

You or your cosigner must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency status with a valid U.S. Social Security number. You or your co-signer must be of legal age to enter into a binding contract. You or your cosigner must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency status and a valid Social Security number. You must be enrolled at a Nelnet Bank-eligible school for the loan period in question.
Cosigner Required
Citizenship Requirement
U.S. Citizen
Non-U.S. Citizen with a Cosigner
Permanent Resident Alien

Nelnet Bank Customer Experience

Customer Experience - 4.5 / 5

Nelnet Bank's website offers the basic information that would allow students and co-signers to make a decision about pursuing an application through the bank. Its FAQ section covers such topics as loan limits, borrower eligibility, and repayment options. The company also publishes interest rate ranges for its fixed and variable loans, which makes comparison shopping for a loan easier. Your interest rate and loan limits will vary depending on such details as your credit score.

You can complete an application for a Nelnet Bank loan online. Customer service is available by phone or through online messaging.

Nelnet Bank provides online quotes on student loans without performing a hard credit inquiry. (See disclaimer 1.)
Student Loan Calculator

Discounts

Nelnet Bank offers the standard 0.25% interest rate discount for borrowers who sign up for autopay. (See disclaimer 2.)

Nelnet Bank Company Reputation

Additional Benefits - 4.5 / 5

Lender Type
Bank
Year Founded
2020
BBB Rating
A+
Date Collected
2024-06-05

Company's Disclosure

DISCLAIMER 1 CREDIT SCORE: Checking your rate results in a soft credit pull, which will not affect your credit score. If you continue with your application, Nelnet Bank will request your permission to obtain your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies. This is a hard credit pull and may affect your credit score. DISCLAIMER 2 AUTO DEBIT: Interest rate reduction of .25% for automatically withdrawn payments from any designated bank account (“auto debit discount”). Auto debit discount applies when full payments (including both principal and interest) are automatically drafted from a bank account. The auto debit discount will continue to apply during periods of approved forbearance or deferment if the auto debit discount was in effect at the time of receiving the forbearance or deferment. Auto debit discount will remain on the account unless (1) the automatic deduction of payments is canceled or (2) there are three consecutive automatic deductions returned for insufficient funds at any time during the term of the loan. DISCLAIMER 3 COSIGNER RELEASE: A request for the cosigner to be released can be made by either the borrower or cosigner when each of the following conditions has been met: • The account must have been in full principal and interest repayment for at least 24 months. • Twenty-four consecutive, on-time principal and interest payments, or lump sum equivalent, must have been made. NOTE: A lump sum payment does not replace the requirement to have been in full principal and interest repayment for at least 24 months. Interest-only or fixed-pay payments while enrolled in school do not qualify towards the 24 consecutive on-time payments. • The loan must be current at the time of request. • The loan must not have been in deferment, hardship forbearance, or other alternative payment assistance plan within the past 24 months. • The loan must not have been permanently modified from its original terms in the credit agreement. • The primary borrower must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency in the United States. • The primary borrower must meet the age of majority requirement in their permanent state of residency. • Requirements are subject to change.

*This referral partner is not the creditor of Nelnet Bank loans and may receive compensation from Nelnet Bank for the referral of Nelnet Bank loan customers.

Company Profile

Full Name
Nelnet Bank
Company Website
Headquarters
13907 S. Minuteman Dr., Ste. 250, Draper, UT, 84020


Leave a comment for Nelnet Bank
Minimum 12 words.
 No maximum length.
* What's Your Rating?
To make this comment as helpful as possible for our community, please provide at least 2 sentences.

Top Rated
Our Partner

Apply in Less Than 3 Minutes

  • Most competitive interest rate starting at 4.07% APR 1
  • Cover up to 100% of your school costs 2
  • Flexible options for repayment
  • No application, origination, or prepayment fees
  • Checking rates won't affect your credit score