Citizens Bank Personal Loans Review

Pros Explained

• No Fees or Penalties – Citizens Bank has no late or origination fees, or any prepayment penalties, on its loans. These sorts of charges impact the overall cost of your financing, so even if you find a lender that offers a slightly lower annual percentage rate (APR) but also charges fees, Citizens Bank may be the more affordable option.
• Discounts for Qualified Applicants – Discounts are available for borrowers who enroll in autopay and Citizens Bank customers who have a qualifying account.
• Option to Include a Co-Applicant – Borrowers who may not qualify on their own may be able to do so by adding a co-applicant with a better credit profile.

Cons Explained

• Strong Credit Recommended to Qualify – Though it doesn't specify a minimum credit score, Citizens Bank prefers applicants with "reasonably strong" credit profiles, to quote the company's website. To qualify for the current lowest rate (6.79%), you'd need a FICO score in the very good–to-exceptional range—740 and up. A merely good score of 670 to 739 would get you 9.96% to 12.61%, depending on the loan duration.   
• High minimum loan amount: Citizens Bank offers personal loans starting from $5,000. For those who are looking for lower loan amounts, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
• Minimum Income Requirements – Applicants need to provide proof of income—you need to make at least $24,000—to qualify for a personal loan.

Types of Personal Loans Offered by Citizens Bank

Citizens Bank lets borrowers use their personal loans for a myriad of purposes. Among them: remodeling projects, debt consolidation, weddings, vacations, and purchasing recreational vehicles. In short, how you use the loan proceeds is mostly up to you.

However, Citizens Bank does set some restrictions. You can't be borrowing the proceeds for:  

• Business-Related Purposes
• Post-Secondary Education
• Securities Purchases

Time to Receive Funds

Citizens Bank borrowers will usually receive funds within two business days via an automated clearing house (ACH) payment.

Citizens Bank Personal Loan Features

Apply for a Personal Loan With a Co-Applicant

Citizens Bank allows joint applications, and both the primary borrower and co-applicant can request separate rate quotes. When submitting a personal loan application, the final rates and terms will be based on whoever has the higher FICO score.

Initial Soft Credit Inquiry

Citizens Bank offers what the lender calls its "Rate Quote," a sort of prequalification process that allows you to see rates and terms you may qualify for in advance. It uses a soft credit check, so your credit score won't be impacted until you submit a full application, when Citizens Bank will conduct a hard inquiry (and your score could be affected, at least temporarily).

Apply For a Citizens Bank Personal Loan

As mentioned above, you can discover whether you're eligible for a Citizens Bank personal loan first, and on what terms, before you apply. Here's what the entire application process looks like, using the bank website. 

1. Provide some initial information through the online form, which includes your name, physical address, and preferred loan amount. Once you check the box where you agree to bank's terms, you'll be able to see more-specific rates and terms.
2. Review the terms and rates offered before moving onto the application page. There's an option to change the loan amount on the bottom of the screen before proceeding.
3. Log into your account if you're already a Citizens Bank customer to save time from filling in additional personal information.
4. Indicate whether you're applying as an individual or with a co-applicant. Each applicant will need to provide details, such as income or employment information, email address, and citizenship status. You need to be the age of majority in your state to be eligible for a personal loan.
5. Review loan terms and submit the full application if you're satisfied with the offer. At this point, Citizens Bank will conduct a hard inquiry. Additional documentation may be needed, such as proof of income and a copy of your state-issued ID.

Once your loan is approved, sign your loan agreement and receive your funds within a few business days in most cases. Prefer a personal touch? You can also apply at any one of the over 1,100 Citizen Bank branches in 14 states plus Washington, D.C. (they're often in supermarkets) throughout New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Midwest. The application process will be similar to what you'll do online.

Can You Refinance a Personal Loan with Citizens Bank?

There doesn't seem to be an option to refinance your personal loan with Citizens Bank. However, you can consolidate your personal loan into a new loan. Loans are limited to one open and active loan per borrower.

Methodology

Investopedia is dedicated to providing consumers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews of personal loan lenders. To rate providers, we collected over 25 data points across more than 50 lenders, including interest rates, fees, loan amounts, and repayment terms to ensure that our reviews help users make informed decisions for their borrowing needs.  

Our full personal loans methodology, including our data collection process and weighted data points, is available for review.