Can You Refinance A Personal Loan?

Yes, much like a mortgage, personal loans can be refinanced in Australia.

Refinancing a personal loan involves taking out a new loan with new terms, and using those funds to pay off the original loan.

People often refinance personal loans to take advantage of a lower interest rate or to reduce their monthly payments. If either or both are possible, refinancing could save you a significant amount of money over the life of the loan.

Types of loans you can refinance in Australia

Home loans and car loans are two commonly refinanced loan types in Australia. Personal loans can be refinanced as well.

Ultimately, whether you can refinance your loan will depend on the policies of your lender and your personal financial situation.

Westpac customers who carry a car loan can’t refinance, for example. And CommBank offers their customers the ability to increase a loan amount, alter repayments and due dates, so refinancing might not be necessary.

Why consider refinancing a personal loan?

You want to consolidate your debt. Multiple debts can be challenging to remember and budget for. You can refinance a personal loan, along with other debts, and transform multiple bills into a single monthly repayment.

You want to lower your monthly repayments. If your loan repayments are straining you, consider refinancing to a lower rate or longer term to lower your monthly premiums.

You want to reduce your overall debt. If getting out of debt is your priority, you might want to refinance your personal loan to a shorter term to enable a more aggressive strategy to pay it off sooner.

You have a better credit score now. The personal loan interest rate you’re paying on based on your credit score at the time of application. If your credit standing has increased since you took out the personal loan, you have more ‘buying power’ and might qualify for a better interest rate.

You can get a better offer. Your circumstances change, and so do the market and product offerings. By reviewing your personal loan options once a year, you might find that different lenders can offer a better deal. Refinancing is a way to move your current loan to a new lender.

How to refinance a personal loan

Reflect on what you like and don’t like about your current personal loan. It helps to know what you’re looking for, especially if you’re negotiating with multiple banks.

List the features that are important to you. Would you prefer a lower interest rate over higher credit availability? Communicate what you need and make sure the lender can accommodate.
Estimate the new loan figure and rewrite your budget.
Check your bank statements for the past three months. Are there any issues or is there room for improvement?
Talk to your current lender. See if you can negotiate a better deal. Look at their new customer promotions to gauge the current market.
Shortlist multiple personal loan products. Research each lender and settle on your top choice before you complete any applications to avoid damaging your credit score.

Try to time your refinancing correctly, when you’re in good credit standing. While this isn’t always possible, if you can, take your time to find the right bank, credit amount, and terms. With most personal loans ranging from $5,000 – $60,000, this is not a small change — and no small decision.

Yes, you can. Your income, financial history, and personal circumstances determine how much extra money you’re eligible for.

Yes, you can refinance a personal loan without changing lenders. If you have a personal loan with a bank and they’re offering a better deal to new customers, you might be able to renegotiate your loan. Banks don’t want to lose customers, especially those with a good credit history.