$15,000 in credit card debt
Minimum payments only
- APR
- 24%
- Monthly
- $450
- Payoff
- 18+ yrs
- Total interest
- $18,900
5-year consolidation loan
- APR
- 12%
- Monthly
- $333
- Payoff
- 5 yrs
- Total interest
- $5,000
The honest math
What consolidation actually does to your numbers.
No stock-photo strangers with fake quotes. Just the four things a consolidation loan can change — and the math on each one.
Lower APR
Credit cards average 22–27%. Consolidation loans for qualified borrowers land in the 8–15% range.
One payment
Five due dates become one. Easier to budget, harder to miss.
Fixed payoff date
Cards can stretch 15–20+ years at minimums. Loans have a hard end date, usually 3–5 years.
Less total interest
Cutting your rate in half typically cuts lifetime interest by 60–80%.
Three example scenarios
These are illustrative calculations — not client testimonials. Your actual rate, term, and payment depend on your credit profile, income, and lender.
$25,000 across 4 cards
Minimum payments only
- APR
- 26%
- Monthly
- $750
- Payoff
- 22+ yrs
- Total interest
- $34,200
5-year consolidation loan
- APR
- 13%
- Monthly
- $569
- Payoff
- 5 yrs
- Total interest
- $9,100
$40,000 mixed cards + personal loan
Minimum payments only
- APR
- 22%
- Monthly
- $1,180
- Payoff
- 15+ yrs
- Total interest
- $41,700
5-year consolidation loan
- APR
- 11%
- Monthly
- $870
- Payoff
- 5 yrs
- Total interest
- $12,200
When consolidation doesn't help
- • Your credit score won't qualify you for a rate meaningfully lower than your current cards.
- • You keep spending on the cards after consolidating. (This is the #1 reason it fails.)
- • Your income can't support any fixed monthly payment — a nonprofit credit counselor or bankruptcy attorney may be a better call.
- • The loan comes with origination fees + prepayment penalties that eat the interest savings.
We'll tell you honestly if consolidation isn't the right fit. The qualification check is free and doesn't affect your credit.
See if you qualify for debt consolidation
Illustrative scenarios use standard amortization math at the APRs shown. Individual results vary; we do not guarantee any specific outcome, rate, or approval.