LendKey Student Loans Review: Credit Rates from 4.49% APR with No Fees

— Review updated Oct 2025

Written by Joe Chappius

- Oct 29, 2025

Reviewed by Ricardo Laizo

LendKey stands out as a solid student loan marketplace with competitive rates starting at 4.49% fixed and no origination fees.

Their partnership with credit unions keeps costs lower than many competitors, though their forbearance options are somewhat limited.

With a straightforward application process, they're a reliable choice for student loan financing.

That being said, our tests reveal an inconsistent customer service, which impacts our overall rating of this loan provider.

Read the full review

LendKey At glance

Popularity

73

The popularity score indicates the percentage of customers choosing this company the last 90 days.

Customer Experience

94

Borrowers consistently praise the platform's user-friendly website and streamlined application process. Some negative reviews exist, particularly regarding occasional communication issues during the approval process.

Company name

LendKey

Website

https://www.lendkey.com

Phone

1-888-549-9050

Email

customer.care@lendkey.com

Address

104 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001

Pricing

90

LendKey offers competitive rates starting at 4.49% fixed APR, which is lower than many competitors in the student loan market. No origination or application fees, which is excellent. Their APR range of 4.49-10.71% is reasonable considering the market

Customer Support

20

Unfortunatelly, our tests showed that it's almost impossible to reach the company's customer support. We've sent three emails and received no asnwer.

Terms and Flexibility

80

Terms clearly stated and good flexibility options with loan terms of up to 20 years. Forbearance options are available with reasonable conditions. No early payment penalties enhances transparency, though the approval processes can take up to 30 days.

Pros & Cons

  • Competitive Interest Rates: Starting at 4.49% fixed APR and 5.02% variable APR with AutoPay.

  • No Origination or Application Fees: Unlike many lenders who charge origination fees that can add significant costs to student loans, LendKey doesn't charge any application or origination fees.

  • Credit Union Partnership Model: LendKey's unique business model connects borrowers with community banks and credit unions rather than large financial institutions.

  • Flexible Repayment Options: With loan terms ranging from 5 to 20 years, borrowers have flexibility to choose a repayment plan that fits their financial situation.

  • Forbearance options: Of up to 18 months on longer-term loans, providing safety nets during financial hardship.

  • Borrower-Friendly Policies: No early payment penalties, cosigner release options after 12 months of on-time payments, and the ability to finance up to 100% of school-certified costs for education loans.

  • Limited Customer Support Accessibility: Sometimes it's impossible to reach customer support, which is a significant drawback for a financial services provider.

  • Potentially Lengthy Approval Process: Loan acceptance can take up to 30 days, which is longer than some competitors who offer quicker approval and funding.

  • Restrictive Eligibility Requirements: LendKey has fairly stringent qualification criteria, including a minimum credit score of 660, minimum annual income of $24,000, and debt-to-income ratio requirements.

Details

LendKey Personal Loan

Terms & fees

Loan amount$5,000 - $300,000
Term5 years - 20 years
Annual interest rate4.49% - 10.71%
Origination fee$0
Monthly fees$0

Requirements

Minimum age18
Minimum income$2,000
National bank requiredNo
National phone number requiredYes
Citizenship requiredYes
Electronic identificationYes

Features

Cosigner possibleNo
Revocation periodNo
Accept bad credit historyYes
Weekend payoutNo
Loan extensionsYes
Early paybackYes
Payment within 24 hoursNo
Loan brokerYes
Interest free loanNo

Additional fields

Payment hours9am-8pm
High approval rateNo
Recommended companyYes
Get started

LendKey is a student loan platform that connects borrowers with multiple lenders in the form of banks and credit unions.

They have low **APRs starting at 4.49% **and there are no fees to apply. LendKey's forbearance terms are typically also **longer than most **other lenders.

How We Rate LendKey

At Financer, all lenders go through a thorough research and review process. Here's how we rate LendKey:

CategoryRating
Affordability⭐⭐⭐
Application process⭐⭐⭐⭐
Loan terms⭐⭐⭐⭐
Transparency⭐⭐⭐⭐
Customer support⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall⭐⭐⭐⭐

Do We Recommend LendKey?

Yes, we recommend LendKey as a reliable lender marketplace. Skip to our full review below and see how we rate LendKey.

Here's what we'll cover in this review:

Want to skip the details? Jump to our final verdict here.

LendKey Overview

LendKey was founded in 2009 as a lending service platform. The company simplifies the borrowing process by connecting borrowers with multiple banks and credit unions through a straightforward platform.

LendKey prides itself on offering a seamless online lending service.

Here's a quick summary of LendKey:

OverviewFeatures
Loan type:Student loans
Loan amount:Up to $300,000
Loan term:Up to 20 years
APR:From 4.49%
Min. credit score:660
Monthly fees:None
Requirements:U.S. citizen or permanent residentMin. credit score of 660Min. income of $24,000 a yearMinimum DTI of 33%

LendKey values privacy and does not share personal information with third parties. With over 99,000 customers and counting, LendKey has serviced more than $2 billion in loans to date.

The main LendKey offerings are new and refinanced private student loans and home improvement loans.

Get your loan offer

Products Offered

LendKey offers the following:

  • Private student loans

  • Student loan refinancing

  • Home improvement loans

Private Student Loans

With private student loans from LendKey, you could get up to 100% of your school-certified cost of attendance. You don't need a cosigner although you may get better rates when adding a cosigner to your loan.

Rates are as low as 4.49% fixed APR or 5.02% variable APR with AutoPay. There are no application fees with private student loans.

It is recommended that you apply at least one month prior to when your funds are due. You may get conditional approval quickly, but it's not a final approval yet, as you may need to provide proof of income and identification.

Check Your Rate

Refinancing Student Loans

Refinancing student loans from LendKey offers rates as low as 4.49% fixed APR with AutoPay. Loan rates are available from five to 20 years.

There are no origination fees on student loan refinancing.

The minimum loan you can borrow is $5,000 unless you are a resident of AZ ($10,000), CT ($15,000), or MA ($6,000).

Check Your Rate

Home Improvement Loans

LendKey also offers loans to contractors and homeowners, at low rates. These loans are provided by community lenders like credit unions and community banks, with affordable repayment options.

All funds for home improvement loans are paid directly to the contractors.

How LendKey Works

LendKey partners with hundreds of banks and non-profit credit unions to help borrowers achieve their dreams. Loans are funded by these partners and this helps to keep interest rates lower.

Loan Requirements

When applying for a LendKey student loan, borrowers need to provide information on the school they are attending, the loan amount required, the academic period they are applying for, and their Social Security number.

To qualify for student loan refinancing, you need to:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

  • Have an associate degree or higher from an approved institution

  • Have a minimum credit score of 660

Visit LendKey to get started

Rates & Fees

Your credit score determines your APR; therefore, if you are young and do not have a great credit score yet, you may pay a higher interest rate. They do offer a consigning option, which will reduce your interest rate.

These student loans are credit-based so your APR will be determined by your credit history. Please note that some lenders may charge late fees.

Check Your Rate

Payment Terms

  • No academic or military deferment.

  • Forbearance is available on 5, 7- and 10-year loans, but only for up to 4 months at a time, and also not longer than 12 months in total.

  • You can postpone 15- and 20-year loans for up to 6 months at a time, but only for a total of 18 months.

  • Co-signers can be released after 12 months providing all payments have been made on time.

  • Loan agreements do not guarantee death or disability discharge.

How To Apply for a LendKey Student Loan

Sign up with LendKey

Start by navigating to LendKey.com and clicking on 'Check your rate'.

Fill in your details

Complete your personal details to see your loan offers.

Review your offers

See your loan offers in your dashboard.

How Financer Rates LendKey

LendKey is a trusted online lending platform with almost 100,000 customers. They have hundreds of partners in the form of credit unions.

With low rates and a smooth, straightforward process, LendKey has built a strong, trustworthy reputation. LendKey focuses on private student loans and home improvement loans.

Website

The LendKey website is streamlined. They have created a simple process that connects borrowers to hundreds of community banks and credit unions. Because of their automated online lending system, they can offer lower loan rates.

LendKey offers a simple application process through its website. Once accepted, you can access your LendKey account information through the online login.

Customer Service

Although they are an online company LendKey offers customer service support calls between 9 am – 8 pm EST Monday to Friday. They are also contactable through email at customer.care@lendkey.com.

Does Financer Recommend LendKey?

Yes. LendKey is a proven, trusted lending service that connects borrowers with banks and credit unions.

If you have exhausted all of your college funds, scholarship options, and federal student aid, then LendKey is an optimal lending platform to consider.

Read more LendKey reviews below or add your own.

LendKey FAQs

How much can I borrow?

You can borrow up to 100% of your attendance cost. This may include textbooks, room and board, tuition, and other related expenses.

Do I need a cosigner?

Not necessarily. However, it may improve your chances of getting approved. Private student loans are credit-based so if you have poor credit or no credit history at all, you can apply with a cosigner to meet the loan requirements. Applying with a cosigner may also help you qualify for better loan terms.

When should I apply?

It is recommended that you apply for a student loan at least one month before your fees are due. It generally takes less than 30 days for a loan to be approved but in some cases, it can take a few weeks.

Is LendKey a bank?

No, LendKey is not a lender nor a bank. They assist banks and credit unions in successful online lending.

Do I need to work with a contractor to apply for finanancing?

Yes, because all funds are paid directly to the contractor.

When do contractors get paid?

Contractors submit a Disbursement Request that will be attached to your online application. LendKey supports multiple disbursements.

LendKey Alternatives

Here's a list of alternatives to LendKey and how they compare:

LenderReviewsLoan AmountAPRMax. Loan Term
AscentViewUp to $200,0005.99-35.99%Up to 15 years
Your Premier LendingViewUp to $20,0005.99-35.99%Up to 7 years

Our Commitment to Transparency

At Financer.com, we're committed to helping you with your finances. All our content abides by our Editorial Guidelines. We are open about how we review products and services in our Review Process and how we make money in our Advertiser Disclosure.

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LendKey Student Loans Review: Rates from 4.49% APR (2025)