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Why you should set up automatic payments for your loans

Published May 20, 2024     |     3.5 minute read

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Managing loan payments can be a daunting task, but setting up automatic payments offers a convenient and efficient solution. Whether you have a mortgage, student loan, personal loan, or car loan, automating your payments can provide numerous benefits. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why you should set up automatic payments for your loans and how it can enhance your financial health.

Ensures timely payments

One of the primary advantages of automatic payments is the assurance that your loan payments will always be made on time. Timely payments are crucial for maintaining a good credit score, avoiding late fees, and staying in good standing with your lender. When payments are automated, you eliminate the risk of forgetting a due date, thus ensuring your financial obligations are met consistently.

Improves credit score

Your credit score is a vital component of your overall financial health, affecting your ability to secure future loans, credit cards, and even rental agreements. Late or missed payments can significantly damage your credit score. By setting up automatic payments, you create a reliable system that helps keep your credit score intact by ensuring punctual payment history.

Avoids late fees and penalties

Late fees and penalties can add up quickly, creating unnecessary financial strain. These additional costs can be easily avoided by setting up automatic payments. Automated payments ensure that your lender receives the payment by the due date, preventing costly late fees and penalties from accruing on your account.

Simplifies financial management

Automatic payments simplify your financial management by reducing the number of tasks you need to remember each month. With automated payments, you don’t have to manually write checks, log in to payment portals, or remember various due dates. This streamlined approach allows you to focus on other important financial matters, such as budgeting and saving.

Provides peace of mind

Knowing that your loan payments are being handled automatically provides peace of mind. You can rest assured that your payments will be made without any effort on your part, allowing you to concentrate on other aspects of your life without worrying about missed due dates or financial mishaps.

Potential interest rate discounts

Some lenders offer interest rate discounts or other incentives for setting up automatic payments. This can result in significant savings over the life of the loan. It's worth checking with your lender to see if they offer such benefits, as the savings from a reduced interest rate can be substantial.

Environmentally friendly

Setting up automatic payments reduces the need for paper statements, checks, and envelopes, making it an environmentally friendly choice. By opting for electronic transactions, you contribute to reducing paper waste and promoting a more sustainable way of managing finances.

How to set up automatic payments

Setting up automatic payments is usually a straightforward process:

  1. Log in to Online or Mobile Banking: Log in to your online account and navigate to the Account Overview page (usually, the first page you see once logged in).
  2. Set up an Internal Transfer: In top navigation, select Pay & Transfer   >   Internal Transfers (For mobile, Pay & Transfer can be found in the bottom navigation).
  3. Complete Move Money Form: Select the From account and To account, enter date and dollar amount, and select Repeat Transfer and click Make Transfer button to save (for mobile, select Schedule, then Schedule a Transfer to navigate to Move Money form. From there, complete form and click schedule to save).
  4. Automatic Payment Setup Complete: You are all set! Going forward, there will be an automatic payment made on the date you selected in the previous step.

In conclusion

Setting up automatic payments for your loans offers numerous advantages, including timely payments, improved credit scores, avoidance of late fees, simplified financial management, peace of mind, potential interest rate discounts, and environmental benefits. By automating your loan payments, you can enhance your financial health and reduce the stress associated with managing multiple due dates. Take the proactive step of setting up automatic payments today to ensure a more streamlined and worry-free approach to managing your loans.