Updated: August 9, 2023

Citizens One Parent Student Loan Review

Student Loan for Parents

Pricing disclosure
Parents
Student Loan Rating
3.5 of 5
Check Rates
Fixed APR i x While Savingforcollege.com strives to keep the information up to date, the lender rates, terms and other information are subject to change at any time. Interest rates listed include an autopay discount if available.
6.34% - 9.56%
Variable APR i x While Savingforcollege.com strives to keep the information up to date, the lender rates, terms and other information are subject to change at any time. Interest rates listed include an autopay discount if available.
6.41% - 9.64%
Repayment Terms
5, 10 years
Important Information

Rewards: Autopay Discount, Current Customer Discount

Flexibility: Multi-Year Option available

Yearly Loan Limits: 100% Cost of Attendance

Overall Loan Limits: $1,000 (minimum), $350,000 (aggregate maximum)

Cosigner Terms: Cosigner optional, does not offer Cosigner Release

The bottom line:

With some of the most straightforward qualification requirements, Citizens One by Citizens Bank offers a fairly flexible Parent Loan. Though their rates are above average, they offer a current customer discount and a multi-year option (saving you the hassle of re-applying every year).

Pros

  • Available in all 50 states
  • Offers a Multi-Year Option
  • Covers up to 100% of yearly Cost of Attendance

Cons

  • Does not offer cosigner release
  • Charges a fee on late payments
  • Only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents
View full rankings of the best student loans for parents
Citizens Bank SoFi College Ave
Rates from (APR) i x While Savingforcollege.com strives to keep the information up to date, the lender rates, terms and other information are subject to change at any time. Interest rates listed include an autopay discount if available.
Fixed:
6.34% - 9.56%
Variable:
6.41% - 9.64%
Fixed:
6.50% - 14.83%
Variable:
6.32% - 15.86%
Fixed:
3.59% - 17.99% 1
Variable:
5.59% - 17.99% 1
Loan repayment terms (Years) 5, 10 years 5 years, 10 years, 15 years 5, 15 years
Cosigner release? Yes, after 36 months on-time principal and interest payments Yes, after 24 months on-time principal and interest payments Not specified
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Check Rates
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Citizens Bank’s Citizens One Parent Loans are among the most highly rated when it comes to qualifying. First off, they will lend up to the full annual cost of attendance and have a high aggregate lending maximum per borrower. They lend in all 50 states, you don’t have to be a family member of the student to borrow, and Citizens One will not be monitoring the student’s GPA.

Needless to say, although a cosigner is optional, they do not offer cosigner release. If you’re late on your payments, Citizens One will charge you a fee. And repayment-wise, they do not have a full deferment option and only offer two repayment terms (5 years or 10 years).

Most importantly, you’ll likely find lower costs with other lenders. Citizens One does offer an autopay discount and a current Citizens Bank customer discount, so you do have plenty of options to lower the rate they offer you initially.

Citizens Bank - Private Student Loan Details

Interest Rates, Fees and Terms
  • Credit Check: Soft for Rate Check, Hard for Application
  • Repayment Terms: 5, 10 years
  • Minimum Borrowing Limit: $1,000
  • Yearly Borrowing Limit: 100% of Cost of Attendance
  • Aggregate Borrowing Limit: $350,000
  • Application Fee: None
  • Origination Fee: None
  • Prepayment Penalty: None
  • Late Fee: Yes
Requirements to Qualify
  • Minimum Credit Score: Not specified by lender
  • Minimum Annual Income: Not specified by lender
  • Citizenship Restriction: Available to Citizens, Permanent Residents, and International Students with a credit-worthy Citizen or Permanent Resident cosigner
  • Minimum Enrollment Restriction: Half-Time
  • List of States where Loan is Not Available: None
  • Approved Schools Include: All
Repayment Options
  • Immediate Principal and Interest Repayment: Yes
  • Fixed Monthly Repayment: None
  • Interest-Only Repayment: Yes
  • Full Deferment: None
Repayment Details
  • Length of Grace Period: None
  • Maximum Deferment Period: 48 months
  • Maximum Forbearance Period: 12 months
  • Cosigner Release Option: Yes, after 36 months on-time principal and interest payments
  • Death Discharge: Yes
  • Disability Discharge: Yes
Customer Service
  • US-Based Call Center: Not specified by lender
  • Hours of Operation (in addition to weekdays): Not specified by lender
  • Application Timeline: Not specified by lender
Extras
  • Scholarship Search Tool: None
  • Sponsors a Scholarship: Not specified by lender
  • Job and Career Assistance: Yes
  • Financial Literacy Training: Not specified by lender
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