Citibank no longer offers student loans, including CitiAssist private student loans. It stopped issuing new loans in 2008 and later sold or transferred its entire student loan portfolio.
If you’re looking for a new student loan, you’ll need to compare other private lenders or federal student loan options. If you already had a Citibank student loan, your loan may now be serviced by another company, such as Firstmark, Sallie Mae, Discover, or a federal loan servicer.
Key takeaways
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does Citibank offer student loans? | No. |
| Does Citibank refinance student loans? | No. |
| What were Citi student loans called? | CitiAssist student loans. |
| What happened to old Citi student loans? | They were sold or transferred to other servicers. |
| How do I find my Citi student loan? | Check StudentAid.gov or your credit report. |
Table of Contents
- Key takeaways
- Does Citibank still offer student loans?
- What happened to Citibank student loans?
- Who services old Citibank student loans now?
- How to find your old Citibank loan
- Can you log in to a Citibank student loan account?
- Can you consolidate or refinance Citibank student loans?
- Best Citibank alternatives
- FAQ
Does Citibank still offer student loans?
No, Citibank does not offer student loans, refinancing, or consolidation today.
Citi previously offered:
- CitiAssist private student loans
- Federal student loans under the FFEL program
It exited the student loan industry to focus on other financial products, especially after regulatory changes and the 2008 financial crisis.
What happened to Citibank student loans?
Citibank gradually exited the student loan market between 2008 and 2017.
Here’s a quick timeline:
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Citi stopped originating CitiAssist private student loans. |
| 2010 | Citi sold The Student Loan Corporation. |
| 2010 | Sallie Mae, Discover, and the Department of Education took over portions of Citi’s portfolio. |
| 2017 | Citi sold remaining loans to Firstmark. |
Today, Citibank no longer owns or services student loans.
Who services old Citibank student loans now?
If you had a Citibank student loan, it was transferred to another servicer.
Common servicers include:
- Firstmark Services (many private loans)
- Sallie Mae
- Discover
- Federal loan servicers (for FFEL loans now owned by the Department of Education)
You’ll need to contact your current servicer, not Citibank, for payments, support, or account access.
How to find your old Citibank student loan
If you’re not sure where your loan ended up, here’s how to find it:
- Check StudentAid.gov: Log in with your FSA ID to see your federal loan servicer.
- Review your credit report: Look for student loan accounts and servicer names.
- Search your email or mail: Look for loan transfer notices.
- Contact likely servicers: Firstmark is common for former Citi private loans.
Can you log in to a Citibank student loan account?
No, you generally can’t log in to a Citibank student loan account anymore.
Because Citi no longer services student loans, account access has moved to your new loan servicer. To manage your loan, you’ll need to:
- Create an account with your current servicer
- Use that servicer’s website for payments and account details
Can you consolidate or refinance Citibank student loans?
Yes, depending on your loan type.
If your loan is federal (FFEL)
You may be eligible for a Direct Consolidation Loan, which:
- Combines federal loans into one
- May unlock income-driven repayment plans and forgiveness options
If your loan is private
You can refinance with a private lender to:
- Lower your interest rate
- Reduce your monthly payment
- Change your repayment term
Important: Refinancing federal loans into private loans means losing federal protections, including income-driven repayment and loan forgiveness.
Since Citibank no longer offers student loans or refinancing, comparing private lenders is the best way to find a new loan or replace an existing one.
Best alternatives to Citibank student loans
fixed apr
4.13% – 17.99%
4.13% – 17.99%
2.89% – 14.41%
4.13% – 17.99% ⓘ
variable apr
4.13% – 17.99%
4.13% – 17.99%
4.34% – 14.75%
4.13% – 17.99% ⓘ
loan amounts
$1K – Total costs
$1K – Total costs
$2K – $200K
$1K – Total costs
min. credit score
Mid-600s
Mid-600s
620
650
loan types
Undergrad, grad, parent, career training
Undergrad, grad, parent, career training
Undergrad, grad, parent, career training
Undergrad, grad, parent
enrollment
No minimum
No minimum
At least half-time
At least half-time
Best overall private student loan: College Ave
College Ave delivers a strong balance of flexibility, accessibility, and borrower-friendly features across nearly every category that matters.
We’re big fans of how customizable the experience is. From repayment timing to loan terms, College Ave gives you more control over how the loan fits into your financial situation. That’s valuable if your income or plans may change over time because it gives you more ways to manage costs both during school and after graduation.
College Ave’s prequalification tool lets you check potential rates and eligibility without affecting your credit.
- Covers up to 100% of school costs
- Low starting interest rates
- Quick 3-minute online application
- Excellent educational resources and interactive tools
- You choose your repayment plan and term length
- Multi-Year Peace of Mind program for additional loans
- Cosigners can’t be released until halfway through repayment
- Higher interest rates for applicants with bad credit
Rates & funding
| Fixed rates (APR) | 4.13% – 17.99% |
| Variable rates (APR) | 4.13% – 17.99% |
| Rate discounts | 0.25% for automatic payments |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 – 100% of school costs |
Eligibility
| Loan types | Undergrad, grad, parent, career training |
| Min. credit score | Mid-600s |
| Min. income | $35,000 per year |
| Enrollment | No minimum |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or international |
| State | All 50 states |
Repayment
| In-school repayment | Full, interest-only, fixed, deferred |
| Repayment terms | 5, 8, 10, or 15 years |
| Grace period | 6 months for undergrads, 9 months for grads, apply for 6-month extension |
| Deferment | In-school and military |
| Forbearance | Up to 12 months, in increments of 3 or 6 months |
| Cosigner release | After finishing more than half of the scheduled repayment period and meeting additional criteria |
Best private student loan for cosigner release: Sallie Mae
Sallie Mae offers one of the fastest paths to independence from a cosigner in the private student loan space. While many lenders require two or more years of on-time payments, Sallie Mae allows eligible borrowers to apply for release after just 12 months. That can make a meaningful difference for borrowers who want to remove financial ties to a parent or guardian sooner.
Sallie Mae supports not just undergraduate and graduate students, but also borrowers in specialized programs such as career training, residencies, and professional exams.
However, it’s not the most shopper-friendly lender. There’s no prequalification option, so you’ll need to complete a full application to see your rates. It also doesn’t offer refinancing down the line if your financial situation improves.
- Shortest path to cosigner release in as little as 12 months
- Receive funds for the full year with one application
- Covers up to 100% of school costs
- Low starting interest rates
- Part-time and career-training students are eligible
- Lower interest rates for in-school repayment
- No prequalification with a soft credit check
- Less loan customization than other lenders
Rates & funding
| Fixed rates (APR) | 4.13% – 17.99% |
| Variable rates (APR) | 4.13% – 17.99% |
| Rate discounts | 0.25% for automatic payments |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 – 100% of costs |
Eligibility
| Loan types | Undergrad, grad, parent, career training |
| Min. credit score | Mid-600s |
| Min. income | Not disclosed |
| Enrollment | No minimum |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or permanent resident or non-U.S. citizen with a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident |
| State | All 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico |
Repayment
| In-school repayment | Interest only, fixed, deferred |
| Repayment terms | 10 – 15 years |
| Grace period | 6 months |
| Deferment | In-school, military, internship, residency, and fellowship |
| Forbearance | Up to 12 months, in increments of 3 months |
| Cosigner release | After 12 consecutive on-time payments |
Great private student loan graduation reward: Ascent
Ascent’s graduation reward is only part of the appeal. It is one of the more flexible private lenders on the market, with options for borrowers who apply with a cosigner and, in some cases, for those who need to qualify on their own.
Another strength is that Ascent pairs lending with extra borrower support. Its career-focused benefits, including access to internships and AscentUP resources, make it feel more useful beyond the loan itself.
Ascent also offers prequalification with no credit impact. Add in a long grace period and relatively quick cosigner release, and it checks several boxes for borrowers who want flexibility now and more breathing room later.
- Cover up to 100% of costs with or without a cosigner
- 1% cash back graduation reward
- Up to 40 repayment plans
- Access to paid remote internship opportunities
- No fees
- Check your rates without affecting your credit score
Rates & funding
| Fixed rates (APR) | 2.89% – 14.41% |
| Variable rates (APR) | 4.34% – 14.75% |
| Rate discounts | 0.25% for automatic payments |
| Loan amounts | $2,001 – $200,000 |
Eligibility
| Loan types | Undergrad, grad, parent |
| Min. credit score | 620 |
| Min. income | $24,000 per year |
| Enrollment | At least half-time in a degree program at an eligible institution |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or DACA status with a valid Social Security number; Non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents may apply with eligible resident status and a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident |
| State | All 50 states, plus Washington, D.C. |
Repayment
| In-school repayment | Full, interest-only, fixed, deferred |
| Repayment terms | 5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 years |
| Grace period | 9 months |
| Deferment | In-school |
| Forbearance | Yes |
| Cosigner release | Yes; after 12 on-time payments |
Best private student loan repayment perks: Earnest
Earnest stands out for giving borrowers more built-in flexibility after the loan is approved, not just during the application process. Its longer-than-average grace period and skip-a-payment feature make it a great option for students who want a little more breathing room as they transition out of school and into repayment.
The eligibility check is quick, the application process is streamlined, and the lender keeps servicing in-house, which can make repayment feel more straightforward over time. That combination of convenience and control helps set it apart.
Earnest doesn’t assess origination, prepayment, or late fees, and it offers several repayment structures to fit different budgets while you’re in school.
The trade-off is that Earnest doesn’t offer cosigner release, which could be a deal breaker for some families.
- 100% rate-match guarantee (with $100 Amazon gift card)
- 9-month grace period vs. 6 months for most others
- Skip one payment each year without penalty if needed
- No application or late payment fees
- 2-minute eligibility check with no credit impact
- Doesn’t allow cosigners to be released
Rates & funding
| Fixed rates (APR) | 4.13% – 17.99% |
| Variable rates (APR) | 4.13% – 17.99% |
| Rate discounts | 0.25% for automatic payments |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 – 100% of costs |
Eligibility
| Loan types | Undergrad, grad, parent |
| Min. credit score | 650 |
| Min. income | $35,000 per year |
| Enrollment | At least half-time |
| Citizenship | U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident Card Holder (10-year non-conditional or 2-year conditional), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Recipient, Asylee, or H-1B visa with a U.S. Citizen cosigner. |
| State | All states other than Nevada, plus Washington D.C. |
Repayment
| In-school repayment | Full, interest-only, fixed, deferred |
| Repayment terms | 5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 years |
| Grace period | 9 months |
| Deferment | In-school, military, residency, fellowship |
| Forbearance | Up to 12 months |
| Cosigner release | No |
FAQ
Does Citibank offer student loans?
No. Citibank no longer offers student loans, refinancing, or consolidation.
Does Citibank refinance student loans?
No, Citibank does not refinance student loans.
Citi exited the student loan market and no longer offers new student loans, refinancing, or consolidation products. If you want to refinance your student loans, you’ll need to apply with a private lender such as Earnest, SoFi, or another student loan refinance company.
What happened to CitiAssist student loans?
CitiAssist loans were discontinued and later transferred to other companies, including Firstmark, Sallie Mae, and Discover.
Who took over Citibank student loans?
Different portions were acquired by:
- Sallie Mae
- Discover
- The U.S. Department of Education
- Firstmark (final transfers)
How do I find my Citibank student loan?
Check StudentAid.gov (for federal loans), your credit report, or contact likely servicers such as Firstmark.
Can I still log in to my Citibank student loan account?
No. You must log in through your current loan servicer.
Can I consolidate Citibank student loans?
Citibank does not offer student loan consolidation, so borrowers must use federal consolidation or refinance with a private lender.
Can I refinance a Citibank student loan?
Yes. You can refinance with a private lender if you meet credit and income requirements.
Is Firstmark connected to Citibank student loans?
Yes. Firstmark Services now handles many private student loans that were originally issued by Citibank.
Was Citibank ever fined for student loan servicing?
Yes. In 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) fined Citibank for student loan servicing issues, including misleading borrowers and charging incorrect fees. Citi paid $2.75 million in penalties and returned $3.75 million to affected borrowers.
If you were eligible for a refund, you should have already received it through a statement credit or mailed check.
Recap of Citibank private student loan alternatives
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About our contributors
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Written by Bob HaegeleBob Haegele has been a freelance personal finance writer since 2018. In January 2020, he turned this side hustle into a full-time job. He is passionate about helping people master topics such as investing, credit cards, and student loans.
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Edited by Kristen Barrett, MATKristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her wife and their pack of senior rescue dogs. She has edited and written personal finance content since 2015.