Zina Kumok

About Zina Kumok

Current Role

Personal finance writer

Expertise

Student Loans
Home Equity
Credit Scores
Personal Loans
Banking
Education Planning

Achievements

Three-time Finalist For Best Personal Finance Contributor At The Plutus Awards

Degrees

Bachelor's degree in journalism from Indiana University

Personal Finance Experience

Zina has been a personal finance writer for almost a decade. In that time, she has written for prestigious publications and household brands.

She has also worked as a financial coach helping real consumers tackle their loans. She paid off her student loans in three years and documented the progress on her blog.

Latest from Zina Kumok

4 of the Best TD Bank Student Loan Alternatives in 2026

TD Bank doesn’t offer student loans in the United States. Instead, it offers a line...

American Express Student Loan Alternatives

While you can’t get a student loan directly from American Express, here are some popular alternatives to consider.

U.S. Bank Student Loans: Why the Program Ended and How It Impacts Borrowers

U.S. Bank ended its student loan program. We'll explain why that happened and what alternatives...

Uncertified Student Loans: What They Are and When to Use Them

If you need to borrow more to cover education-related costs, you can turn to uncertified...

Capital One Student Loan Alternatives

Capital One does not offer student loans. We'll review some popular alternative student loan lenders below.

Best Low-Interest Student Loans in 2026: Compare Private and Federal Rates

Keeping your student loan interest rate low helps limit the total cost of your loan....

How to Buy a House With Bad Credit: Compare Your Home Loan Options

Having bad credit doesn’t disqualify you from getting a mortgage. First-time home buyer programs like...

What Happens to Your Student Loans During a Divorce?

Student Loans and Divorce: What Happens to the Debt?

Divorcing while you have student loans can be difficult to manage, and the outcomes vary...