Online Payments FAQ

Is there a charge for paying online?

No. It's free. Just sign in to Account Access and make a payment.

What type of account can I use to pay online?

You can use a checking or savings account.

If I pay online, do I have to pay this way every month?

No. If you pay online this month, you can make a phone payment or send a check next month.

Do I have to provide an email address to make an online payment?

No. But if we don't have it, we can't email you confirmation that we've received your payment. And we can't contact you by email if we have questions about your online payment.

What is an ABA number, and why do I need it to pay online?

The ABA—or routing and transit—number is a unique nine-digit number that identifies your financial institution.

When you pay your bill online, we need this information to deduct the funds from your bank account. If the information is wrong, we can't process your student loan payment. So be sure you enter all ABA and account information correctly.

Where can I find my ABA (routing and transit) number?

It depends on the type of account you use to make your payment.

Do I need to provide my ABA number every time I want to pay online?

No, you can save your bank account information in Account Access so that you don't need to provide it each time you pay online. This will make it easier and quicker for you to make online payments in the future.

Can I schedule an online payment in advance?

Yes. You can schedule a payment up to 60 days in advance.

Can I schedule an online payment on a weekend?

No. Although you can pay online 24/7, you can schedule payments only Monday through Friday. So if your due date is on a Saturday or Sunday you must schedule the payment on the Friday before or the Monday after.

What is the latest I can make an online payment?

You must submit your online payment by Midnight (ET) on your due date.

When will my student loan account reflect my online payment?

If we receive your online payment before 3:00 PM (ET), you can usually view it online the following business day.

If I make an online payment, when do you deduct the funds from my bank account?

We normally deduct the funds within 2 days after your selected payment date.

How do I know when you've withdrawn my online payment from my account?

Contact your financial institution or check your bank account statement 1–2 business days after your payment date.

I can't sign in to Account Access. What should I do?

If you're having trouble signing in to your online account, here's help.

• Recover your username if you've forgotten it.
• Reset your password if it's expired or you've forgotten it.
• Unlock your account if you're locked out.

Contact us if you continue to have problems signing in to your account or if you are having difficulty using the website.

Note: If you are at work, your employer's firewalls, privacy software, and other heightened layers of security may hinder our website's functionality. Try using a non-work computer before you report the problem.

I am having problems making an online payment. What should I do?

Check with your financial institution to verify that you have the correct ABA—routing and transit—number and correct account number for Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments. Your financial institution's numbers may have changed if there was a merger or sale or some other type of restructuring. And although they may have formerly honored payments using invalid numbers, it's possible they no longer do.

Your financial institution can also provide additional guidance on which ABA number to use based on your choice of payment method.

We encourage you to contact your financial institution or visit their website for this information.