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If you’re curious about how banks are regulated, it’s important to understand that multiple agencies help keep America’s financial institutions safe and compliant with the law. Some of the key regulatory agencies are the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve (the Fed), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

In this guide you’ll learn more about how bank regulation works, including who regulates banks, what bank regulators do, and how your money is protected.

What Do Bank Regulators Do?

Here are some of the key points to know about what bank regulators do and how they can provide customers with a sense of financial security:

•   Review the financial health of banks and step in as they deem necessary

•   Regulate foreign banks that are in business in the United States

•   Examine banks to make sure their practices are safe, sound, and fair

•   Intervene if banks are failing and ensure that depositors are protected up to the limits of insurance (and sometimes beyond).

Recommended: Guide to Opening a Bank Account as a Non-US Citizen

Who Regulates Banks?

The next aspect to delve into is who has the responsibility of regulating banks and can intervene when they deem necessary. These are the three key players when it comes to oversight of commercial banks:

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is an independent bureau within the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Its role is to charter, regulate, and supervise America’s national banks and federal savings associations.

In addition, the OCC oversees federal branches and agencies of foreign banks doing business on U.S. soil.

The OCC describes its mission as:

•   Ensuring that these institutions conduct business in a safe and sound manner

•   Determining that there is equitable access to financial services and customers are treated fairly

•   Making certain that the banks it oversees are complying with all applicable laws and regulations.

The Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve, or the Fed, is responsible for regulating a different set of entities: some state chartered banks, certain nonbank financial institutions, bank and financial holding companies, and foreign banking organizations.

The Federal Reserve is America’s central bank, and has a broad jurisdiction as it works to promote the health of the U.S. economy and the stability of the financial system. Among its key functions are:

•   Conducting on-site and off-site examinations of banks to make sure they are operating in accordance with applicable laws.

•   Making sure that banks have enough capital available to withstand economic fluctuations. This can involve reviewing balance sheets, projections, and other financial materials.

•   Possibly reviewing “resolution plans,” which detail how a financial organization would resolve a situation in which it was in financial trouble or failed.

Recommended: Federal Reserve Interest Rates Explained

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) plays a role in insuring its member banks so that, in the rare event of a bank failure, depositors are covered for $250,000 per account holder, per ownership category, per insured institution.

However, the FDIC does more than this. It also supervises state-chartered banks that are members of the Federal Reserve. It this capacity, it oversees more than 5,000 banks and savings associations, and does the following:

•   Checks for safe and sound operations

•   Examines institutions to be sure they are complying with consumer protection regulations and laws.

A Brief History of Bank Regulation

America’s banking history has taken some twists and turns, as regulation has gone in and out of favor. Here are some key points in U.S. banking to consider:

•   In 1791, the First Bank of the United States was created, but its charter was not renewed in 1811. The reason? While the bank provided some stability to the new nation’s economy, people worried that it put too much financial control in the hands of the federal government.

•   State banks began to flourish and funded the War of 1812, but, with a large amount of credit being extended, the federal government stepped in again, chartering the Second Bank of the United States in 1816.

•   There were again worries that the federal government had too much power over the nation’s purse strings. In 1836, the Second Bank was dissolved.

•   An era of free banking emerged, without federal oversight or, in many cases, the need to have an official charter to do business. The federal government tried to rein this in with the National Banking Act of 1863; the OCC was formed to charter banks and ensure that they backed their notes with U.S. government securities.

•   The next few decades were a bit of a bumpy ride, with bank panics, such as the Panic of 1907, occurring. The Federal Reserve was created in 1913 to help bring order to the economy.

•   With the debilitating Great Depression, which began in 1929, new regulations were needed. The FDIC was formed in 1933 to help shore up the faltering economy.

•   More recently, after a period of deregulation, the government responded to the financial crisis of 2007 and the subsequent Great Recession. It passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, designed to improve accountability and financial transparency in America’s financial system.

•   In 2021, President Biden signed an executive order that charged federal regulators with improving their oversight of bank mergers, as part of a larger effort to increase competition in the country’s economy.

•   An example of financial regulation in action occurred in mid-March 2023, when the federal government stepped in as two banks faltered. The government even took the step of guaranteeing deposits over the typical FDIC insurance maximum of $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, per insured institution.

Recommended: How Much Money Do Banks Insure?

Who Regulates Credit Unions?

Not everyone, however, keeps their accounts at a bank. There are other financial institutions, such as credit unions.

If you have an account (or multiple accounts) at a credit union, the institution that holds your money will be regulated at either the state or federal level. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has oversight of federal credit unions. State-chartered credit unions are regulated by their state.

Also, credit union accounts can be insured by NCUA vs. FDIC. It’s NCUA that provides $250,000 coverage per depositor, per ownership category, per insured institution.

Who Regulates Savings and Loan Associations?

As of April 2025, there are 546 savings and loan associations (sometimes called “thrifts”) operating in the U.S. While these financial institutions used to be federally regulated by the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), that bureau ceased to operate in 2010.

Now, savings and loans are regulated by the OCC and the Fed. These organizations are tasked with ensuring the thrifts are following the applicable laws and operating safely and soundly.

How Do I Know Who Regulates My Bank?

If you are curious about how your own bank is regulated, you can use the FDIC BankFind tool and/or the OCC’s search tool HelpWithMyBank.gov.

If you don’t get the answer you are seeking there, you can call the OCC Customer Assistance Group at 800-613-6743 for further assistance.

The Takeaway

Banking regulation helps keep our financial institutions safe and sound and compliant with the appropriate laws. It also helps protect our economic stability and consumers’ deposits.

Several agencies are involved in banking regulation, such as the Fed, FDIC, OCC, and NCUA. While they rarely need to take action such as overseeing a bank closure, it can be wise to know who they are and how they function. This can help you feel more secure about your bank account.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with eligible direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

FAQ

How do I know which agency regulates my bank?

The agency that regulates your bank will likely depend on the kind of bank that holds your money: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) oversees national banks and federal savings associations; the Federal Reserve (the Fed) regulates some state-chartered banks, certain nonbank financial institutions, bank and financial holding companies, and foreign banking organizations; and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) supervises state-chartered banks that are members of the Federal Reserve.

To help find out who regulates your bank, you can use the FDIC BankFind tool and/or the OCC’s search tool HelpWithMyBank.gov.

Does the FDIC regulate banks?

The FDIC regulates state-chartered banks that are members of the Federal Reserve. In addition, an array of banks are insured by the FDIC. This means that clients’ accounts are insured for $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, per insured institution.

What level of government regulates banks?

Banks are typically regulated by the federal government, with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve (the Fed), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) overseeing many banks. State-chartered banks may also be regulated by their state’s agency.

Photo credit: iStock/ismagilov
SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. The SoFi® Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network every 31 calendar days.

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit posts to your SoFi account. If your APY is not showing as the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit from the date you contact SoFi for the next 31 calendar days. You will also be eligible for the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.

Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, Wise, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder's Eligible Direct Deposit activity to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility.

See additional details at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.

¹SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.

^Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

*Awards or rankings from NerdWallet are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

SOBNK-Q325-010

Single parents typically carry a lot of weight on their shoulders, paying for their child’s food, clothes, medical care, after-school programs, and more.
It can be challenging to make ends meet and avoid credit card debt. Saving for the future, including college, can be difficult.

Fortunately, there are smart strategies that help make it possible for single moms and dads and their kids to thrive. Establishing a basic budget, knowing how to handle taxes, and whittling down debt can all play a part in boosting your financial wealth.

Read on to learn some important financial moves for single parents.

9 Ways to Budget As a Single Parent

Setting up a simple budget can be a smart strategy for a single parent. It can help you take control of your cash and also make your money work harder for you. Here’s how to do it.

1. Crunching the Numbers and Creating a Single Parent Budget

A great way to get on a better financial path is to first figure out where you currently stand and come up with a monthly budget.

How to budget as a single mom or dad is similar to what anyone else would do. Get started by gathering your financial statements for the past several months, then using them to figure out your average monthly income (after taxes), including any child support or alimony you receive.

Next, you can tally up your fixed expenses (monthly bills) and variable expenses (clothing, food, entertainment) to see how much, on average, you are spending each month.

Ideally, you want your monthly inflow to be larger than the outflow — that way, you have money left over for savings and paying off debt. One helpful technique can be the 50/30/20 budget rule, which divides your income into three parts: 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and paying off debt beyond the minimum amount due.

If your current income isn’t high enough to make that work, you can re-jigger the percentages and come up with a spending and saving plan that works for you.

2. Trimming Expenses in Your Single Mom Budget

Next, you need to figure out how to live on a budget.

If you find yourself breaking even or, worse, going backwards each month, you may want to look hard at your list of expenses and start searching for ways to save money.

A key single parent budgeting move is to hone in on your recurring bills to see if there are any ways to lower them. You may now be living on a single income, which can involve some lifestyle tweaks. You might be able to switch to a cheaper cell phone, for example. Or, maybe you can find a better deal on car insurance or ditch one of your streaming services.

You can also look for ways to cut everyday spending, such as breaking a morning coffee shop habit, cooking more often and getting less take-out, and using coupons (say, via RetailMeNot or Coupons.com) whenever you shop.

3. Opening an Interest-Bearing Account

Once you start freeing up some money each month, it can be a good idea to start siphoning it off into a high-yield savings account. This can help you create some financial security for your family, as well as help you reach short-term goals, like going on a vacation or putting a downpayment on a home.

Even if you can only afford to set aside $25 or $50 per month, it will begin to add up.

Some good places to stash cash you may need in the next two or three years include a high-yield savings account, an online savings account, or a checking and savings account. These accounts typically earn more interest than a standard savings account, yet allow you to have easy access to your money when you need it.

You may want to keep an eye out for fees, and shop around for financial institutions that won’t charge you monthly and other account fees (which can take a bite out of your hard-earned savings).

4. Prioritizing Emergency Savings

Expensive problems you can’t plan for often come up, like a car or home repair, taking a child to urgent care, or a sudden loss of income. Without a cushion, small money problems can quickly balloon into big ones if you are forced to run up high interest credit card debt to deal with them.

As you start building savings as part of your monthly single parent budget, it can be wise to prioritize emergency savings. Financial professionals often recommend having at least three- to six-months worth of living expenses stashed away in a separate savings account where you won’t be tempted to spend it. That way it’s there when you need it.

An emergency fund calculator can help you determine how much you should have on hand for a rainy day.

5. Paying Off Your Credit Cards

A debt elimination plan can make a significant change in your monthly cash flow. When creating a budget for a single mom or dad, it can be a good idea to leave room for credit card payments that are higher than the minimum.

You may want to start with the debt that has the highest interest first since borrowing from those creditors is costing you the most money. However, if you’re likely to get discouraged because it’s taking a long time to pay off that debt, you can start with the lowest balance debt. Getting some small debts paid off may motivate you to keep going.

Whatever debt you target, you can then pay more than the minimum payment on that debt while continuing to pay the minimum on others, with the goal to eliminate them one by one.

Another option: personal loans for single moms can help pay off the debt and substitute a lower-interest payment for what you were paying the credit card company. This might be an avenue to explore.

6. Planning for the Future

Once you’ve mastered your day-to-day finances, you may want to look toward your two big long-term financial security goals: retirement and your children’s college education.

If you can’t comfortably save for both at the same time, retirement may be the place to start. While your kids can likely get loans for college, there aren’t loans for retirement.

You may want to begin by contributing to any employer-sponsored 401(k) plan. If your employer is matching 401(k) contributions, it can be a good idea to chip in at least enough to get the match (otherwise you’re turning away free money!). Or you can set up an IRA; even $25 or $50 a month at first is a start.

When you’re in the habit of regularly contributing to a retirement savings account, you may want to turn your attention to saving for college: An ESA (education savings account) or 529 college savings fund can help you save towards college expenses while typically getting a tax break.

7. Automating Your Finances

As a single parent, you may be super busy, and end up paying bills late simply because you forgot. Automating your finances can simplify your budget (and your life) and help ensure you don’t get slapped with expensive fees or interest charges for being late with payments.

A good place to start is to set up autopay for all your recurring bills, either through your service providers or your bank. This way you don’t have to stay on top of due dates and remember to make every payment.

Automating can also be a great idea when it comes to saving. Often referred to as “paying yourself first,” you may want to set up an automatic transfer of money from your checking to your savings account on the same day each month, perhaps right after your paycheck gets deposited. This prevents you from spending those dollars or having to remember to transfer the funds to your savings at a later time.

8. Increasing Your Income

If your budget is super tight even after cutting expenses, then you may want to find ways to increase your income. This can help take a lot of the stress off budgeting as a single mom or dad.

There are many ways you can increase your income. For starters, if you’ve been at your job for a while and are performing well, you may want to consider asking for a raise. It can be helpful to research what the industry average pay is for your position with your experience to get an idea of how much you should ask for.

Another way to increase your income is to start a side hustle, like walking dogs, becoming a virtual assistant, taking on freelance work in your profession, selling your crafts, becoming a tutor, caring for other people’s kids, or offering music lessons.

9. Taking Advantage of Tax Breaks

Tax credits for single vs. married people can vary. When you’re budgeting as a single mom or dad, it can be smart to be aware of all the tax benefits you may be entitled to. A tax credit is directly subtracted from the amount you owe in taxes, while an exemption means that amount is deducted from your total income before your taxes are calculated.

Here are few tax benefits that may be worth investigating:

•   Filing as “Head of Household” instead of “Single.” If you meet the requirements, you may be able to get a higher standard deduction.

•   The child tax credit. Only the custodial parent can claim this. Even if you share equal custody of your child with your ex, the parent who has the child for more nights during the year (183 nights vs. 182 nights, for example) is able to claim the child tax credit. However, the custodial parent can use IRS Form 8332 to allow the other parent to claim the credit. In this case, you may want to consider alternating years.

•   The earned income tax credit. Single working parents with low to moderate incomes often qualify.

•   The child and dependent care credit. If you’ve been paying for childcare so that you can work (or look for work), you may be entitled to this. But only one parent can claim it each year.

The Takeaway

Budgeting as a single mom or dad can be challenging. With some simple financial planning, however, you can start to feel less stressed about money and get closer to both your short- and long-term goals.

Key steps for single moms and dads include taking a close look at your monthly cash flow, trimming expenses, paying off your credit cards, taking advantage of tax benefits for parents, and saving a little each month to create financial security. If you’re looking for a simple way to stay on top of your single parent budget, you may want to consider if you have the right banking partner.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with eligible direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

FAQ

How do single parents survive financially?

Single parents can survive financially by taking control of their money and budgeting, managing expenses, building up an emergency fund and savings, and minimizing debt. Budgeting for single moms and dads is important since you are likely the only income stream so every dollar counts.

How can a single parent afford everything?

To afford everything (meaning all the expenses related to raising a child), single parents can budget wisely, seek child support, bring in additional income with a side hustle, for example, and seek government assistance if needed.

How much should a single parent have in savings?

It’s important for single parents to have an emergency fund with a minimum of three to six months’ worth of living expenses set aside. This can help if there’s an unexpected medical or car repair bill or if you are laid off; since you don’t have another income in the family, this is a very important move. Beyond that, financial professionals recommend saving 20% of your salary if possible.

SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. The SoFi® Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network every 31 calendar days.

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit posts to your SoFi account. If your APY is not showing as the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit from the date you contact SoFi for the next 31 calendar days. You will also be eligible for the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.

Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, Wise, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder's Eligible Direct Deposit activity to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility.

See additional details at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.

¹SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.

^Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

*Awards or rankings from NerdWallet are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Third Party Trademarks: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

SOBNK-Q325-003

Undergraduate and graduate students in school at least half-time can put off making federal student loan payments, and possibly private student loan payments, with in-school deferment. The catch? Interest may accrue on certain types of loans.

While some students choose to start paying off their loans while they’re still in college, many take advantage of in-school deferment. Keep reading to learn more on in-school deferment and whether or not it’s the right choice for you.

What Is In-School Deferment?

In-school deferment allows an undergraduate or graduate student, or parent borrower, to postpone making payments on:

•   Direct Loans, which include PLUS Loans for graduate and professional students, or parents of dependent undergrads; subsidized and unsubsidized loans; and consolidation loans

•   Perkins Loans

•   Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program Loans

Parents with PLUS Loans may qualify for deferment if their student is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible college or career school.

What about private student loans? Many lenders allow students to defer payments while they’re in school and for six months after graduation. Sallie Mae lets you defer payments for up to 48 months as long as you are enrolled at least half-time.

Each private lender has its own rules, though, so always check with your specific lender.

Recommended: How Does Student Loan Deferment in Grad School Work?

How In-School Deferment Works

Federal student loan borrowers in school at least half-time are automatically placed into in-school deferment. You should receive a notice from your loan servicer.

If your loans don’t go into automatic in-school deferment or you don’t receive a notice, get in touch with the financial aid office at your school. You may need to fill out an In-School Deferment Request, which is available at studentaid.gov.

If you have private student loans, it’s a good idea to reach out to your loan servicer to request in-school deferment. If you’re seeking a new private student loan, you can review the lender’s school deferment rules.

Most federal student loans also have a six-month grace period after a student graduates, drops below half-time enrollment, or leaves school before payments must begin. This applies to graduate students with PLUS Loans as well.

Parent borrowers who took out a PLUS Loan can request a six-month deferment after their student graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment.

Requirements for In-School Deferment

Students with federal student loans must be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible school, defined by the Federal Student Aid office as one that has been approved by the Department of Education to participate in federal student aid programs, even if the school does not participate in those programs.

That includes most accredited American colleges and universities and some institutions outside the United States.

In-school deferment is primarily for students with existing loans or those who are returning to school after time away.

The definition of “half-time” can be tricky. Make sure you understand the definition your school uses for school deferment, as not all schools define half-time status the same way. It’s usually based on a certain number of hours and/or credits.

Do I Need to Pay Interest During In-School Deferment?

For most federal student loans, no.

However, if you have a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, interest will accrue during the deferment and be added to the principal loan balance.

If you have a Direct Subsidized Loan or a Perkins Loan, the government pays the interest while you’re in school and during grace periods. That’s also true of the subsidized portion of a Direct Consolidation Loan.

Interest will almost always accrue on deferred private student loans.

Although postponement of payments takes the pressure off, the interest that you’re responsible for that accrues on any loan is currently capitalized, or added to your balance, after deferments and grace periods. (This capitalization will no longer occur in certain situations as of July 2023, thanks to new regulations from the Department of Education that are set to take effect.) You’ll then be charged interest on the increased principal balance. Capitalization of the unpaid interest may also increase your monthly payment, depending on your repayment plan.

If you’re able to pay the interest before it capitalizes, that can help keep your total loan cost down.

Alternatives to In-School Deferment

There are different types of deferment aside from in-school deferment.

•   Economic Hardship Deferment. You may receive an economic hardship deferment for up to three years if you receive a means-tested benefit, such as welfare, you are serving in the Peace Corps, or you work full-time but your earnings are below 150% of the poverty guideline for your state and family size.

•   Graduate Fellowship Deferment. If you are in an approved graduate fellowship program, you could be eligible for this deferment.

•   Military Service and Post-Active Duty Student Deferment. You could qualify for this deferment if you are on active duty military service in connection with a military operation, war, or a national emergency, or you have completed active duty service and any applicable grace period. The deferment will end once you are enrolled in school at least half-time, or 13 months after completion of active duty service and any grace period, whichever comes first.

•   Rehabilitation Training Deferment. This deferment is for students who are in an approved program that offers drug or alcohol, vocational, or mental health rehabilitation.

•   Unemployment Deferment. You can receive unemployment deferment for up to three years if you receive unemployment benefits or you’re unable to find full-time employment.

For most deferments, you’ll need to provide your student loan servicer with documentation to show that you’re eligible.

Student Loan Forbearance

Another option is federal student loan forbearance, which temporarily suspends or reduces your principal monthly payments, but interest always continues to accrue.

Some private student loan lenders offer forbearance as well.

If your federal student loan type does not charge interest during deferment, that’s probably the way to go. If you’ve reached the maximum time for a deferment or your situation doesn’t fit the eligibility criteria, applying for forbearance is an option.

Income-Based Repayment

If your ability to afford your federal student loan payments is unlikely to change any time soon, you may want to consider an income-based repayment plan. Income-based repayment plans are available for federal student loans only, not private student loans.

Student Loan Refinancing

Students can also explore student loan refinancing. The goal of refinancing with a private lender is to change your rate or term. If you qualify, all loans can be refinanced into one new private loan.

Playing with the numbers can be helpful when you’re considering refinancing. Using a student loan refinance calculator can help you figure out how much you might save.

Should you refinance your student loans? If it could save you money, refinancing may be worth it for you. Just know that if you refinance federal student loans, they will no longer be eligible for federal deferment or forbearance, loan forgiveness programs, or income-driven repayment. Make sure you won’t need access to these programs.

The Takeaway

In-school deferment allows undergraduates and graduate students to buy time before student loan payments begin, but interest may accrue on certain types of loans and is added to the balance.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

FAQ

What is student deferment?

Student deferment is a temporary pause on loan payments, allowing borrowers to postpone repayment due to specific circumstances like unemployment, economic hardship, or returning to school. Interest may still accrue on some loans.

Does putting student loans in deferment hurt your credit?

No, deferment itself does not hurt your credit. However, if you miss payments before or after deferment, it can negatively impact your credit score.

What are the disadvantages of deferment?

Disadvantages of student loan deferment include accrued interest on unsubsidized loans, which can increase the total amount owed. It may also delay progress on paying off your loans, potentially extending the repayment period. Additionally, deferment eligibility is limited and may not be available for all types of loans or situations.

About the author

Kylie Ora Lobell

Kylie Ora Lobell is a personal finance writer who covers topics such as credit cards, loans, investing, and budgeting. She has worked for major brands such as Mastercard and Visa, and her work has been featured by MoneyGeek, Slickdeals, TaxAct, and LegalZoom. Read full bio.