Check My Rate Frequently Asked Questions

Check My Rate is a convenient, no-impact way to preview your potential loan rate—without affecting your credit score.

This feature is designed to help you explore your options with confidence and clarity. Whether you're considering a personal loan, auto loan, or another lending product, Check My Rate gives you a personalized estimate based on your financial profile before you apply.

Why members love it:

• No credit impact – It’s a soft inquiry, so your credit score stays untouched.
• Transparent and easy – See your estimated rate in minutes.
• Empowering – Helps you make informed decisions before submitting a full application.

It’s part of our commitment to helping you reach your financial goals with less guesswork and more peace of mind.

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If a rate wasn’t returned when using Check My Rate, it usually means there wasn’t enough credit information available to generate an estimate. This doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t qualify—it could be due to:

• Limited or missing credit data
• Input errors (e.g., mistyped personal details)
• System issues during the request

If you suspect it was a technical or input error, we encourage you to try again. The tool uses a soft credit inquiry, so retrying won’t affect your credit score.

We’re here to help you explore your options with confidence and transparency—so you can make informed decisions without friction.

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Not necessarily—but we aim to be as accurate as possible.

When you use Check My Rate, we perform a soft credit inquiry to provide a good faith estimate of the best rate you may qualify for. This estimate is based on the limited information available at the time and does not impact your credit score.

Your actual rate may vary once you submit a full application, which includes a more detailed review of your financial profile. However, in most cases, the rate returned through Check My Rate is very close to what members ultimately receive.

We’re committed to transparency and helping you make informed decisions with confidence.

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The rate you see through Check My Rate  is a helpful estimate—but your final loan rate may change once you apply. That’s because your actual rate depends on a variety of factors reviewed during the full application process.

Factors that may affect your final rate include:

• Loan amount and term
• Income and debt-to-income ratio
• State of residence
• Collateral (if applicable)
• Changes to your credit report between the time you check your rate and when you apply

We use a soft credit inquiry to provide your initial estimate, which doesn’t impact your credit score. Once you apply, we conduct a more detailed review to ensure your rate reflects your full financial picture.

Our goal is to provide a transparent, member-first experience that helps you make informed decisions with confidence.

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While we can’t guarantee the rate shown through Check My Rate, there are steps you can take to improve the likelihood of receiving that rate when you apply:

Tips to help match your estimated rate:

• Apply soon after checking your rate – Rates and credit profiles can change over time.
• Choose a shorter loan term – Shorter terms often qualify for lower rates.
• Ensure your income supports the loan amount – A strong debt-to-income ratio helps.
• Avoid changes to your credit report – New inquiries or balances may affect your final rate.

Remember, Check My Rate uses a soft credit inquiry, so checking again won’t impact your credit score. We’re here to help you make confident, informed decisions every step of the way.

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Yes—once you formally apply and receive your loan offer, the rate presented is guaranteed, as long as you accept the terms provided.

Here’s how it works:

• After submitting your full application, we conduct a detailed review of your financial profile.
• If approved, you’ll receive a loan offer that includes your guaranteed rate, based on the loan amount and term.
• To lock in that rate, simply accept the offer within the timeframe provided.

This process ensures transparency and gives you confidence that the rate you’re offered is the one you’ll receive—no surprises.

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No—receiving a rate through Check My Rate does not guarantee loan approval. While it’s a strong indicator that you may qualify, final approval depends on a full review of your financial profile.

Factors that may affect your approval include:

• Loan amount and term
• Income and debt-to-income ratio
• Collateral (if applicable)
• State of residence
• Changes to your credit report between checking your rate and applying

That said, if you apply soon after checking your rate and there are no material changes to your qualifying criteria, you’re more likely to be approved.

We’re committed to helping you make informed, confident decisions—every step of the way.

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Submitting your formal loan application is quick and easy. You have a few options depending on where you start:

If you're using Check My Rate:

• Click the Start My Application button directly from the Check My Rate screen to begin your formal application.

Other ways to apply:

• Visit the Check My Rate Center to get started.
• Go to www.firsttechfed.com, browse to the loan product you're interested in, and follow the prompts to apply.

We’re here to make the process smooth and transparent—so you can move forward with confidence.

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