Can a Cosigner Help Me Get a Chase Personal Loan?

A cosigner at Chase is someone who promises to repay if you default, while a co-borrower shares ownership and repayment responsibility on the loan.

Before asking someone to help, first verify whether Chase currently offers unsecured personal loans and accepts cosigners by checking the Chase personal loans hub. A light, no‑impact credit review is smart before you ask. Also pull your credit snapshot from official free credit reports to spot problems.

Typical Chase-style eligibility screens for a cosigner include:

• Age 18 or older.
• U.S. citizen or resident.
• Valid SSN or ITIN.
• Verifiable income.
• Stable employment history.
• Clean recent credit history, no major delinquencies.
• Acceptable debt-to-income ratio.

Anyone who meets those screens can usually cosign, family, partner, or a trusted friend. Lenders will watch shared finances and potential conflicts of interest, so be transparent. If Chase does not permit cosigners or you prefer alternatives, explore joint applications, secured loans, or a credit-builder strategy instead.

Adding a strong cosigner can materially raise your approval chances by lowering blended risk, improving income coverage, and deepening the file reviewers see.

• Blended credit risk: underwriters view combined credit profiles, which can move you into a safer risk tier.
• Debt-to-income (DTI): a cosigner's lower DTI reduces the application's overall leverage.
• Income coverage: more qualifying income widens repayment capacity.
• File depth: additional credit history and on-time payment patterns strengthen the decision record.

Example: borrower 640 FICO, 42% DTI plus cosigner 740 FICO, 28% DTI → combined DTI falls and the blended risk tier shifts toward approval, though Chase's exact score and DTI cutoffs are proprietary. Recent charge-offs, active collections, or bankruptcy on either file can still block approval. Product availability and Chase's cosigner policy vary, so confirm before applying. For practical legal and financial basics on co-signing, see CFPB on co-signing basics.

Chase does not offer a standard unsecured personal loan, so you cannot add a cosigner to a Chase personal-loan product; consider alternatives like other lenders or a Chase HELOC instead.

A cosigner's main effect is on risk-based pricing, lenders' system that groups borrowers into pricing tiers based on credit, income, and debt. Adding a stronger cosigner can move the application into a better tier, lowering the APR, reducing or eliminating origination fees, raising the maximum offer, and sometimes allowing longer or shorter term options that change monthly payments. A tier improvement might trim APR by a few percentage points, depending on the lender's pricing and current market rates; do not expect guaranteed amounts.

Even if you could get approved alone, a cosigner can produce noticeably better terms, especially if your credit is thin or scores are marginal. Some lenders also layer on autopay or customer-relationship discounts that further reduce APR once a cosigner or primary qualifies. Remember the cosigner's credit is on the line, so weigh benefits against their risk. If you want a Chase option, consider a home equity line instead: Chase HELOC overview and details.

• APR
• Origination/fees
• Loan amount
• Term flexibility
• Discounts

Adding a cosigner means you both legally share the loan and its credit consequences. The account will appear on both credit reports, so every payment and missed payment is recorded for you and the cosigner. Payments on time can build both scores, late payments will ding both scores, and serious delinquency can lead to collections or charge‑offs that harm both credit histories and may prompt legal action.

Opening the joint loan also creates a hard inquiry for the applicant and cosigner and lowers average account age slightly, which can affect score models. Installment loans do not directly raise credit utilization the way revolving cards do, but the new balance still counts toward total debt and credit mix, which score algorithms consider. A large outstanding installment balance can weaken debt-to-income impressions for future lenders.

Removing a cosigner is hard without refinancing or a formal release from the lender, and Chase rarely allows release unless the borrower qualifies alone. That means a cosigner may remain on the hook for years unless you refinance, pay off the loan, or the bank grants a release. Because both files track the account, disputes or errors should be checked by both parties promptly.

Set clear expectations in writing before you apply, cover responsibility for payments, timing of any payoff plans, and what happens if issues arise. For an authoritative explainer on how accounts are reported to credit bureaus, see the CFPB credit reporting overview.

Having a cosigner makes approval easier, but it also puts them on the hook for your Chase loan if you miss payments.

• Legal responsibility: the cosigner is equally liable for the full balance if you default.
• Credit damage: late payments or defaults can lower their credit score quickly.
• Collections and lawsuits: unpaid debt can lead to collections, wage garnishment, or court judgments against them.
• Debt forgiveness tax hit: if debt is canceled later, they could receive a 1099-C and taxable income, which can trigger a tax bill for the forgiven amount.
• Increased debt-to-income pressure: the loan counts against their borrowing capacity, which can block mortgages or new credit.
• Relationship strain: money problems often lead to lasting personal conflict.

Protecting your cosigner starts before you apply, and a pre-application credit review with us can help you fix small issues so you don't drag someone else in.

• Build an emergency buffer: save 2–3 months of payments so missed months are avoidable.
• Use autopay plus reminders: set Chase autopay and multiple alerts to prevent human error.
• Written reimbursement agreement: a simple contract clarifies who pays and when.
• Give cosigner access and alerts: allow them to view statements or receive email/text notices.
• Cure missed payments fast: transfer funds or pay immediately at first late day to stop reporting.
• Insurance or income protection: consider disability, unemployment, or payment-protection insurance to cover payments.
• Exit plan and refinance timeline: agree on when you'll refinance into your name only and track eligibility milestones.

Chase typically does not accept cosigners for personal loans, so confirm policy first before you try to apply with one.

1. Verify product rules: check the Chase personal loans page for current cosigner policy; if cosigners are not allowed, consider a different lender or product.
2. Pre-check credit and DTI: both you and the potential cosigner should pull credit and calculate debt-to-income ratios. Order free annual credit reports.
3. Gather documents: photo IDs, two recent paystubs, tax returns or W-2s, proof of residence, and a list of assets and liabilities for both parties. Fresh paystubs reduce verification friction.
4. Compare offers: run prequalification at multiple lenders to estimate rates, terms, and required cosigner rules. Use identical loan amounts and terms to compare apples to apples.
5. Application mechanics: if a lender accepts a cosigner, both parties must authorize credit pulls and sign disclosures. Expect hard inquiries on both reports.
6. Review terms carefully: verify APR, origination fee, repayment schedule, and any cosigner obligations or release options. Confirm identity and name consistency across documents.
7. Set payment logistics: enable autopay to lower rate where available and decide which account will make payments.
8. After approval and funding: note the first payment date, confirm account access for both parties where allowed, and keep records of all disclosures and signed forms.

Pro-tips: match names exactly, temporarily lift credit freezes for pulls, and keep paystubs dated within 30 days.

Chase doesn't offer traditional unsecured personal loans to the public, so a formal cosigner release from a Chase personal loan is typically not applicable; for lenders that do allow releases, rules vary and you must follow the contract.

A cosigner release is the process where the lender removes the cosigner's legal obligation after the borrower proves creditworthiness. Common lender requirements include:

• on-time payment count, often 12–24 consecutive payments.
• no lates, meaning no missed or seriously delinquent payments during the period.
• re-underwrite, the borrower must meet current income, employment and credit criteria on their own.
• no forbearance, deferment, or recent hardship arrangements.
• paperwork timing, the release request and documentation must follow the servicer's window and forms.

If Chase isn't the lender (or doesn't offer releases), your options are refinance into your name only, consolidate with another lender, aggressively pay down the balance, or switch to a secured product you control. Always read your promissory note and check your servicer portal for the exact release language. For federal guidance on removing a co-signer or refinancing a loan, review guidance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Yes, a cosigner can change Chase's decision, but outcomes vary by credit history, income, and recent payment behavior.

Thin-file borrower with a prime cosigner

You have little or no credit and steady income. Chase sees risk from your thin file but strong from the cosigner. Likely outcome is approval based primarily on the cosigner's score and debt-to-income ratio, though limits may be conservative and APR set by the cosigner's profile. Loan amount and term may be shorter than you want. What flips this to a stronger offer: adding recent on-time utility or rent reporting, the cosigner lowering their DTI via paydown, or the applicant supplying more verifiable income. Most realistic next step: apply with the cosigner and bring recent proof of income and any rent/utility reporting to boost approval odds.

Moderate-credit borrower with a near-prime cosigner who has strong income

You carry some credit history, recent balances, and mixed scores; the cosigner is close to prime but not excellent, with high documented income. Chase may offer conditional approval with higher APR and a moderate limit, or require a shorter term to control risk. Pricing will likely sit between borrower-only and prime-cosigner levels because both profiles matter. What flips this to a full approval or better rate: decreasing revolving balances, removing recent derogatory inquiries, or the cosigner reducing their available debt obligations. Most realistic next step: pay down credit card balances before applying and have the cosigner show proof of stable, high income.

Borrower with prior delinquency and an excellent cosigner

You have a recent delinquency or collections; the cosigner has excellent credit and low DTI. Chase treats recent severe delinquencies seriously, so approval is possible but not guaranteed. Outcome often is either denial or approval with elevated APR and stricter terms, especially if the delinquency is recent. What flips a denial to approval: time passing since the delinquency, documentation showing the issue was isolated, the cosigner proving capacity to absorb payments, or choosing a different Chase product with more flexible underwriting. Most realistic next step: wait until the delinquency ages, clear any small collections, and reapply with the excellent cosigner once the blemish is older or resolved.

You can often avoid a cosigner by choosing one of five practical paths that balance cost, speed, and credit risk.

1. Rebuild and re-apply. Improve your FICO to at least mid-600s and cut DTI below 40% for a realistic Chase approval. Quick wins: pay down revolving balances to under 30% utilization and fix any reporting errors; timeline 1–6 months depending on balances.
2. Secured personal loan or share-secured loan. Use a savings-secured or certificate-secured loan to trade collateral for approval; rates are lower but your savings are at risk if you default. If Chase doesn't offer a suitable product, local credit unions often provide these options with member-friendly terms.
3. 0% intro APR credit card for small needs. For lower loan amounts, a 0% purchase or balance-transfer card can eliminate interest short term; watch transfer fees and the promo length. This is fastest but can cost more if you miss the window or carry balances.
4. HELOC or home equity loan if you own a home. Tapping home equity typically gives larger amounts and lower rates, but your home secures the debt and closing costs apply; timeline is medium, often weeks to months. See Chase HELOC information and eligibility requirements for details and eligibility.
5. Competing online lenders with soft-pull prequalification. Shop fintech lenders that let you compare rates without a hard credit hit, then pick the best offer. Cost and funding speed vary widely, so prioritize APR, fees, and confirmed funding timelines before you accept.

Yes - start by confirming current Chase policy because some Chase personal loan products do not accept cosigners.

Does Chase currently offer personal loans or accept cosigners?

Policies change, so check Chase directly before you apply. Many Chase personal loan pages note they do not accept cosigners for some products, so verify on the Chase personal loans hub for the specific product you want.

Who gets the hard inquiry?

Usually both the primary borrower and any cosigner will receive a hard credit inquiry. That inquiry can temporarily lower scores and is visible to future lenders.

Can we remove a cosigner later?

A cosigner can only be released if the loan contract allows a release or if Chase offers a formal cosigner-release program. If not, you must refinance the loan in your name alone to remove them.

What happens if we miss a payment?

Late payments and delinquencies are reported on both credit reports if the account lists both parties. Expect late fees, increased rates, and possible collections; the cosigner is legally responsible for repayment.

Is a co-borrower different from a cosigner?

Yes, a co-borrower shares ownership and income responsibility, which lenders count toward qualification. A cosigner guarantees repayment but may not have ownership or access to funds.

For neutral rights and complaint guidance, see the CFPB consumer questions hub.