Your servicer is the company that collects your monthly payment, not the lender who originally gave you the money
Your student loan servicer is the organization you send payments to and contact with questions about your loan. This is almost never the same as the lender — the bank or the Department of Education that originally loaned you the money. The servicer is hired to handle the day-to-day work: processing payments, answering your calls, managing deferment requests, and tracking your balance.
Finding your servicer matters because you cannot make a payment, request a pause on your loan, or change your repayment plan without knowing who to contact. If you send a payment to the wrong place, it may not be credited to your account. If you call the lender instead of the servicer, they will tell you to call the servicer.
Your servicer can change without warning. The Department of Education or your private lender can hire a different company to take over the work. When this happens, you will receive a letter in the mail, but the letter often arrives after the switch. Knowing how to find your current servicer means you will not waste time contacting an old one.
Key Takeaways
- Your servicer is listed on your loan documents, your most recent statement, and the Federal Student Aid website if your loan is federal.
- Federal loans are serviced by one of a small number of companies under contract with the Department of Education, and you can search by loan type or name.
- Private student loans are serviced by the lender itself or by a company the lender hired, and you can find the servicer on your loan statement or by calling the lender's main number.
- If you cannot locate your servicer, the Federal Student Aid website and your loan documents are the fastest sources.
Finding your servicer for federal student loans
Federal student loans are serviced by companies under contract with the U.S. Department of Education. The main servicers are Mohela, Navient, Great Lakes Higher Education may provide Corporation, and Nelnet. You can find your servicer by visiting the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov and logging into your account with your FSA ID. Once logged in, your servicer's name and contact information will appear on your loan summary page.
If you do not have an FSA ID or prefer not to log in, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). A representative can tell you your servicer's name and phone number over the phone. Have your Social Security number ready.
You can also check your most recent loan statement or bill. The servicer's name and contact details are printed on every statement. If you have not received a statement recently, you can request one by mail or email from your servicer once you identify them.
Finding your servicer for private student loans
Private student loans are serviced by the lender itself or by a company the lender hired. The servicer information is on your promissory note (the original loan agreement you signed) and on your monthly statement or billing notice. If you have the original documents, look for a section labeled "Servicer," "Loan Servicer," or "Payment Instructions."
If you cannot find your documents, call the lender's main customer service number. This number is usually on your credit card statement if the lender also issued your card, or you can search online for the lender's name plus "customer service." When you call, have your loan account number or Social Security number ready. The representative will confirm your servicer and provide contact information.
Private loan servicers change less frequently than federal servicers, but it can happen. If you have not heard from your servicer in several months and your loan is not in deferment, contact the lender directly to confirm the servicer has not changed.
What to do if you cannot locate your servicer
Start with your loan documents. Your promissory note, disclosure statement, or most recent billing statement will have the servicer's name and phone number. If you have lost these documents, you can request replacements by contacting the lender directly or by logging into your account on the lender's website.
For federal loans, the Federal Student Aid website is the most reliable source. You do not need to remember your servicer's name — the website will show it to you. For private loans, the lender's website usually has a login portal where you can view your loan details, including the servicer.
If you have multiple loans, you may have multiple servicers. Each loan can be serviced by a different company. Check each statement separately to confirm.
What happens when your servicer changes
When a servicer changes, the Department of Education or your lender will send you a notice by mail. This notice will include the new servicer's name, phone number, and website. The old servicer will stop accepting payments, and the new servicer will take over. Your account balance, payment history, and any deferment or forbearance status will transfer automatically.
During the transition, there is usually a grace period of 15 to 30 days where you can send your payment to either servicer. After that, you must pay the new servicer. If you accidentally send a payment to the old servicer after the deadline, contact the new servicer immediately to report it. They can often retrieve the payment or credit it to your account.
Servicer changes can cause confusion, but your loan terms do not change. Your interest rate, repayment plan, and loan balance stay the same. Only the company handling the paperwork changes.
How to contact your servicer once you know who they are
Every servicer provides multiple ways to contact them: phone, email, mail, and an online portal. The fastest way is usually the online portal on their website, where you can view your balance, make a payment, or submit a request without waiting on hold. Phone numbers are listed on your statement and on the servicer's website.
When you contact your servicer, have your account number or Social Security number ready. If you are calling about a specific issue — a missed payment, a deferment request, or a change to your repayment plan — have any related documents nearby so you can answer questions quickly.
Keep a record of who you spoke to, when you called, and what was discussed. If your servicer makes an error or you need to follow up, this record will help you resolve the issue faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my servicer change without my permission?
Yes. The Department of Education or your lender can hire a different company to service your loan at any time. You will receive a notice in the mail, but you cannot prevent the change. Your loan terms and balance do not change — only the company collecting payments changes.
What if I send a payment to the wrong servicer?
Contact the servicer who received the payment and ask them to return it or transfer it to your correct servicer. If they cannot help, contact your correct servicer and report the misdirected payment. Keep a copy of any receipt or confirmation number. The issue can usually be resolved within one to two weeks.
Is my servicer the same as my lender?
Usually not. The lender is the organization that gave you the money. The servicer is hired to collect payments and manage your account. For federal loans, the Department of Education is the lender, and a separate company services the loan. For private loans, the lender sometimes services the loan itself, but often hires a servicer to do it.
How do I know if my servicer information is current?
Check your most recent statement or bill. The servicer listed there is current. If you have not received a statement in more than three months and your loan is not in deferment, contact the lender to confirm your servicer has not changed.
What if the Federal Student Aid website shows a different servicer than my statement?
The Federal Student Aid website is usually more current because servicer changes are updated there first. Contact the servicer listed on the website. If your statement is more than a month old, it may reflect an old servicer. The new servicer will have your account information and can help you update your records.