Informational content only. Not legal, tax, or financial advice. Private Student Relief is a consulting organization, not a law firm. Debt validation services are executed by an attorney-backed partner provider. Individual results vary by lender, loan terms, state law, and borrower circumstances. Last reviewed: August 2026.
Written by Henry Silva
Private Student Loan Debt Specialist · 10+ years experience helping SoFi borrowers navigate the bifurcated SoFi private student loan structure — legacy loans originated by SoFi Lending Corp. (NMLS #1121636) that were converted to Firstmark Services (a division of Nelnet, NYSE: NNI) in the first quarter of 2025 per Nelnet SEC filings, and current loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC, NMLS #696891) that are typically serviced by MOHELA. Also familiar with SoFi’s unusual policy of not offering cosigner release under any circumstances (a structural difference from most other major private student loan lenders including Citizens Bank), the absence of cosigner death or disability discharge on SoFi loans, the death discharge available for the primary student borrower, and case-by-case disability discharge analysis. Since Private Student Relief was founded in 2016, our team has helped over 29,000 clients across 48 U.S. states, including thousands of SoFi borrowers who benefit from understanding the entity structure and the specific limitations of SoFi’s cosigner policies. View LinkedIn profile →
SoFi remains one of the most active private student loan lenders in 2026 — but with two structural features that distinguish SoFi from other major lenders. SoFi does not offer cosigner release under any circumstances, meaning a cosigner who signs a SoFi private student loan is generally on the loan for its entire life. And SoFi’s servicing is bifurcated: legacy loans originated by SoFi Lending Corp. were converted to Firstmark Services in the first quarter of 2025, while current loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. are typically serviced through MOHELA. Understanding which entity owns and services your specific SoFi loan is essential to picking the right defense strategy. This guide explains the structure and every relief pathway available in 2026.
What are the strongest relief options for SoFi private student loan borrowers in 2026?
SoFi borrowers have five main defense pathways: (1) FDCPA debt validation under 15 U.S.C. §1692g if the account has defaulted and been referred to third-party collection; (2) state-law statute of limitations defense (varies by state — 3 years in NY post-CCFA, 4 years in Texas and Pennsylvania, 6 years in Ohio and Georgia, 10 years in Illinois); (3) FCRA §1681i credit reporting disputes for the Q1 2025 Firstmark transition period on legacy SoFi Lending Corp. loans; (4) state consumer protection statute counterclaims for any documented deceptive practices; and (5) case-specific bankruptcy dischargeability analysis under 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(8). Cosigner release is not available under SoFi’s stated policies, so cosigners cannot exit the loan through the standard cosigner release process — refinancing with a different lender that does allow cosigner release is generally the only path for cosigners seeking to be removed from SoFi loans.
What this guide covers
SoFi 2026 landscape — active originator amid federal borrowing changes
SoFi Bank N.A. vs SoFi Lending Corp. — the entity structure that matters
Bifurcated servicing: Firstmark for legacy, MOHELA for current
The no-cosigner-release policy and its consequences
Refinance risk analysis for federal loan borrowers considering SoFi
FDCPA validation strategy for defaulted SoFi accounts
State SOL analysis and combined defense strategy
Common SoFi private student loan myths
Frequently asked questions from SoFi borrowers
SoFi 2026 landscape
SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI) is a digital-first financial services company that offers private student loans, student loan refinancing, personal loans, mortgages, banking products, and investment services. In the private student loan market, SoFi is one of the most active current originators in 2026 — a position that has been strengthened by 2026 federal borrowing policy changes that took effect on July 1, 2026 including elimination of Grad PLUS loans and capping of Parent PLUS borrowing at $20,000 per year. These federal changes have created additional demand for private student loans to cover graduate and professional education costs, and SoFi is one of several lenders positioned to capture that demand.
SoFi’s private student loan product line includes undergraduate loans, graduate loans, MBA loans, medical school loans, law school loans, health professions loans, parent loans, and student loan refinancing. The refinance product has historically been SoFi’s largest student loan product by volume, allowing borrowers with existing student loans (federal or private) to refinance into a new SoFi private loan at potentially different rates and terms. The refinance analysis carries specific risks for federal loan borrowers that are addressed later in this guide.
For SoFi private student loan borrowers, two structural features distinguish SoFi from most other major private student loan lenders. First, SoFi’s cosigner policy differs materially from lenders like Citizens Bank — SoFi does not offer cosigner release under any circumstances that the company publishes. Second, SoFi’s servicing is bifurcated across two servicers because of a portfolio transition that occurred in the first quarter of 2025. Both features affect the defense analysis for SoFi borrowers in ways that differ from other private lenders covered elsewhere in this series.
SoFi Bank N.A. vs SoFi Lending Corp.
SoFi operates its student loan business through two distinct entities, and identifying which entity holds your specific loan is essential to picking the right defense strategy. The entity structure evolved as SoFi Technologies transitioned from a non-bank fintech lender to a chartered bank in early 2022 when SoFi acquired Golden Pacific Bancorp and rebranded that bank as SoFi Bank, N.A.
SoFi Lending Corp. (NMLS #1121636) is the original SoFi lending entity that originated most SoFi private student loans and student loan refinances from the company’s founding in 2011 through approximately early 2022. If you originated a SoFi loan before 2022, your original lender was almost certainly SoFi Lending Corp. rather than SoFi Bank. Legacy SoFi Lending Corp. loans include the bulk of SoFi’s historical private student loan and refinance portfolio.
SoFi Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC, NMLS #696891) is the chartered bank subsidiary that now originates most current SoFi private student loans and refinances. As of the 2022 bank charter, new SoFi student loan originations are typically documented as loans from SoFi Bank rather than SoFi Lending Corp. If you originated a SoFi loan in 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026, your original lender is likely SoFi Bank, N.A.
Your promissory note documents which entity originated your specific loan. If you no longer have your original promissory note, you can request a copy from your current servicer — the promissory note is the authoritative document defining the lender identity, interest rate, repayment terms, and any specific provisions such as death or disability discharge. Different loans made by the same borrower in different years may have originated with different SoFi entities, so each loan should be analyzed independently.
Why the entity identification matters
The entity identification matters for two reasons. First, it determines which servicer is likely to be handling your loan account (discussed in the next section). Second, in the specific context of a collection lawsuit, the plaintiff must be able to prove standing through documentation showing ownership of the specific loan being enforced. For legacy SoFi Lending Corp. loans that transferred to Firstmark’s servicing platform in Q1 2025, the standing analysis requires documentation of any assignment or transfer from SoFi Lending Corp. If the loan itself was sold to a third-party owner separate from the servicing transition, the chain of assignment becomes more complex. These are fact-specific analyses that benefit from attorney review of the specific loan documentation.
Bifurcated servicing: Firstmark for legacy, MOHELA for current
The SoFi servicing structure is bifurcated across two servicers in 2026, and identifying which servicer handles your specific loan requires looking at your current account communications and correspondence.
Firstmark Services (division of Nelnet, NYSE: NNI): Per Nelnet’s SEC filings (Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2025), the SoFi Lending Corp. loan portfolios were converted to Firstmark’s servicing platform during the first quarter of 2025. If your SoFi loan originated before approximately 2022 and you are now receiving communications from Firstmark Services, your loan is on the Firstmark platform following that Q1 2025 conversion. Firstmark is based in Lincoln, Nebraska and services private education loans only. Firstmark also services the legacy Wells Fargo private student loan portfolio (Wells Fargo exited private student lending in 2020) and the former Discover private student loan portfolio (Discover exited private student lending in 2024, portfolio sold to Carlyle/KKR partnerships).
MOHELA (Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority): Consumer financial reporting has identified MOHELA as the servicer for current SoFi loans originated through SoFi Bank, N.A. If your SoFi loan was originated in 2023 or later and you receive communications from MOHELA rather than Firstmark, your loan is on MOHELA’s servicing platform. MOHELA is a nonprofit corporation that services both federal student loans (as one of the Department of Education’s designated servicers) and various private loans on contract for lenders. MOHELA’s involvement with SoFi is on the private side — MOHELA also services former Navient FFELP loans that were transferred in October 2024, but that federal FFELP work is separate from any private loan servicing MOHELA may do for SoFi.
The practical implication for SoFi borrowers is that account communications and dispute procedures may need to be directed to different servicers depending on when the loan originated. A borrower who has both a legacy SoFi Lending Corp. loan (now at Firstmark) and a newer SoFi Bank loan (at MOHELA) may need to interact with two different servicers for the two loans, even though both loans are branded as “SoFi” in day-to-day language.
Verifying your specific SoFi servicer
The simplest way to verify your current SoFi servicer is to look at your most recent monthly statement or any correspondence about your account. The servicer’s name and contact information appear on all monthly statements. If you have not received a statement recently, log into your online account through the servicer’s website — the servicer’s identity is displayed on the account dashboard. If you are receiving no communications about a loan you know exists, that is itself a defense-relevant issue worth investigating because it may indicate an address error, an account issue, or (in rare cases) a loan that has been sold or transferred without proper borrower notification.
The no-cosigner-release policy
SoFi’s cosigner policy differs materially from most other major private student loan lenders. SoFi does not offer cosigner release on its private student loans or refinance loans under any circumstances that the company publishes. This means a cosigner who signs a SoFi loan is on the loan for its entire life — there is no process by which the cosigner can apply to be removed, no consecutive on-time payments threshold that triggers eligibility, no independent underwriting review that might approve release. The cosigner remains liable until the loan is paid in full, refinanced with a different lender, or the primary borrower dies (in which case death discharge applies to the primary borrower’s obligation but not the cosigner’s obligation on the remaining balance).
This is a structural difference from lenders like Citizens Bank, which does offer cosigner release after the borrower enters full principal and interest repayment and completes a required number of consecutive on-time payments plus independent underwriting review. It is a difference from Sallie Mae and several other private lenders that also offer cosigner release under specific policies. The 2015 CFPB Student Loan Ombudsman report found that the private student loan industry approves cosigner release at very low rates (approximately 90 percent industry-wide rejection), but SoFi’s approach eliminates the possibility entirely rather than just making approval difficult.
Consequences for SoFi cosigners
The no-cosigner-release policy has several practical consequences for cosigners on SoFi loans. First, the cosigner’s credit report continues to show the SoFi loan as an outstanding debt indefinitely — affecting the cosigner’s debt-to-income ratio for any personal borrowing (mortgage, auto loan, personal loan) throughout the entire life of the loan. Second, the cosigner remains at risk of collection activity if the primary borrower defaults — SoFi can pursue collection against the cosigner just as it could against the primary borrower. Third, the cosigner’s obligation does not end automatically upon the primary borrower’s death — SoFi’s death discharge applies to the primary borrower’s liability, but the cosigner’s remaining obligation on the balance continues.
For cosigners on SoFi loans who wish to be removed from the loan, the only reliable pathway is refinancing the loan with a different lender that does not require a cosigner or that offers cosigner release. This is a decision that requires the primary borrower to qualify for independent underwriting at the new lender, and it may or may not produce more favorable interest rate terms depending on the borrower’s current credit profile. Refinancing analysis should include the cost-benefit calculation of any lost SoFi-specific benefits (rate discounts, autopay features, etc.) against the value of cosigner release.
No cosigner death or disability discharge
SoFi’s stated policies also do not provide for loan discharge if a cosigner dies or becomes disabled. This is separate from the auto-default clause analysis that applies to some other private student loan promissory notes (where cosigner death or bankruptcy could trigger acceleration of the loan) — the SoFi structure is that the loan does not accelerate on cosigner death, but the loan also does not discharge, and the primary borrower remains fully liable for the remaining balance. The estate of a deceased cosigner may face claims from SoFi for continued liability on the remaining balance if the primary borrower defaults.
Refinance risk analysis for federal loan borrowers
SoFi’s student loan refinancing product is one of the most heavily marketed in the market. For borrowers with existing federal student loans, however, refinancing into a SoFi refinance loan involves specific tradeoffs that require careful analysis before proceeding. SoFi’s own disclosures acknowledge this — the SoFi student loan servicing page states that “SoFi refinance loans are private student loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE.”
The specific federal benefits that a borrower loses by refinancing federal loans into a SoFi private refinance loan include: (1) income-driven repayment options under any federal IDR plan; (2) Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility for qualifying employment; (3) Teacher Loan Forgiveness eligibility; (4) Total and Permanent Disability discharge under federal standards (SoFi does offer case-by-case disability discharge, but the standard and process differ from the federal TPD discharge program); (5) federal deferment and forbearance rights during economic hardship, unemployment, or graduate school; (6) death discharge automatic under federal rules for federal loans (SoFi does provide death discharge for private loans, but the terms are governed by SoFi’s contract rather than federal rules).
These lost federal benefits are permanent. Once federal loans are refinanced into a private SoFi loan, the loan is no longer a federal loan — the borrower cannot subsequently transfer back to federal status. If the borrower’s employment situation changes (for example, entering public service work that would qualify for PSLF), the refinanced loan is not eligible for that federal program regardless of the borrower’s subsequent employment. This is why the refinance decision matters materially for borrowers who might benefit from federal programs even if they are not currently pursuing PSLF or IDR forgiveness.
When SoFi refinance makes sense
SoFi refinance can produce meaningful savings for specific borrower profiles: borrowers with high-interest private student loans (not federal), where refinancing simply moves the loan from one private lender to another with potentially lower rates; borrowers with stable high income and strong credit who are confident they will not need federal repayment protections; borrowers who are not pursuing and do not expect to pursue PSLF, IDR forgiveness, Teacher Loan Forgiveness, or other federal programs; and borrowers who have already exhausted federal loan protections and are focused solely on interest rate reduction.
SoFi refinance is generally not appropriate for borrowers with any of the following: federal loan balances they might want to protect against future policy changes or personal circumstances; potential public service employment; income instability where IDR flexibility might be needed; expectation of future graduate education requiring deferment; or family financial situations where federal loan flexibility provides material planning value. The decision to refinance federal loans is essentially irreversible, so the analysis should be conservative rather than aggressive.
Related resources
Understand how FDCPA validation rights work and how our attorney-backed partner provider executes validation procedures for defaulted SoFi private student loans, whether serviced by Firstmark or MOHELA.
Citizens Bank Private Student Loan Relief 2026
Compare SoFi’s no-cosigner-release policy with Citizens Bank’s cosigner release policy — a structural difference that shapes long-term outcomes for cosigners on both lenders.
FDCPA validation strategy for defaulted SoFi accounts
When a SoFi private student loan defaults, the collection pathway depends on which entity originated and now holds the loan. For legacy SoFi Lending Corp. loans that transferred to Firstmark in Q1 2025, defaulted accounts may be handled internally by Firstmark’s collection operations, referred to third-party collection agencies, or (in some cases) sold to debt buyers that assume collection responsibility. For current SoFi Bank, N.A. loans serviced by MOHELA, defaulted accounts follow MOHELA’s collection procedures. In both cases, once collection activity transfers to a third-party collector, the account becomes subject to federal FDCPA requirements at 15 U.S.C. §1692.
Within 30 days of receiving the initial written communication from a debt collector on a former SoFi account, the borrower can send a written debt validation request. The collector must then cease all collection activity until it provides written verification of the debt. Effective validation for a SoFi-originated loan requires: (1) proof of the original account, including the signed SoFi promissory note (from SoFi Lending Corp. or SoFi Bank, N.A. depending on origination year); (2) evidence of any assignment chain if the loan has been sold from SoFi to a debt buyer; (3) an accurate itemized accounting of the debt from origination to current, including all payments during the SoFi origination era, the transition to Firstmark or MOHELA, and any interest capitalization or fee assessment events; and (4) evidence that the current collector has authority to collect on behalf of the current loan owner.
For legacy SoFi Lending Corp. loans that went through the Q1 2025 Firstmark transition, the itemized accounting requirement is particularly important. Servicing transitions historically have produced payment application errors, balance discrepancies, and credit reporting issues (as documented in the Firstmark-Discover transition described in a separate guide in this series). Validation on a former SoFi Lending Corp. loan should therefore include specific attention to the transition period — comparing pre-transition account statements from SoFi to post-transition statements from Firstmark to identify any discrepancies that need to be reconciled.
Standing challenges for third-party collectors
If a defaulted SoFi loan has been sold to a debt buyer that files a collection lawsuit, the plaintiff must be able to prove standing through complete chain of assignment documentation. For legacy SoFi Lending Corp. loans, the chain includes the original SoFi Lending Corp. origination, any transfer to SoFi Bank or Firstmark, and any subsequent sale to the debt buyer plaintiff. Each link in the chain requires documentation. Gaps create standing challenges that can result in dismissal of collection lawsuits. The CFPB enforcement action against the National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts documented systemic assignment documentation failures in similar trust-owned private student loan portfolios — the same structural risk can apply to portions of the SoFi portfolio that have been sold to debt buyers.
State SOL analysis and combined defense strategy
State statute of limitations analysis for SoFi private student loans operates the same as for any other private student loan — the applicable SOL depends on the borrower’s state and the acceleration date of the loan. Examples across states covered elsewhere in this series: New York applies a 3-year SOL for consumer credit transactions under CPLR §214-i (Consumer Credit Fairness Act, effective April 7, 2022); Texas applies a 4-year SOL under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.004; Pennsylvania applies a 4-year SOL under 42 Pa.C.S. §5525; Ohio applies a 6-year SOL under Ohio Rev. Code §2305.06 (post-SB 13, effective June 14, 2021); Georgia applies a 6-year SOL under O.C.G.A. §9-3-24; and Illinois applies a 10-year SOL under 735 ILCS 5/13-206.
Because most SoFi loans are relatively recent originations (SoFi was founded in 2011, most SoFi private student loans originated after 2013), the SOL analysis is less commonly favorable for SoFi loans than for older private student loans from lenders like Sallie Mae or Wells Fargo. Legacy SoFi Lending Corp. loans from the 2013-2018 origination window may now be approaching or past state SOL thresholds depending on the specific state and default date; newer SoFi Bank loans from 2023 onward are generally well within any applicable SOL. State SOL defense is available when the specific loan has been in default for the applicable state’s SOL period — but must be affirmatively raised in the Answer to any collection lawsuit.
The SoFi combined defense framework
For a SoFi private loan borrower whose loan is currently in default, the framework is: (1) identify which SoFi entity originated the loan (SoFi Lending Corp. or SoFi Bank, N.A.) by reviewing the promissory note; (2) identify the current servicer (Firstmark for legacy Lending Corp. loans post-Q1 2025 conversion, MOHELA for current Bank loans); (3) if collection activity has been referred to a third-party collector, invoke FDCPA §1692g validation immediately upon receiving the initial written communication (within the 30-day window); (4) evaluate whether the applicable state SOL has expired, particularly for legacy SoFi Lending Corp. loans from the 2013-2018 origination window; (5) request itemized account history to identify any transition-era payment application errors, unauthorized interest accrual, or fee assessment inconsistent with the original promissory note terms; and (6) evaluate state consumer protection statutes for any collector misconduct documented.
For a SoFi cosigner seeking to be removed from a current, in-repayment loan, the framework is different: cosigner release is not available under SoFi’s policies, so the analysis focuses on refinancing the loan with a different lender that does not require a cosigner or that offers cosigner release. This is a primary borrower’s decision — the cosigner cannot unilaterally refinance the loan. Coordination between the primary borrower and the cosigner on refinance options is essential, and the primary borrower’s independent creditworthiness controls whether refinancing at a new lender is feasible.
Common SoFi private student loan myths
Myth 1
“SoFi offers cosigner release like Citizens Bank and most other private lenders.”
Reality: SoFi does not offer cosigner release under any circumstances that the company publishes. This distinguishes SoFi from Citizens Bank (which offers cosigner release after full principal and interest repayment plus consecutive on-time payments plus independent underwriting), Sallie Mae (which offers cosigner release after specific payment and credit criteria are met), and several other private lenders. A cosigner on a SoFi loan is generally on the loan for its entire life — the only reliable pathway for cosigner removal is refinancing the loan with a different lender that does not require a cosigner or that offers release.
Myth 2
“Refinancing my federal loans with SoFi will save me money and I can always switch back if I need federal programs later.”
Reality: Refinancing federal loans into a private SoFi refinance loan is permanent. Once the federal loans are paid off by the SoFi refinance, the loan is no longer a federal loan — the borrower cannot subsequently transfer back to federal status regardless of subsequent employment or circumstances. Federal benefits permanently lost include income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Teacher Loan Forgiveness, federal Total and Permanent Disability discharge, federal deferment rights, and federal death discharge terms. These are substantial protections that require careful analysis before refinancing.
Myth 3
“My SoFi loan is with SoFi — Firstmark is just a customer service outsource.”
Reality: If your SoFi Lending Corp. loan originated before approximately 2022, your loan portfolio was converted to Firstmark Services (a division of Nelnet, NYSE: NNI) during the first quarter of 2025 per Nelnet SEC filings. Firstmark is a substantive servicer, not merely a customer service outsource — Firstmark handles payment processing, statements, credit reporting, forbearance requests, and other account administration. Loan ownership may still be with SoFi or may have been transferred as part of the servicing conversion; the specific ownership structure requires review of your account communications. Current SoFi Bank loans (originated 2023 onward) are typically serviced by MOHELA rather than Firstmark.
Myth 4
“If I die, my SoFi loan cosigner is off the hook because of death discharge.”
Reality: SoFi provides death discharge for the primary student borrower’s obligation on the loan — the borrower’s estate is generally not pursued for the balance. However, this discharge does not extend to the cosigner’s obligation. If a cosigned SoFi loan exists at the time of the primary borrower’s death, the cosigner remains liable for the remaining balance. This is different from federal Direct Loans, which are discharged in full upon the borrower’s death without cosigner residual liability. For SoFi cosigners with significant remaining balance exposure, life insurance on the primary borrower can be a planning tool to cover this cosigner liability risk.
Frequently asked questions from SoFi borrowers
Does SoFi offer cosigner release on private student loans?
No. SoFi does not offer cosigner release under any circumstances that the company publishes. This is a structural difference from most other major private student loan lenders including Citizens Bank (which offers release after specific payment and underwriting criteria are met) and Sallie Mae (which has similar release criteria). A cosigner on a SoFi loan is generally on the loan for its entire life. The only reliable pathway for cosigner removal is refinancing the loan with a different lender that does not require a cosigner or that offers cosigner release. Refinancing requires the primary borrower to qualify for independent underwriting at the new lender.
Why am I getting statements from Firstmark instead of SoFi?
Per Nelnet SEC filings, SoFi Lending Corp. loan portfolios were converted to Firstmark Services (a division of Nelnet) during the first quarter of 2025. If your SoFi loan originated before approximately 2022, your account is likely on the Firstmark platform now. Firstmark handles payment processing, statements, credit reporting, and account administration for these legacy SoFi loans. If your loan originated in 2023 or later, it likely originated through SoFi Bank, N.A. and is typically serviced by MOHELA rather than Firstmark. Verify your specific servicer through your monthly statements.
What is the difference between SoFi Bank and SoFi Lending Corp.?
SoFi Lending Corp. (NMLS #1121636) is the original SoFi lending entity that originated most SoFi private student loans and refinances from 2011 through approximately early 2022. SoFi Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC, NMLS #696891) is the chartered bank subsidiary that now originates most current SoFi student loans following SoFi’s 2022 acquisition of Golden Pacific Bancorp. Your promissory note documents which entity originated your specific loan. The distinction matters for identifying your current servicer (Firstmark for legacy Lending Corp. loans, MOHELA for current Bank loans) and for chain-of-assignment analysis in defense.
Should I refinance my federal loans into a SoFi private refinance loan?
This is a permanent decision that requires careful analysis. Refinancing federal loans into a SoFi private refinance loan permanently eliminates federal benefits including income-driven repayment (IDR), Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Teacher Loan Forgiveness, federal Total and Permanent Disability discharge, federal deferment rights during hardship or graduate school, and federal death discharge. SoFi refinance can produce meaningful savings for borrowers with stable high income, strong credit, no expected need for federal programs, and no expected public service employment. It is generally not appropriate for borrowers who might benefit from federal programs even if they are not currently pursuing them.
What happens to my SoFi loan if I die?
SoFi provides death discharge for the primary student borrower’s obligation. The primary borrower’s estate is generally not pursued for the remaining balance. However, this discharge does not extend to any cosigner — a cosigner remains liable for the remaining balance after the primary borrower’s death. This is different from federal Direct Loans, which are discharged in full upon the borrower’s death without cosigner residual liability. Cosigners with significant remaining balance exposure on SoFi loans may consider life insurance on the primary borrower to cover this residual cosigner liability. Disability discharge is available on SoFi loans on a case-by-case basis but is not automatic.
What is the statute of limitations on a SoFi private student loan?
State law controls, and the SOL depends on the borrower’s state and the acceleration date of the loan. Examples: 3 years in New York under CPLR §214-i (Consumer Credit Fairness Act, effective April 7, 2022); 4 years in Texas under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.004; 4 years in Pennsylvania under 42 Pa.C.S. §5525; 6 years in Ohio under Ohio Rev. Code §2305.06 (post-SB 13, effective June 14, 2021); 6 years in Georgia under O.C.G.A. §9-3-24; 10 years in Illinois under 735 ILCS 5/13-206. Because most SoFi loans are recent originations, SOL defense is less commonly available for SoFi loans than for older lender portfolios — but legacy SoFi Lending Corp. loans from 2013-2018 may now be approaching or past thresholds in shorter-SOL states.
How do I start the defense process for my SoFi private student loan?
Start by completing the free 5-minute eligibility check at Private Student Relief’s application page. A specialist will review your specific situation — including which SoFi entity originated the loan (SoFi Lending Corp. vs SoFi Bank), current servicer identification (Firstmark vs MOHELA), account status, applicable state SOL analysis, any pending collection activity, and cosigner considerations — and coordinate with our attorney-backed partner provider to determine which relief pathways apply. Bring your original SoFi promissory note and recent servicer statements to the review. The eligibility review has no upfront fees and no obligation.
Your SoFi loan may be at two different servicers. Identify which — then defend.
Private Student Relief helps SoFi private student loan borrowers navigate the bifurcated servicing structure (legacy SoFi Lending Corp. at Firstmark following Q1 2025 conversion, current SoFi Bank at MOHELA), the no-cosigner-release policy consequences, refinance risk analysis for federal loans, FDCPA §1692g validation for defaulted accounts, state statute of limitations defense, and case-specific bankruptcy dischargeability analysis under 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(8) — through coordination with our attorney-backed partner provider.
Free 5-Minute Eligibility Check →
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About the Author: Henry Silva
Private Student Loan Debt Specialist at Private Student Relief with 10+ years of experience helping SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI) private student loan borrowers navigate the bifurcated SoFi entity and servicing structure — legacy loans originated by SoFi Lending Corp. (NMLS #1121636) converted to Firstmark Services (division of Nelnet, NYSE: NNI) in the first quarter of 2025 per Nelnet SEC filings, and current loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC, NMLS #696891) typically serviced by MOHELA. Familiar with SoFi’s specific policy structure including the no-cosigner-release policy (distinguishing SoFi from Citizens Bank and most other major private lenders that offer cosigner release after specific criteria), the absence of cosigner death or disability discharge on SoFi loans (leaving cosigners liable after primary borrower death), the death discharge available for primary student borrowers, and the case-by-case disability discharge analysis. Also familiar with the specific tradeoffs of refinancing federal student loans into SoFi private refinance loans (permanent loss of PSLF, IDR, Teacher Loan Forgiveness, federal TPD discharge, federal deferment rights, and federal death discharge), FDCPA §1692g validation strategies for defaulted SoFi accounts, chain-of-assignment analysis for portfolios sold to debt buyers, and state-specific statute of limitations analysis. Since Private Student Relief was founded in 2016, Henry has coordinated FDCPA validation strategies, hardship negotiation, refinance risk consulting, and state-specific lawsuit defense — working with an attorney-backed partner provider that executes debt validation procedures on behalf of clients across all 48 states served (excluding South Carolina and Mississippi). View LinkedIn profile → Not a licensed attorney; provides informational content only.
Disclaimer: Informational content only. Not legal, tax, or financial advice. Henry Silva is a Private Student Loan Debt Specialist, not a licensed attorney, tax professional, or bankruptcy trustee. Private Student Relief is operated by Joco (555 Anton Blvd Suite 368, Costa Mesa CA 92626) and is a private student loan relief consulting organization — not a law firm, tax advisory firm, or affiliate of SoFi Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI), SoFi Bank N.A., SoFi Lending Corp., Nelnet Inc. (NYSE: NNI), Firstmark Services, MOHELA (Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority), or any other student loan lender, servicer, or affiliated entity. We do not represent borrowers in litigation, file bankruptcy petitions, or provide legal representation of any kind. We help borrowers coordinate with vetted attorney-backed partner provider services that execute FDCPA-compliant debt validation procedures under 15 U.S.C. §1692g. Ratings, BBB accreditation, AADR membership, and industry tenure referenced elsewhere on privatestudentrelief.com belong to our attorney-backed partner provider, not to Private Student Relief. Facts about SoFi’s entity structure and servicing arrangements summarized from SoFi’s public disclosures (including SoFi student loan servicing page and product terms), Nelnet Inc. SEC filings (Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2025 identifying SoFi Lending Corp. loan portfolio conversion to Firstmark Services platform), consumer financial reporting on current SoFi Bank servicing arrangements, and CFPB Student Loan Ombudsman reporting on private student loan industry practices. Statutory references summarized for educational purposes: federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act at 15 U.S.C. §1692 including §1692a (definitions), §1692e (false or misleading representations), §1692g (validation rights), §1692k (damages up to $1,000 statutory plus actual damages and attorney’s fees); federal Fair Credit Reporting Act at 15 U.S.C. §1681 including §1681i (reinvestigation procedure), §1681s-2 (furnisher obligations), §1681n (willful noncompliance), §1681o (negligent noncompliance); federal bankruptcy qualified education loan discharge standard at 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(8); state statutes of limitations vary by jurisdiction and include NY CPLR §214-i (3-year post-CCFA), Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.004 (4-year), 42 Pa.C.S. §5525 (4-year), Ohio Rev. Code §2305.06 (6-year post-SB 13), O.C.G.A. §9-3-24 (6-year), 735 ILCS 5/13-206 (10-year). Consult a currently-licensed attorney familiar with your specific situation for case-specific advice, particularly on the refinance decision for federal loans and cosigner removal strategies through refinancing. Individual results vary based on original loan terms, current account status, state law, and borrower circumstances. Private Student Relief serves 48 U.S. states — services are not available to residents of South Carolina or Mississippi. Federal borrowing changes referenced (Grad PLUS elimination and Parent PLUS capping at $20,000 per year effective July 1, 2026) reflect the current federal student aid framework as of last review. Last reviewed: August 2026.