Loans
Borrow from yourself instead of a bank
Your retirement savings may be available to help you before you reach retirement. Sometimes the demands of modern life make managing finances tricky and we may need a little extra flexibility—whether it’s to purchase a home or just make things a bit easier.
To help in those situations, you can take a loan from your RPB 403(b) account, for any reason, if you’ve:
- Been enrolled in RPB’s retirement plan for at least one year
- And have $2,000 or more in your 403(b) account.
Details, benefits, and requirements
You have up to five years to repay a general purpose loan, and up to ten years for a residential loan used to purchase your primary residence. Loan payments are collected electronically from your bank account on a day of the month that you choose. There is no early repayment penalty and you can get an estimated payoff amount online in Fidelity NetBenefits. For the exact loan payoff amount, contact Fidelity at 800.433.1685.
The loan amount can be between $1,000 and $50,000 (or 50% of your 403(b) account balance, whichever is less). And you can only have one outstanding loan from your RPB 403(b) account at a time.
RPB 403(b) loans are charged a fixed interest rate equal to the prime rate as published by Reuters, plus 1%*. Unlike common bank loans, interest payments on RPB loans go back into your account, enhancing your retirement savings.
There is a one-time $75 loan set-up fee and an annual $25 maintenance fee (which is assessed quarterly). Both of these fees are non-refundable.
* Changes in the prime rate go into effect on the first of the month following the rate change announcement.
If you're still working, you can continue to contribute toward your retirement while you're repaying your loan. We suggest you contribute at any level you're comfortable with so you won't miss out on growing your nest egg or the tax advantages you get from contributing to your 403(b) plan.
If you’d like to provide specific allocation instructions, call Fidelity at 800.433.1685 for assistance.
Ready to apply for a loan from your RPB account?
Once you understand the implications of taking a loan from your retirement account, you can get started by logging in to Fidelity NetBenefits and clicking Loans/Withdrawals from the Quick Links menu.
Important considerations
While borrowing from your RPB 403(b) account may be a better option than taking out a loan from a credit card or commercial institution, it’s important to factor in the potential drawbacks before applying.
Lost Growth
Borrowing from your 403(b) may mean less money in retirement. Even though you’re repaying yourself, you’ll lose tax-deferred growth on that money and tax-free growth on Roth contributions—savings you’ll need to live on for 20 to 30 years when you’re retired.
Costly to Default
Defaulting on a retirement loan may result in the loan being reclassified as an early retirement distribution, which may be subject to taxes and an additional 10% penalty if you’re under 59½.
Difficult to Increase Contributions
If you're focused on paying back your loan, you may be less likely to increase your contributions, which is a key factor in reaching your retirement savings goal.
Have a serious financial need prior to retirement, but don’t want to take a loan?
You may qualify to take a hardship withdrawal from your 403(b) account. But make sure you carefully consider the risks and requirements.