Heidi Rivera

Writer, Personal Loans
Ribbon Icon EXPERTISE
  • Personal loans
  • Debt consolidation
  • Interest rate trends
  • Student loans
Education Icon EDUCATION
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Full Sail University

Heidi Rivera is a former personal finance writer and reporter for Bankrate. Her areas of expertise include personal loans, student loans and debt consolidation, in addition to data collection and analysis. Heidi started covering personal finance topics in late 2018 and her work has been featured in several publications, including Money, MSN Money, Yahoo Finance and Money Under 30.

Before working in finance, Heidi spent several years in post production, working as a subtitle editor for different TV and film studios.

When she isn’t giving her best financial advice, Heidi enjoys spending time with her cats, crafting and pinning home decor ideas on Pinterest.

Heidi wants you to know

Before applying for any loan product, make sure you understand how the APR (annual percentage rate) works and how it accrues. I certainly didn’t know this when I took out private student loans in college and was surprised to see how much my balances had grown once I graduated. If possible, make interest payments even when you’re in your grace period — this can make a world of difference in the long run.

Heidi’s recommended readings

Heidi's latest articles

  • Klover

    Klover offers cash advances of up to $200, without a credit check. The app is free to use and almost anyone receiving a paycheck is eligible.

    6 min read Nov 08, 2022

  • MoneyLion Instacash

    MoneyLion’s Instacash feature is a cost-effective alternative to payday loans, as it comes with no fees and you can borrow up to $500 at any time.

    6 min read Nov 08, 2022

  • Cash advance app review methodology

    Bankrate's editorial team rates cash advance app lenders on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, based on factors that fall under 3 categories.

    2 min read Nov 01, 2022

  • Prosper

    Prosper was the first to enter the peer-to-peer lending market and offers unsecured personal loans to borrowers through an entirely virtual process.

    7 min read Oct 19, 2022

  • SoFi Personal Loans: 2023 Review

    A SoFi personal loan is great for those with a decent income and good credit. There are no fees and no penalty for paying off your balance early.

    6 min read Oct 19, 2022

  • LendingClub

    LendingClub’s unsecured personal loans offer $1,000 to $40,000 with relatively affordable APRs. It charges origination fees and requires fair credit.

    6 min read Oct 19, 2022