What AES Bill Pay is and who uses it

AES Bill Pay is the online bill payment system run by American Education Services, a loan servicer that handles federal student loans and some private student loans. If you have a federal student loan serviced by AES, you can use their bill pay tool to make payments toward your balance without mailing a check or calling a phone number.

AES services loans for borrowers who took out Direct Loans, FFEL Loans, or Perkins Loans through the federal government. Some borrowers with private student loans also use AES as their servicer. The bill pay system is available to anyone with an active loan account at AES, whether you are in repayment, in deferment, or in forbearance.

You do not need a separate account or login to use AES Bill Pay — you access it through your existing AES online portal using your username and password. If you do not have a portal account yet, you can create one on the AES website using your Social Security number and loan information.

Key Takeaways

  • AES Bill Pay lets you send money to your loan account through your bank account, debit card, or credit card, and the payment posts within one to three business days.
  • You can set up a one-time payment or schedule automatic payments on a date you choose each month or billing cycle.
  • Payments made through AES Bill Pay go toward your loan balance and count toward income-driven repayment plan recertification and Public Service Loan Forgiveness if you are pursuing those programs.
  • AES charges no fee for payments made from a bank account, but charges a fee (usually 1.85 to 1.99 percent) if you pay by debit or credit card.
  • If your loan is in default, you can still make payments through AES Bill Pay, though the payment will not when ready remove the default status from your credit report.

How to set up a one-time payment

Log into your AES account and look for the "Make a Payment" or "Pay Now" button, usually visible on your account dashboard. Click it and you will see a form asking for the payment amount and payment method.

Choose whether you want to pay from a bank account (checking or savings), a debit card, or a credit card. If you choose a bank account, you will enter your routing number and account number — you can find these on the bottom left of any check, or call your bank to confirm them. If you choose a card, you will enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV.

Enter the amount you want to pay. You can pay any amount from a few dollars up to your full outstanding balance. Select the date you want the payment to process — AES usually allows you to choose today or any date up to 30 days in the future. Review the details and submit.

You will receive a confirmation number on screen and by email. The payment typically posts to your account within one to three business days, depending on your bank and payment method. You can check the status of your payment by logging back into your account and looking at your payment history or recent transactions.

Setting up automatic payments through AES

Automatic payments, sometimes called autopay or recurring payments, deduct money from your bank account on a schedule you set. To start, log into your AES account and find the "Autopay" or "Automatic Payments" section, usually under account settings or payment options.

You will be asked to choose a payment amount (a fixed dollar amount each month, or a percentage of your balance), a payment date (the day of the month or billing cycle when you want the payment to go through), and a payment method (bank account only — you cannot set up autopay with a card). Enter your bank routing and account numbers and confirm.

Once autopay is active, AES will deduct the payment on your chosen date each month until you cancel it. You can change or cancel autopay at any time through your account portal. Some federal student loan programs offer a 0.25 percent interest rate reduction if you enroll in autopay, though this benefit varies by loan type and servicer — check your loan documents or contact AES to confirm whether your loans may have access to.

Payment methods and fees

AES accepts three payment methods: bank account (checking or savings), debit card, and credit card. Payments from a bank account have no fee. Payments by debit or credit card carry a fee, usually between 1.85 and 1.99 percent of the payment amount — for example, a $500 payment by card would cost roughly $9 to $10 in fees.

The fee is added to your payment, so if you submit a $500 payment by card, your total charge is about $509 to $510. The fee goes to the payment processor, not to AES. Because of this cost, most borrowers use bank account payments for regular payments and reserve card payments for emergencies or when they need to pay quickly and do not have bank account access.

AES does not accept cash, check, or money order through their online bill pay system. If you want to pay by mail, you can send a check to the address listed on your loan statement or on the AES website, though mailed payments take longer to post — typically five to seven business days after AES receives them.

How payments are applied to your loan

When you make a payment through AES Bill Pay, the money goes toward your loan principal and any accrued interest. AES applies payments according to federal rules: first to any collection costs or late fees, then to accrued interest, then to principal.

If you have multiple loans serviced by AES, you can usually direct a payment toward a specific loan or let AES explore it to whichever loan is furthest behind. Check your account to see whether you can choose which loan receives the payment, or contact AES to ask how they will distribute it.

Payments made through AES Bill Pay count toward your repayment plan requirements and toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness if you are working toward loan forgiveness. They also count as on-time payments for the purpose of your credit report, as long as the payment posts before your due date.

What happens if a payment fails or is rejected

A payment can fail for several reasons: insufficient funds in your bank account, an incorrect routing or account number, a frozen or closed account, or a problem with your card (expired, reported stolen, or flagged by your bank for fraud). When a payment fails, AES will send you a notification by email or through your account portal.

A failed payment does not count as a late payment, and it does not hurt your credit report. However, if your regular payment fails and you do not submit another payment by your due date, your account may fall behind and accrue late fees. If you see a failed payment notification, log back into your account right away, check your payment method information for errors, and resubmit the payment.

If your bank repeatedly rejects payments, contact your bank to ask why — they may have flagged AES as a suspicious merchant, or there may be a hold on your account. Once you resolve the issue with your bank, you can resubmit your payment through AES Bill Pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a payment if my loan is in default?

Yes, you can make payments through AES Bill Pay even if your loan is in default. The payment will reduce your balance and count toward bringing your account current, but it will not when ready remove the default status from your credit report. To remove the default, you typically need to either pay the full amount owed or enter a repayment plan and make on-time payments for a set period (usually three to six months, depending on the program).

How long does it take for a payment to show up in my account?

Payments made through AES Bill Pay typically post within one to three business days. Payments from a bank account usually post faster than card payments. Weekends and holidays can delay posting. You can check the status of your payment by logging into your account and viewing your recent transactions or payment history.

Can I get a refund if I overpay?

If you pay more than your outstanding balance, AES will hold the overpayment as a credit on your account. You can request a refund of the credit, or you can leave it to be applied to your next payment. Contact AES through your account portal or by phone to request a refund if you want the money back.

What is the difference between AES Bill Pay and income-driven repayment plan payments?

AES Bill Pay is a tool for making one-time or automatic payments toward your loan balance. Income-driven repayment plans are separate programs that calculate your monthly payment based on your income and family size. You can use AES Bill Pay to make payments under an income-driven plan, or you can make additional payments beyond what your plan requires.

Do I need to set up autopay to get the interest rate reduction?

Some federal student loans offer a 0.25 percent interest rate reduction if you enroll in autopay through your servicer. Check your loan documents or contact AES to confirm whether your loans may have access to for this benefit and whether you must use autopay specifically or whether other automatic payment methods count.