Originally Posted by Old Dad
....so yeah, the competition is quite uneven and the rates charged aren't going to be competitive.

Back in the olden days of the 80s when I was a student, the entire point of rates on student loans was that they were low. Back then, interest rates were stratospheric (15%+), and student loan rates were 8%. This is one of those facts that people (err, especially banks) seem to have conveniently forgotten as the loans have become big business.