Skip to Main Content

Hanneh Bareham

CD Icon CREDENTIALS
  • Certified Financial Education Instructor℠, National Financial Educators Council
Ribbon Icon EXPERTISE
  • Personal loans
  • Debt management
  • Interest rate trends
  • Economic policy
  • Student loans
Education Icon EDUCATION
  • Bachelor of Arts in English, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Hanneh Bareham, a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠, is a freelance personal finance reporter. She started with Bankrate in 2020 as a staff credit cards reporter before transitioning into the role of student loans reporter. After shifting her focus to personal loans for two years, Hanneh rejoined the Bankrate team as a freelance writer in 2025 after a brief stint away to focus on her acting career. She has now furthered her scope across multiple forms of consumer lending, with a focus on student loan policy and debt management.

She has been featured in multiple national and regional media outlets, including CNN, CNBC, CBS, Business Insider, The Chicago Tribune, and more. Her desire to empower borrowers comes from her own experiences as a young adult managing her finances during a tumultuous economic climate. She aims to help others reach their goals through a better understanding of macroeconomic trends and policy.

When she's not checking her repayment strategies with a loan calculator, Hanneh enjoys screen acting, baking and trying to find the best cup of coffee on the East Coast.

You have a world of options at your fingertips when it comes to paying down your loans. Knowing what they are is the key to becoming debt-free.

— Hanneh Bareham

Hanneh's Picks

U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris wave to members of the audience.
6 MIN READ

25 million borrowers to be notified of potential student loan forgiveness, and other student loans news

SAVE plan paused during litigation and MOHELA faces lawsuit for mismanagement claims.

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 28: People rally in support of the Biden administration’s student debt relief plan in front of the the U.S. Supreme Court on February 28, 2023 in Washington, DC. This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two cases challenging President Joe Bidens student loan debt forgiveness program, which remains on hold after a lower court blocked the plan in November. The two cases Biden v. Nebraska and Department of Education v. Brown, which could decide the fate of the program that aims to forgive an estimated $400 billion in student debt for 26 million borrowers. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
5 MIN READ

Appeals judge rules student loan payment cuts can proceed, and other student loans news

In late June, two federal judges placed temporary injunctions on forgiveness through the Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan following the U.S. Department of Education’s announced changes [...]

Teenager listens to music while using a tablet
4 MIN READ

20 of the best discounts for college students in 2023

Even small discounts can add up when you’re on a tight college budget.

A group of graduates
6 MIN READ

How to save for college

Several types of saving accounts are available to help your child pay for college.

Hanneh's latest articles

  • Ascent

    You may qualify for an Ascent student loan even if you don't have a co-signer.

    6 min read Aug 19, 2025

  • Navy Federal Personal Loans

    Navy Federal personal loans are best for current members of the credit union and borrowers who meet the membership requirements.

    6 min read Aug 19, 2025

  • Reach Financial Personal Loans

    Reach Financial is best for those who want to consolidate their debt. However, the lender doesn't disclose many of its eligibility requirements and loan details.

    6 min read Aug 19, 2025

  • PenFed Credit Union

    PenFed offers low APRs and fast funding on personal loans from $600 to $35,000, and it doesn’t charge origination fees or a prepayment penalty.

    7 min read Aug 19, 2025