The original deal could be stacked with a automatic payment plan for a total interest rate reduction of 0.75-percent -- available only to Amazon Prime Student subscribers who paid a $49 annual fee. On the surface, it seemed like a good discount, but consumer advocate warned that the Amazon advertising helped to bury the notoriously high interest rates associated with most private educational loans. In any case, the Amazon partnership is no more. Still looking for a loan? Then the old advice is still the best advice: look at federal loans. Their interest rates are always better.