Personal Loans
Personal Loan Rates: Compare Top Lenders in January 2025
Pros
- Accepts borrowers with bad credit or thin credit histories.
- Has a low income requirement.
- Fast approval and funding.
- Allows secured loans.
- Option to change your payment date.
Cons
- Origination fee.
- No rate discounts.
- No joint or co-signed loans.
- No direct payment to creditors on debt-consolidation loans.
Qualifications:
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living in the U.S.
- Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
- Must have a valid email address and Social Security number.
- Must have a full- or part-time job, a full-time job offer starting within six months or another source of regular income.
- Must have a personal bank account at a U.S. financial institution with a routing number. No bankruptcies in the last 12 months.
- No current delinquent accounts on your credit reports.
- Fewer than six hard inquiries on your credit report in the last six months, excluding student, auto and mortgage loans.
- Minimum credit score: None.
- Minimum annual income: $12,000.
The full range of available rates varies by state. A representative example of payment terms for a Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $10,000 for a term of 60 months, with an interest rate of 21.58% and a 9.84% origination fee of $984, for an APR of 26.82%. In this example, the borrower will receive $9016 and will make 60 monthly payments of $275. APR is calculated based on 5-year rates offered in December 2023. There is no downpayment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will be approved. Most borrowers are instantly approved. The majority of unsecured loan borrowers on the Upstart marketplace are able to receive an instant decision upon submitting a completed application, without providing additional supporting documents, however final approval is conditioned upon passing the hard credit inquiry. Loan processing may be subject to longer wait times if additional documentation is required for review. If you accept your loan by 5pm EST (not including weekends or holidays), your funds will be sent on the next business day.
Discover® Personal Loans
Loan term
3 to 7 years
Loan amount
$2.5K – $40K
APR
7.99 – 24.99%
Pros
- No origination fee.
- Fast funding.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Wide variety of repayment term options.
- Available nationwide.
Cons
- No rate discount.
- Late fee.
- No co-sign or joint loan option.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 660.
- Minimum annual household income: $25,000. Income can come from employment, retirement, alimony, child support, Social Security payments and disability benefits.
- Must provide a valid U.S. address and email address.
- Must be 18 years old with a valid Social Security number.
This is not a commitment to lend from Discover Personal Loans. Your APR will be between 7.99% and 24.99% based on creditworthiness at time of application for loan terms of 36-84 months. For example, if you get approved for a $15,000 loan at 12.99% APR for a term of 72 months, you’ll pay just $301 per month. You must have a minimum individual or household annual income of $25,000, be over 18 years of age, and have a valid US SSN to be considered for a Discover personal loan. Loan approval is subject to confirmation that your income, debt-to-income ratio, credit history and application information meet all requirements. Our lowest rates are available to consumers with the best credit. Many factors are used to determine your rate, such as your credit history, application information and the term you select. State restrictions may apply. A Discover personal loan is intended for personal use and cannot be used to pay for post-secondary education, to pay off a secured loan, or to directly pay off a Discover credit card. If your application is approved, we will send funds after you accept the loan. Your bank or creditor may take more days to process the funds. Discover makes loans without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status.
SoFi Personal Loan
Loan term
2 to 7 years
Loan amount
$5K – $100K
APR
8.99 – 29.99%
Pros
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Fast funding.
Large loan amounts. - Joint loan option.
- Mobile app to manage loan.
Cons
- No option to choose initial payment date.
- High minimum loan amount.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent or non-permanent resident, including DACA recipients and asylum seekers.
- Must be employed, have sufficient income from another source, or have an offer of employment to start within the next 90 days.
- Acceptable income sources: Employment, spouse’s income, retirement, alimony, child support, Social Security payments and disability benefits.
Pros
- Secured and joint loans.
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Mobile app to manage loan payments.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Long repayment terms on home improvement loans.
Cons
- Origination fee.
- No option to choose your payment date.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 580.
- Minimum number of accounts on credit history: One account.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 75%, including mortgage payments.
- Minimum length of credit history: Two years.
- Minimum income requirement: None. Lender accepts income from alimony, retirement, child support, Social Security, disability benefits and other sources.
Pros
- Wide range of loan amounts.
- Secured loan options.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Fast funding.
- Free credit score monitoring.
Cons
- Origination fee.
- No rate discounts.
- No mobile app to manage loan.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 600.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 70% including a mortgage.
- Minimum credit history: 3 years and 1 account.
- Acceptable income sources: Employment, household income, alimony, retirement, child support, Social Security payments and disability benefits.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 years of age.
*Trustpilot TrustScore as of June 2024. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender or Blue Ridge Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. The Best Egg Credit Card is issued exclusively by First Bank & Trust, Member FDIC, Brookings SD pursuant to a license by Visa International. Visa is a registered trademark, and the Visa logo design is a trademark of Visa International Incorporated. “Best Egg” is a trademark of Best Egg Technologies, LLC. Offers may be sent pursuant to a joint marketing agreement between Cross River Bank, Blue Ridge Bank, N.A. and/or First Bank & Trust and Marlette Marketing, LLC, a subsidiary of Best Egg, Inc. The term, amount, and APR of any loan we offer to you will depend on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, loan amount, credit history and other factors. Your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. About half of our customers get their money the next day. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. Loan amounts range from $2,000– $50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,500; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001. For a second Best Egg loan, your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 6.99%–35.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0.99%–9.99% of your loan amount, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. The origination fee on a loan term 4-years or longer will be at least 4.99%. Your loan term will impact your APR, which may be higher than our lowest advertised rate. You need a minimum 700 FICO® score and a minimum individual annual income of $100,000 to qualify for our lowest APR. For example: a 5‐year $10,000 loan with 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81, and a 3‐year $5,000 loan with 6.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $152.83. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Best Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. TO REPORT A PROBLEM OR COMPLAINT WITH THIS LENDER, YOU MAY WRITE OR CALL– Operations Manager, Email: crt-resolutions@bestegg.com, Address: P.O. Box 42912, Philadelphia, PA 19101, Phone: 1-855-282-6353. This lender is licensed and regulated by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division, P.O. Box 25101, 2550 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504. To report any unresolved problems or complaints, contact the division by telephone at (505) 476-4885 or visit the website https://www.rld.nm.gov/financial-institutions/
Pros
- Joint loan option.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
- Option to change your payment date.
Cons
- Origination fee.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 600; average borrower score is above 700.
- Minimum income: None; lender requires proof of income. Borrower average is $100,000 per year.
- Maximum DTI: 40%.
- Minimum credit history: 36 months and two accounts.
Pros
- Accepts borrowers across the credit spectrum.
- Low income requirement.
- Fast approval and funding.
- Hardship program for borrowers in need.
- Seven-day customer service availability.
Cons
- Origination fee.
- No co-signed, joint or secured loans.
- No rate discounts.
- No large loan amounts.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 550. Avant uses FICO score version 8.0 and VantageScore version 3.0 from TransUnion.
- Minimum monthly net income: $1,200. This lender accepts income from employment alimony, retirement, child support, Social Security payments or disability benefits.
- Must be a resident of a state where Avant’s loans are available.
- Must provide a Social Security number.
- Must have a personal bank account in your name.
- No active bankruptcies.
Personal loan funds are generally deposited via ACH for delivery next business day if approved by 4:30 pm CT Monday-Friday. Loan amounts range from $2,000 to $35,000. APR ranges from 9.95% to 35.99%. Loan lengths range from 24 to 60 months. Administration fee up to 9.99%. If approved, the actual loan terms that a customer qualifies for may vary based on credit determination, state law, and other factors. Minimum loan amounts vary by state. Administration fee is deducted from the loan proceeds and paid to the Lender. Any administration fee of 5% or less of the initial loan amount is not refundable. Administration fee amount in excess of 5% of the initial loan amount is refundable on a prorated basis over the remaining term of the loan when and if the loan is paid in full prior to its original maturity date. A partial prepayment does not trigger a refund of any administration fee amount. Borrower recognizes that the Administration fee is deemed part of the loan principal and is subject to the accrual of interest. Example: A $5,700 loan with an administration fee of 9.99% and an amount financed of $5,130.57, repayable in 36 monthly installments, would have an APR of 29.95% and monthly payments of $217.66. New Mexico consumer brochure (hyper linked to – https://assets.ctfassets.net/vrxttq978is8/1eS8eJhH54ycK7fhPa7hUk/bd189960ce122598d8c7551d2fb96fad/NM_Consumer_Information_Brochure_and_Loan_Rate_and_Fee_Disclosure.pdf) for common terms and definitions and regulations around rates and fees. Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank.
Universal Credit
Loan term
3 to 5 years
Loan amount
$1K – $50K
APR
11.69 – 35.99%
Pros
- Offers direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Fast funding.
Offers multiple rate discounts. - Offers free credit score access.
Cons
- Charges origination fee.
- Borrowers can choose from only two repayment term options.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 580.
- Minimum number of accounts on credit history: 1 account.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 75%, including mortgage and the loan you’re applying for.
- Minimum length of credit history: 2 years.
- Minimum income requirement: None. Lender accepts income from alimony, retirement, child support, Social Security and other sources.
Best personal loan rates in November 2024
| Lender | APR range | Loan amount | Min. credit score |
|---|---|---|---|
| SoFi | 8.99% - 29.99%. | $5,000 - $100,000. | None. |
| Discover | 7.99% - 24.99%. | $2,500 - $40,000. | 660. |
| LightStream | 6.99% - 25.29%. | $5,000 - $100,000. | 660. |
| Upstart | 7.80% - 35.99%. | $1,000 - $50,000. | None. |
| PNC | 8.19% - 24.99%. | $1,000 - $35,000. | None. |
| Wells Fargo | 7.49% - 23.74%. | $3,000 - $100,000. | None. |
| Achieve | 8.99% - 29.99%. | $5,000 - $50,000. | 640. |
| Best Egg | 7.99% - 35.99%. | $2,000 - $50,000. | 600. |
| LendingPoint | 7.99% - 35.99%. | $1,000 - $36,500. | 640. |