Advertiser Disclosure

Personal Loans

Avant Personal Loan Review

Monday, May 21, 2018

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any financial institution and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication.

Brynne Conroy Brynne Conroy

Who is Avant?

Originally launched under the name AvantCredit, Avant is an online lender that was founded in 2012 in Chicago. The company launched its first loan in February 2013 and has issued over $1 billion in loans to 600,000 borrowers.

Avant primarily issues loans that can be used for debt consolidation, emergency expenses or home improvement costs. It’s unique in that it is willing to work with borrowers who have poor credit.

Over the past several years, the company has been awarded much industry recognition, including being listed as No. 6 on Forbes’ “America’s Most Promising Companies” list in 2015, and No. 5 on PitchBook’s list of fastest companies to reach a $2 billion valuation in 2017.

Avant personal loan highlights

  • Low minimum credit score requirement. With a minimum credit score requirement of 580, Avant is more likely to accept your application. Remember though that when your credit score is lower, you’re more likely to end up at the higher end of the interest rate range. The average Avant borrower has a credit score between 600-700.
  • Administrative fee. Avant does charge an administrative fee of up to Up to 4.75% just to take out your loan. This fee will be subtracted from your total loan amount, so be sure to factor it in when calculating how much you need to borrow.
  • Quick funding. You could have money in your bank account as soon as the day after you apply.
Avant
APR

9.95%
To
35.99%

Credit Req.

Varies

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

24 to 60

months

Fees

Up to 4.75%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank, member FDIC.

Avant has helped over 600,000 customers by providing access to over $3.5 billion in personal loans. Whether you need to improve your home, make a major purchase, or consolidate your debts into one simple monthly payment, Avant may be able to provide you access to the funds you need as soon as next business day! ‡

For Example: A $5,700 loan with an administration fee of 4.75% and an amount financed of $5,429.25, repayable in 36 monthly installments, would have an APR of 29.95% and monthly payments of $230.33.

Avant personal loan details
 

Fees and penalties

  • Terms: 24 to 60 months
  • APR Range: 9.95%-35.99%
  • Loan amounts: $2,000-$35,000
  • Time to funding: As soon as the next business day.
  • Hard pull/soft pull: A Soft Pull will be done initially to provide you with potential loan options. After you select your rate, a hard pull will be done on your credit as you officially apply.
  • Origination fee: Administrative fee of Up to 4.75%
  • Prepayment fee: None
  • Late payment fee: $25 if your payment is 10+ days late
  • Other fees: $15 fee if your payment is returned

You can qualify for an Avant personal loan if you’re self-employed. Instead of providing your W-2 paperwork as proof of income, you will have to provide two years of full tax returns so Avant can verify how much money you bring in per year.

Eligibility requirements

  • Minimum credit score: 580
  • Minimum credit history: Avant judges each application on a variety of different credit criteria, though the average borrower has a credit score between 600-700.

You must have a checking or savings account in order to qualify for a loan with Avant. This account must allow you to do automatic payments. This account must be a personal account; Avant cannot currently lend to you if you’re using a business account.

Applying for a personal loan from Avant

Definitely take advantage of Avant’s Soft Pull option, where you can get a sense of your loan options before you officially apply and let them perform a hard credit inquiry. When you apply for a loan with Avant, you will want to come armed with some basic information like your name, address and Social Security number. If you’re someone’s employee, you’ll want to know where your pay stubs are from the past 30 days. If you’re self-employed, expect to be asked for your tax returns from the past two years.

Regardless of if you’re a W-2 or 1099 worker, you will have to provide your bank account information, including routing number and account number. Sometimes, Avant can use this information alone to verify your income, saving you the hassle of scanning in your taxes or pay stubs. You won’t know until you apply, though.

After you apply, you’ll be offered a rate. If you accept, Avant will do a hard pull on your credit, confirming the final details. If you are approved, you could see money in your account as soon as the next day.

Pros and cons of an Avant personal loan

Pros:

Cons:

  • Competitive interest rates for lower credit scores. Among lenders that extend credit to those with lower credit scores, Avant’s interest rates are about average. Keep in mind that if your credit score is low, though, you’re more likely to fall into the higher end of the interest rate range anyway.
  • Fast access to your money. You may be able to get your loan disbursed as soon as the next day.
  • No prepayment penalty. You can pay off your Avant personal loan early — saving you interest — without incurring a fee for prepayment.
  • Better options for higher credit scores. If you do have a higher credit score, Avant’s starting rates of 9.95% pale in comparison with lenders who target borrowers with a better credit history.
  • Origination fee. While Avant’s origination fee is lower than some of their competitors, the fact that they have a fee at all is still a negative. If you have poor credit, however, it can be tricky to find a lender that doesn’t charge such a fee.
  • You have to link up your bank account. Linking your bank account is a pretty standard way to pay your bills, and most marketplace lenders will prefer you do it this way. But if you’re uncomfortable linking your checking or savings to Avant for automatic payments, this could be a negative as it is required to qualify for one of their personal loans.

Who’s the best fit for an Avant personal loan

Among lenders who issue personal loans in this credit score range, Avant’s starting interest rates are near average. If you have a lower credit score, you should make Avant one of the companies you look at first, along with credit unions that allow you to apply online.

However, if you have a good or great credit score, you’ll likely be able to get a better interest rate elsewhere. Whichever category you fall into, you should be sure to shop around before you commit.

Alternative personal loan options

Lending Club

Lending Club
APR

6.16%
To
35.89%

Credit Req.

600

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

1.00% - 6.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

LendingClub is a great tool for borrowers that can offer competitive interest rates and approvals for people with credit scores as low as 600.... Read More

Marcus by Goldman Sachs®

Marcus by Goldman Sachs®
APR

6.99%
To
24.99%

Credit Req.

Varies

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 72

months

Fees

No origination fee

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Marcus by Goldman Sachs® offers personal loans for up to $40,000 for debt consolidation and credit consolidation. ... Read More

If your budget is stretched thin, the fact that Marcus by Goldman Sachs® offers 36 to 72 month terms which may be exciting news for you as it generally means lower monthly payments. Just remember that when you stretch a loan out over a longer period of time, you end up paying more in interest over the life of your loan — even if you’re paying less per month.

Earnest

Earnest
APR

5.49%
To
18.24%

Credit Req.

660

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 60

months

Fees

No origination fee

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Instead of offering credit-based loans, Earnest has taken a very nontraditional approach using a merit-based system.... Read More

Earnest is a better option if you have a higher credit score. Their interest rate range is lower, and there is No origination fee or administrative fees. The minimum credit score requirement of 660 is significantly higher than Avant’s minimum of 580, though.

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

Brynne Conroy
Brynne Conroy |

Brynne Conroy is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Brynne here

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Advertiser Disclosure Comments

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Personal Loans

loanDepot Personal Loan Review

Monday, July 16, 2018

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any financial institution and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication.

Taylor Gordon Taylor Gordon

What is loanDepot?

loanDepot is a national non-bank lender that’s headquartered in Southern California. Launched in 2010, loanDepot has funded over $125 billion in personal loans, mortgages and home equity loans.

The loanDepot business model focuses on customer service and transparency. The chairman and CEO of loanDepot, Anthony Hsieh, has quite a bit of experience in the financial industry having played a major role in the development of LoansDirect.com, E*TRADE Mortgage, and LendingTree. (Disclosure: MagnifyMoney is owned by LendingTree.)

Personal loans through loanDepot are unsecured, meaning they require no collateral, and come with fixed interest rates. You can use loans for financial needs like car purchases, debt consolidation, home improvement, medical bills and special occasions.

In this review, we’ll dig into the loanDepot product including the costs and who this loan will benefit.

loanDepot personal loan highlights

  • Substantial origination fee: The fee to borrow from loanDepot is 1.00% - 5.00%. This fee is deducted from loan proceeds so be sure to consider the fee when choosing a loan amount.
  • Competitive rates: loanDepot offers rates from 6.17% to 29.00%, which is very competitive in the online lending space. We will cover some other competitor interest rates in the comparison section below.
  • Soft Pull available for rate quote: You can get a rate quote with just a soft pull that doesn’t affect your credit score.
  • Funding can take a week or more: The application process alone can take two to three days. After getting approved, funding could take an additional two to three days.
loanDepot
APR

6.17%
To
29.00%

Credit Req.

640

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

1.00% - 5.00%

APPLY NOW Secured

on loanDepot’s secure website

loanDepot offers personal loans that carry no prepayment penalty and a 15-day grace period. They offer some of the lowest APRs available on personal loans that can go up to $35,000. While these loans and rates are available for most areas, there is a lot of fine print and you may find that loans are not available in your location based on the rate that you receive.

loanDepot personal loan details
 

Fees and penalties

  • Terms: 36 or 60 months
  • APR Range: 6.17% to 29.00%
  • Loan amounts: $5,000 to $35,000
  • Time to Funding: Once approved it can take 2 to 3 business days to get money.
  • Hard pull/soft pull: A soft pull is required to do a preapproval.
  • Origination fee: There’s an origination fee of 1.00% - 5.00%, and it’s deducted from the loan funds before you get the money.
  • Prepayment fee: None
  • Late payment fee: There’s a $15 fee for late or failed payments. However, loanDepot does give you a 15-day grace period. You get charged the late fee on the 16th day of your payment being late.

loanDepot benefits

loanDepot has a Knowledge Cafe with several educational articles and videos on loan products and personal finance topics to help consumers make informed financial decisions.

In addition to personal loans, loanDepot has such a large mortgage lending division that it’s worth quickly highlighting. loanDepot offers mortgages for new purchases, refinances and home equity loans. Loyal loanDepot mortgage customers also get a special perk called the Lifetime Guarantee. After financing a home with loanDepot, lender fees on subsequent mortgages are waived plus appraisal fees are reimbursed when you refinance.

Eligibility requirements

  • Minimum credit score: 640
  • Minimum credit history: loanDepot will accept borrowers with fair credit or better. The lowest interest rates are given to borrowers with the best credit. loanDepot will look at items including your credit reports, payment history, outstanding debt and scores to make a decision.
  • Maximum debt-to-income ratio: TBD

You need to be at least 18 years old (or 19 years old in Alabama and Nebraska). Applicants need to be U.S. citizens or documented U.S. permanent residents. You must also have verifiable income, a verifiable bank account and a valid email address to apply.

Loan restrictions

There are some state-related restrictions. loanDepot loans are not currently available in West Virginia. All loans in Massachusetts have to be greater than $6,001, and loans in Ohio have to be greater than $5,001.

Here are a few APR restrictions:

  • Residents of Connecticut need to qualify for a rate of less than 12% APR to be considered
  • Residents of New Hampshire who need a loan less than $10,000 have to qualify for an APR of 10% or less to be considered
  • Residents of New York have to qualify for an APR of less than 16% to be considered
  • Residents of Vermont have to qualify for an APR of 12% or less to be considered

Applying for a personal loan from loanDepot

The application process for loanDepot happens in three stages:

Pre-qualify online. Go to the loanDepot website to start the pre-qualification process. This pre-qualification doesn’t affect your credit score. There’s also the option to call a consumer lending specialist to pre-qualify over the phone if you prefer.

Application verification. If you decide to accept a loan offer, you will need to provide more information like your Social Security number, employment information and bank account to go through the verification stage. Verification can take two to three days. This stage is to confirm the information you put in your application. Additional documents may be required like bank statements, W-2s and pay stubs.

Loan funding. The loan will be deposited into your bank account once the application is approved. Loan funding can take two to three business days after verification.

Pros and cons of a loanDepot personal loan

Pros:

Cons:

  • Interest rates are comparable to competitors. Interest rates from loanDepot (6.17% to 29.00% APR) are in line with interest rates from other online lenders. Typically, the very lowest starting rates available are around the 3% to 6% APR range.
  • Fair credit may be accepted. loanDepot does mention that the very best rates are for people with excellent credit. However, there is a chance you could qualify for a loan, albeit with a higher interest rate, if you have fair bordering on good credit.
  • Only a soft pull is required for a rate quote. Lenders who offer a soft pull for a rate check help you shop for the best loan without multiple hard inquiries. You can compare personal loans here; this list notes other lenders who also offer a soft pull.
  • The origination fee. Be mindful of the origination fee here. The 1.00% - 5.00% that loanDepot has is comparable to that of other lenders who charge a fee. With that said, it’s possible to qualify for a personal loan that doesn’t have an origination fee depending on your credit. We’ll cover a no-fee lender below for a comparison.
  • Some state restrictions. loanDepot has limitations for various states. Residents of West Virginia can’t apply for the loanDepot loan at all. Massachusetts and Ohio have limits on loan amounts, and Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont have APR restrictions.
  • Limited loan amounts available. You can borrow between $5,000 and $35,000. This may not be the right loan if you need a smaller or larger amount.

Who’s the best fit for a loanDepot personal loan?

A loanDepot personal loan is a decent option for those with fair credit or better who need to borrow between $5,000 and $35,000. loanDepot offers terms of 36 or 60 months, giving you a decent amount of time to repay your loan. Interest rates are low and fixed, making this loan one to put at the top of your loan shopping list.

The main drawback is the origination fee especially for people who have above average or excellent credit (740+). People in this range may be able to qualify for a loan that doesn’t have any origination fee at all. A no-fee loan could save you a nice chunk of money. For example, if you borrow $10,000 from loanDepot to consolidate debt, you’ll pay $100 to $500 in fees. Go with a no-fee lender instead and you keep that savings in your pocket.

Fees aside, the funding time for loanDepot could be a week or more. If you need money quickly, you need to turn in all supporting documents for your application promptly because your diligence could speed up the funding process.

Whenever you’re ready to borrow, shop around with multiple lenders. We share some of the top personal loans, including several that have no fees, in our personal loan roundup here.

Alternative personal loan options

LendingClub

Lending Club
APR

6.16%
To
35.89%

Credit Req.

600

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

1.00% - 6.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

LendingClub is a great tool for borrowers that can offer competitive interest rates and approvals for people with credit scores as low as 600.... Read More

Lending Club is a peer-to-peer lender that offers loans of Lending Club to $40,000. Peer-to-peer lending is when you borrow from investors instead of traditional funding sources. Despite the P2P lending aspect, there are many similarities between LendingClub and loanDepot. LendingClub, like loanDepot, is an option for borrowers who have less than perfect credit. You may even be able to qualify for a LendingClub loan with a lower credit score. LendingClub also has an origination fee, and funding can take as much as seven days.

SoFi

SoFi
APR

6.58%
To
14.87%

Credit Req.

680

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 84

months

Fees

No origination fee

APPLY NOW Secured

on SoFi’s secure website

Advertiser Disclosure

SoFi offers some of the best rates and terms on the market. ... Read More

Fixed rates from 6.58% APR to 14.87% APR (with AutoPay). Variable rates from 6.275% APR to 12.575% APR (with AutoPay). SoFi rate ranges are current as of July 16, 2018 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See Personal Loan eligibility details. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. If approved for a loan, to qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, years of professional experience, income and other factors. See APR examples and terms. Interest rates on variable rate loans are capped at 14.95%. Lowest variable rate of 6.275% APR assumes current 1-month LIBOR rate of 2.10% plus 4.175% margin minus 0.25% AutoPay discount. For the SoFi variable rate loan, the 1-month LIBOR index will adjust monthly and the loan payment will be re-amortized and may change monthly. APRs for variable rate loans may increase after origination if the LIBOR index increases. The SoFi 0.25% AutoPay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Minimum Credit Score: Not all applicants who meet SoFi’s minimum credit score requirements are approved for a personal loan. In addition to meeting SoFi’s minimum eligibility criteria, applicants must also meet other credit and underwriting requirements to qualify.

SoFi Personal Loans are not available to residents of MS. Maximum interest rate on loans for residents of AK, OK, and WY is 9.99% APR, for residents of IL with loans over $40,000 is 8.99% APR, for residents of TX is 9.99% APR on terms greater than 5 years, for residents of CO, CT, HI, KS, VA, SC is 11.99% APR, and for residents of ME is 12.24% APR. Personal loans not available to residents of MI who already have a student loan with SoFi. Personal Loans minimum loan amount is $5,000. Residents of AZ, MA, and NH have a minimum loan amount of $10,001. Residents of KY have a minimum loan amount of $15,001. Residents of PA have a minimum loan amount of $25,001. Variable rates not available to residents of AK, OK, TX, VA, WY, or for residents of IL for loans greater than $40,000.

Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in an eligible state and meet SoFi's underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, a responsible financial history, years of experience, income and other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS # 1121636. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

SoFi is one lender that has no origination fee. There’s no specified minimum credit score. However, SoFi generally lends to borrowers who have at least good credit. You can borrow large amounts from SoFi ($5,000 to $100,000). There are also multiple loan terms to choose from — 36 to 84 months. As an added benefit, SoFi offers loan perks like employment protection if you lose your job.

Upgrade

Upgrade
APR

6.87%
To
35.97%

Credit Req.

620

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

1.00% - 6.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Loans made through Upgrade feature APRs of 6.87%-35.97%. All loans have a 1% to 6% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay. For example, a $10,000 loan with a 36 month term and a 17.97% APR (which includes a 5% origination fee) has a required monthly payment of $343.28. Upgrade is available in all states except: Connecticut, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, West Virginia.

Upgrade is a lender that offers personal loans with a minimum credit score that’s also welcoming to people who have less than perfect credit. Interest rates are competitive like loanDepot. There’s also an origination fee that’s comparable to what loanDepot charges. You can borrow from $1,000 to $50,000 so this could be a better option if you need access to more money.

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

Taylor Gordon
Taylor Gordon |

Taylor Gordon is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Taylor here

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plloan

Personal Loans AD

Get A Pre-Approved Personal Loan

$

Won’t impact your credit score

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Getting Approved For 1 Of These Credit Cards Means You Have Excellent Credit

Getting Approved For 1 Of These Credit Cards Means You Have Excellent Credit

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Advertiser Disclosure Comments

Advertiser Disclosure

Personal Loans

NetCredit Personal Loan Review

Monday, July 16, 2018

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any financial institution and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication.

Brynne Conroy Brynne Conroy

What is NetCredit?

NetCredit is a subsidiary of Chicago-based Enova International Inc., which launched its online business in the U.S. in 2004 and added NetCredit in 2012. Enova also offers CashNetUSA consumer loans to subprime borrowers and small business loans through The Business Backer and Headway Capital.

NetCredit is aimed at “near-prime” borrowers, meaning you can qualify for its unsecured personal loans even with poor credit and won’t have to put up any collateral to gain approval. Because NetCredit must follow state-specific lending laws, which limit interest rates and control origination fees, its terms vary from state to state.

NetCredit personal loan highlights

  • No prepayment penalties. There is no fee for paying off your loan early. This allows you to get rid of your debt as quickly as possible, and limits the amount of interest you will pay long term.
  • High interest rates. The maximum interest rate on a NetCredit personal loan can be as high as 179.00%, though that max is lower in some states (155% in Wisconsin versus 59% in Georgia). The 179.00% rate is high, especially considering that Enova customers have credit scores between 500 and 680. If you have a score of 580 or better, shop around as it’s highly likely that you can get lower rates elsewhere.
NetCredit
APR

34.00%
To
179.00%

Credit Req.

500

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

6 to 60

months

Fees

0.00% - 5.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on NetCredit’s secure website

NetCredit personal loan details
 

Fees and penalties

  • Terms: 6 to 60 months
  • APR range: 34.00%-179.00%
  • Loan amounts: $1,000-$10,000
  • Time to funding: 1-4 business days
  • Hard pull/soft pull: Soft Pull
  • Origination fee: 0.00% - 5.00%
  • Prepayment fee: None
  • Late payment fee: $10-$15. In some states, you will be charged 5% of your late payment if that would be less than the $10-$15 fee. This fee will be charged if you’re 10 or more days late in most states, though in some states you’ll get a grace period of up to 15 days.
  • Other fees: None

If you joined active-duty military after taking out a NetCredit personal loan, you may be eligible to have your interest rate reduced under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This law requires lenders to reduce the rate of interest on installment agreements to 6% if the loan was taken out prior to entering active duty. You may also qualify for SCRA protection if you are the dependent of an active-duty servicemember.

Because of the Military Lending Act that governs consumer loans obtained by active-duty servicemembers, Enova says certain loans may be unavailable to military families.

Eligibility requirements

  • Minimum credit score: The average Enova customer has a credit score between 500 and 680.
  • Minimum credit history: Enova looks at credit score when evaluating potential borrowers but says key factors it considers are income, length of employment and how long you have lived at your current address.
  • Maximum debt-to-income ratio: Enova will consider outstanding debts when considering loan applications.

NetCredit only issues loans to residents of the following 14 states:

  • Alabama
  • California
  • Delaware
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Missouri
  • North Dakota
  • New Mexico
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Virginia
  • Wisconsin

Applying for a personal loan from NetCredit

To get started on your NetCredit personal loan, you will first have to check your eligibility. During this stage of the process, you will be asked for basic identification information like your name, address and Social Security number. You’ll also have to provide information about how much you’d like to borrow, and the income with which you plan to repay the loan. NetCredit will do a soft pull on your credit to check eligibility; a soft pull does not affect your credit score.

You’ll immediately find out if you were deemed eligible. You’ll then be able to select the loan term and sign a loan agreement. Many borrowers have their final agreement approved the same day, but if NetCredit needs you to provide supporting documentation or additional information, the process could take up to three days. At this point, NetCredit will do a hard pull on your credit, which may lower your score. Once your final agreement is approved, your funding should be available the next business day.

Pros and cons of a NetCredit personal loan

Pros:

Cons:

  • Quick financing. As long as you submit any requested documentation or information in a timely manner, your loan may be funded as soon as the business day following final loan approval.
  • Low minimum credit score requirement. While meeting the minimum credit score requirement is just one factor in the approval process, the fact that Enova will dip as low as 500 in certain cases ups your odds of approval.
  • Standard fees. Though NetCredit does charge an origination fee for residents of some states, this practice is fairly standard. It is notable that they do not charge a prepayment penalty, or any other punitive fees outside of late fees.
  • High rates. NetCredit charges extremely high rates given their credit requirements. If you’re at the higher end of Enova’s average customer credit score, it’s highly recommended that you do some comparison shopping as you are likely to find a better offer somewhere else.
  • Limited availability. Currently, NetCredit only operates in 14 states.
  • Origination fee. Depending on the state you live in, you may be charged an origination fee, which will reduce the amount you can borrow.

Who’s the best fit for a NetCredit personal loan?

If you have a credit score hovering around 580 or lower and cannot get approved anywhere else, NetCredit may be a match for you. Be sure to carefully consider if taking out the loan is worth it, though. With such high interest rates, you may be better off delaying whatever purchase you’re making and saving the money up yourself.

Alternative personal loan options

At the very least, comparison shop. There are lenders out there who work with scores below even the 580 mark, and they do so with lower interest rates.

Apple Federal Credit Union

Apple Federal Credit Union
APR

9.24%
To
16.99%

Credit Req.

560

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

60

months

Fees

No origination fee

APPLY NOW Secured

on Apple Federal Credit Union’s secure website

Apple Federal Credit Union offers a variety of benefits that are included with their personal loans, including no early payoff penalties, lump-sum funding, fixed rate payments and maximum loans amounts of $50,000.... Read More


A good place to look for lower rates is at credit unions. Apple Federal Credit Union offers personal loans to those with credit scores of 560 or above. While there is no origination fee, the term can potentially be longer, up to 60 months. Membership is restricted to those who live in certain parts of Virginia, attend certain schools or colleges there or are employees of “select employer groups.”

OneMain Financial

OneMain Financial
APR

16.05%
To
35.99%

Credit Req.

Varies

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

24 to 60

months

Fees

Varies

APPLY NOW Secured

on OneMain Financial’s secure website

If you have a credit score below 600, OneMain Financial is one of the few lenders that you can use to get a personal loan.... Read More


OneMain Financial is another lender that works with those on the lower end of the credit scale with rates far lower than NetCredit. Like NetCredit, OneMain takes more than credit score into account when evaluating potential borrowers.

LendingPoint

LendingPoint
APR

15.49%
To
35.99%

Credit Req.

585

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

24 to 48

months

Fees

Fee Varies

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

LendingPoint offers personal loans for a wide variety of reasons, including paying for home repairs, consolidating credit card debt, or to make a large purchase. Their online process can help you to quickly apply for a personal loan, get qualified, and receive funding. While their interest rates can be higher than others, they do offer fast approval and can transfer funds to your bank account in 24 hours.


LendingPoint prides itself on serving those with lower credit scores. Though its website says customers have credit scores in the 600s, Chief Marketing Officer Mark Lorimer says customers may qualify with scores as low as 585. To top it off, terms are 24 to 48 months, potentially making the term as long as NetCredit’s with a dramatically lower interest rate.

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

Brynne Conroy
Brynne Conroy |

Brynne Conroy is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Brynne here

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Personal Loans

Align Personal Loan Review

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any financial institution and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication.

Dan Rafter Dan Rafter

Want a personal loan, but you’re worried about the high-interest rates you might face? There is an alternative: You can enter into an income-share agreement.

Chicago-based Align personal loan Income Share Funding is one source of this type of loan. The company has been providing income-share agreements since its founding in 2011.

These loans are unusual because they don’t come with a set interest rate. Instead, you pay a percentage of your yearly income every year for a set number of years, paying back what you originally borrowed plus more.

In this review, we’ll explain how Align works and whether it might be a good fit for you.

Align personal loan highlights

  • It’s not really a loan: What Align offers isn’t a personal loan in the traditional sense. Again, it’s a income-share agreement in which what you pay each month is based on a percentage of your personal income. The company can charge up to 10.00% of your income.
  • When your income rises, so does your loan payment. Align requires you to contact the company when your income rises. The company will request your W-2 forms at the end of each year to review your income and to make sure that you are paying the correct amount.
  • Variable terms: Your contract with Align can last from 2 to 84 months. If you enter into an income-share agreement to borrow $6,000 over five years, Align will work your payments so that you pay back the entire amount you’ve borrowed, plus more, by the time your five-year contract ends; that “plus more” part is how Align makes its money.
  • Early payoff is OK. You can cancel your contract earlier by paying an agreed-upon sum. Your contract will include the amount you’d have to pay to buy out your contract at any time.
Align personal loan
APR

10.00%

Credit Req.

Varies

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

2 to 84

months

Fees

None

APPLY NOW Secured

on Align Personal Loan’s secure website

Align personal loan details
 

Fees and penalties

  • Terms: Align states that its income-share agreements run from 2 to 84 months; however, that may depend on your location. In some locations it states that terms can run from two to five years.
  • APR range: Align doesn’t charge traditional interest rates on its loans. Instead, it charges a percentage of your income, no more than 10.00%. Say you make $40,000 a year. You might agree to spend 3 percent of your income each year to repay your loan, or $1,200. If you borrow $4,000 and you sign an agreement to pay back your loan over four years, you’d pay end up paying a total of $4,800, or $800 more than what you initially borrowed.
  • Loan amounts: Align will loan you a maximum of $12,500.
  • Time to funding: Align says that you once you sign your contract, it can deposit funds in your bank account in one to three business days.
  • Hard pull or soft pull? Soft Pull. You can get a quote for an income-share agreement on Align’s website and it will not impact your credit score.
  • Origination fee: Align does not charge origination fees.
  • Prepayment fee: Align also charges no prepayment fees.

There are no limits on how you can use your funds from an Align income-share agreement. You can use the dollars for everything from consolidating high-interest-rate credit card debt to paying for home repairs or a dream vacation.

Align is flexible, too, when it comes to determining your income. As the company’s Web site says, anything listed in box 1 of your annual W2 form can be considered income.

Eligibility requirements

Align doesn’t say much about the minimum credit scores or debt-to-income ratio you will need to qualify for an one of their income-share contracts. Their site, though, does say that Align looks at your income, creditworthiness, job and location when determining whether to approve your request for funds.

How Align’s income-share agreement works

This yearly percentage is broken up into monthly payments. Say you borrow $8,000 from Align and you earn $30,000 a year. If you agree to pay back your loan at 10 percent of your yearly salary for three years, you’d pay Align $3,000 a year, at $250 a month. After the three-year repayment period has ended, you’d end up paying a total of $9,000, or $1,000 more than you borrowed.

When you set up your contract, you pick a date on which you want to pay each month. Align then automatically deducts that amount from your checking account.

What’s interesting about this is that as your income changes, so can your monthly payment. If your income goes up, the percentage you contribute will remain the same. But because your income is increasing, the overall amount you pay will jump, too.

It works the other way, too. Align says that if your income falls, you will pay less. If you become unemployed and you have no income, your monthly payment could potentially fall to zero. If you become unemployed, you will have to submit proof that you are not working, such a notice from your former employer or documents showing you are receiving unemployment benefits.

Applying for an income-share contract from Align

Applying for a loan from Align is a simple process. Just click on the “Apply Now” button on the company’s home page. Once you do, you’ll be asked to provide your name, date of birth, Social Security number, email address, physical address and phone number.

Align will also ask for your gross yearly income, your income source and the industry in which you work. You’ll also need to provide your education level, your estimated credit score, the amount you’d like to borrow and what you want the money for.

After filling in this information, you then submit your application for an online quote. If you are interested, you can contact Align to speak with a representative who will verify your income, job status and credit. Once this is done, Align will make you an official offer stating how much it is willing to lend you at what percentage of your yearly income. Align will also state how many years you will make payments, and how much you will pay each month and each year to pay off the money it loans you.

If you like the offer, you sign your contract. Align will then deposit your funds into your bank account in one to three business days.

Pros and cons of a Align personal loan

Pros:

Cons:

  • No interest rates: Align doesn’t charge interest rates for its loans. However, you will have to pay a percentage of your annual income for a set number of years to pay back your loan.
  • No origination fees: Applying for a loan at Align is free. The company also doesn’t charge you for the work involved in originating your loan.
  • Protection if you lose your job: How much you pay is based on how much you earn, so you won’t have to make any payments if you lose your job and your income.
  • Applying is fast: You won’t have to meet in person with a lender to get your money. You can start the process online. You will have to speak with a representative to verify your financial information.
  • You might pay significantly more than you borrowed: Because of the payment structure with Align’s loans, if your income rises, you will pay more each month. If your income rises significantly, you could end up paying much more than what you initially borrowed. However, Align does require that you contact the company when your income rises. The company will request your W-2 forms at the end of each year to review your income and to make sure that you are paying the correct amount.
  • Uncertainty: Your monthly payment can vary because Align charges you a percentage of your gross income to lend you money. If your income fluctuates, your monthly payment will, too. This can be challenging when you are making a household budget.
  • Not everyone is guaranteed acceptance: Align does look at your credit score, income and employment status when determining who qualifies for dollars. There is no guarantee, then, that Align will loan you any money.
  • You can break your contract, but it will cost you: You can break your contract with Align before your term ends. This will cost you, though. Align lists in your contract the amount of money you’d have to pay to buy the company out throughout the life of your loan.

Who’s the best fit for an Align loan?

An Align loan can work for people who aren’t afraid of a little uncertainty and are worried about high interest rates. Because Align charges a percentage of your income, your monthly payments can increase or decrease. If you don’t mind this uncertainty, an Align income-share agreement might be a good choice.

This loan type might work, too, if you have a relatively low income. But if your income is high, or if you expect it to rise in the near future, this loan type might not be a good fit — your monthly payment could jump too high.

Alternative personal loan options

Lending Club

Lending Club
APR

6.16%
To
35.89%

Credit Req.

600

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

1.00% - 6.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

LendingClub is a great tool for borrowers that can offer competitive interest rates and approvals for people with credit scores as low as 600.... Read More

Lending Club is an online lender providing personal loans up to $40,000. Unlike Align, LendingClub provides traditional loans with a fixed interest rate. This means that your payments remain the same every month, a benefit when you are making a household budget. LendingClub does not charge prepayment penalties, but it does have an origination fee between 1.00% - 6.00%. Anyone seeking more certainty with their loan payments should explore this option.

SoFi

SoFi
APR

6.58%
To
14.87%

Credit Req.

680

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 84

months

Fees

No origination fee

APPLY NOW Secured

on SoFi’s secure website

Advertiser Disclosure

SoFi offers some of the best rates and terms on the market. ... Read More

Fixed rates from 6.58% APR to 14.87% APR (with AutoPay). Variable rates from 6.275% APR to 12.575% APR (with AutoPay). SoFi rate ranges are current as of July 16, 2018 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See Personal Loan eligibility details. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. If approved for a loan, to qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, years of professional experience, income and other factors. See APR examples and terms. Interest rates on variable rate loans are capped at 14.95%. Lowest variable rate of 6.275% APR assumes current 1-month LIBOR rate of 2.10% plus 4.175% margin minus 0.25% AutoPay discount. For the SoFi variable rate loan, the 1-month LIBOR index will adjust monthly and the loan payment will be re-amortized and may change monthly. APRs for variable rate loans may increase after origination if the LIBOR index increases. The SoFi 0.25% AutoPay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Minimum Credit Score: Not all applicants who meet SoFi’s minimum credit score requirements are approved for a personal loan. In addition to meeting SoFi’s minimum eligibility criteria, applicants must also meet other credit and underwriting requirements to qualify.

SoFi Personal Loans are not available to residents of MS. Maximum interest rate on loans for residents of AK, OK, and WY is 9.99% APR, for residents of IL with loans over $40,000 is 8.99% APR, for residents of TX is 9.99% APR on terms greater than 5 years, for residents of CO, CT, HI, KS, VA, SC is 11.99% APR, and for residents of ME is 12.24% APR. Personal loans not available to residents of MI who already have a student loan with SoFi. Personal Loans minimum loan amount is $5,000. Residents of AZ, MA, and NH have a minimum loan amount of $10,001. Residents of KY have a minimum loan amount of $15,001. Residents of PA have a minimum loan amount of $25,001. Variable rates not available to residents of AK, OK, TX, VA, WY, or for residents of IL for loans greater than $40,000.

Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in an eligible state and meet SoFi's underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, a responsible financial history, years of experience, income and other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS # 1121636. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

SoFi is another popular source of personal loans. This online lender also provides traditional loans, with interest rates lower than many lenders because it primarily targets borrowers with good credit. SoFi charges no origination fee or prepayment fees and temporarily pauses your payments if you lose your job.

Payoff

Payoff
APR

8.00%
To
25.00%

Credit Req.

640

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

24 to 60

months

Fees

2.00% - 5.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

The entire goal of Payoff is to help you pay down your debt and they typically don’t like being described as a loan company. They offer a quick, easy, and digital process for getting a personal loan and consolidating your credit card debt. If you have poor credit, little credit, or are continuing to take on more debt every month, you will find it difficult to get approved.

Another online lender, Payoff lets you apply online for a personal loan. The company charges no application fees, and applying does not impact your credit score. You can choose a loan amount between $5,000 to $35,000 and terms from 24 to 60 months.

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

Dan Rafter
Dan Rafter |

Dan Rafter is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Dan here

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Featured, Personal Loans, Reviews

Marcus by Goldman Sachs Review: GS Bank Takes on Online Savings, CDs, and Personal Loans

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any financial institution and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication.

Lindsay VanSomeren Lindsay VanSomeren

Year Established1990
Total Assets$171.7B

LEARN MORE on Goldman Sachs Bank USA’s secure website

Most Americans probably think of fancy white-collar stock traders on Wall Street when they think of Goldman Sachs, a global investment firm that’s been around since the late 19th century.

In recent years, Goldman made a major pivot, launching a new arm of the company called GS Bank, which would provide internet-only savings accounts to the masses.

They also launched Marcus by Goldman Sachs®, a line of personal loans. Eventually, they decided to rebrand their savings account business, putting it under the Marcus umbrella as well.

Today, through Marcus, you’ll find three product offerings: personal loans, savings accounts, and CDs.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into all three products. We’ll tell you what you need to know before opening an account, including what rates they are offering.
Goldman Sachs Bank USA’s Most Popular Accounts

APY

Account Type

Account Name

3.00%

CD Rates

Goldman Sachs Bank USA High-yield 5 Year CD

LEARN MORE Secured

on Goldman Sachs Bank USA’s secure website

2.55%

CD Rates

Goldman Sachs Bank USA High-yield 3 Year CD

LEARN MORE Secured

on Goldman Sachs Bank USA’s secure website

2.30%

CD Rates

Goldman Sachs Bank USA High-yield 12 Month CD

LEARN MORE Secured

on Goldman Sachs Bank USA’s secure website

1.80%

Savings

Goldman Sachs Bank USA High-yield Online Savings Account

LEARN MORE Secured

on Goldman Sachs Bank USA’s secure website

Marcus by Goldman Sachs savings account

A very high interest rate and no fees make this one of the best savings accounts out there.

APY

Minimum Balance Amount

1.80%

None

As of 7/10/2018

  • Minimum opening deposit: None. However, you’ll need to deposit at least $1.00 if you want to earn any interest
  • Monthly account maintenance fee: None
  • ATM fee: N/A
  • ATM fee refund: N/A
  • Overdraft fee: None

This is a great account for almost anyone. However, before you click that “Learn More” button below, there are a couple of things to know.

No ATMs. First, Marcus by Goldman Sachs doesn’t offer ATM access to your savings account. You’ll either need to deposit or withdraw money by sending in a physical check, setting up direct deposits, or by moving the money to and from your other bank accounts via ACH or wire transfer.

No checking account. Second, Marcus does’t offer a corresponding checking account. That means you can only use this account as an external place to park your cash from your everyday money flow.

Keeping a separate savings account does have its benefits. For example, it’s harder to tempt yourself to withdraw the cash if you’re a chronic over-spender. But, it also means that there might be a delay of a few days if you need to transfer the money out of your Goldman Sachs online savings account and into your other checking account.

How to open a Goldman Sachs online savings account

It’s really easy to open an online savings account with Marcus by Goldman Sachs. You can do it online or over the phone as long as you’re 18 years or older, have a physical street address, and a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

You’ll be required to sign a form which you can do online, or by mail if you’re opening the account over the phone.

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How their online savings account compares

Marcus’ online savings account can easily be described with one word: outstanding.

You’ll get a relatively high interest rate with this account, which is among the best online savings account rates you’ll find today. In fact, these rates are currently over seven times higher than the average savings account interest rate.

Even better, this account won’t charge you any fees for the privilege of keeping your money stashed there. It’s a tall order to find another bank that offers these high interest rates with terms this good.

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Marcus by Goldman Sachs CD rates

Sky-high CD rates, but watch out for early withdrawal limitations.

Term

APY

Minimum Deposit Amount

6 months

0.60%

$500

9 months

0.70%

$500

12 months

2.30%

$500

18 months

2.35%

$500

24 months

2.45%

$500

3 years

2.55%

$500

4 years

2.60%

$500

5 years

3.00%

$500

6 years

3.10%

$500

As of 7/10/2018

  • Minimum opening deposit: $500
  • Minimum balance amount to earn APY: $500
  • Early withdrawal penalty:
    • For CDs under 12 months, 90 days’ worth of interest
    • For CDs of 12 months to 5 years, 270 days’ worth of interest
    • For CDs of 5 years or over, 365 days’ worth of interest

Marcus’ CDs work a little differently from other CDs. Rather than having to set up and fund your account all at once, Goldman Sachs will give you 30 days to fully fund your account.

Once open, your interest will be tallied up and credited to your CD account each month. You can withdraw the interest earned at any time without paying an early withdrawal penalty, but heads up: If you withdraw the interest, your returns will be lower than the stated APY when you opened your account.

If you need to withdraw the money from your CD, you can only do so by pulling out the entire CD balance and paying the required early withdrawal penalty. There is no option for partial withdrawals of your cash.

Finally, once your CD has fully matured, you’ll have a 10-day grace period to withdraw the money, add more funds, and/or switch to a different CD term. If you don’t do anything, Marcus will automatically roll over your CD into another one of the same type, but with the current interest rate of the day.

How to open a Goldman Sachs CD

Marcus has made it super simple to open up a CD. First, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old, and have either a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

You can open an account easily online, or call them up by phone. You’ll need to sign an account opening form, which you can do online or via a hard-copy mailed form. Then, simply fund your CD account within 30 days, and you’re all set.

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How their CDs compare

The interest rates that Marcus offers on their CDs are top-notch. In fact, a few of their CD terms are among the current contenders for the best CD rates.

If you’re interested in pursuing a CD ladder approach, Marcus is one of our top picks because each of their CD terms offer above-average rates. This means you can rest easy that you’ll get the best rates for your CD ladder without having to complicate things by spreading out all of your CDs among a handful of different banks.

The only downside to these CDs compared with many other banks is that you can’t withdraw a portion of your cash if you need it. It’s either all-in, or all-out. However, once out, you’re still free to open a new CD with the surplus cash, as long as it’s at least the $500 minimum deposit size.

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Marcus by Goldman Sachs personal loan

Personal loans offered by Marcus have low APRs, flexible terms, and no fees.

Terms

APR

Credit Required

Fees

Max Loan Amount

36 to 72 months

6.99%-24.99%

Varies

None

$40,000

As of 7/10/2018

Marcus by Goldman Sachs® personal loans can be used for just about anything, from consolidating debt to financing a large home improvement project. They offer some of the best rates available, with APRs as low as 6.99%, and you’ll not only be able to choose between a range of loan terms, but you can also choose the specific day of the month when you want to make your loan payments.

While there are no specific credit requirements to get a loan through Marcus, the company does try to target those that have “prime” credit, which is usually those with a FICO score higher than 660. Even with a less than excellent credit score, you may be able to qualify for a personal loan from Marcus, though, those that have recent, negative marks on their credit report, such as missed payments, will likely be rejected.

Applicants must be over 18 (19 in Alabama and Nebraska, 21 in Mississippi and Puerto Rico) and have a valid U.S. bank account. You are also required to have a Social Security or Individual Tax I.D. Number.

No fees. Marcus charges no extra fees for their personal loans. There is No origination fee associated with getting a loan, but there are also no late fees associated with missing payments. Those missed payments simply accrue more interest and your loan will be extended.

Defer payments. Once you have made on-time payments for a full year, you will have the ability to defer a payment. This means that if an unexpected expense or lost job hurts your budget one month, you can push that payment back by a month without negatively impacting your credit report.

How to apply for a Marcus personal loan

Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers a process that is completely online, allowing you to apply, choose the loan you want, submit all of your documents, and get approved without having to leave home. Here are the steps that you will complete to get a personal loan from Marcus:

  1. Fill out the information that is required in the online application, including your basic personal and financial information, as well as how much you would like to borrow and what you will use the money for.
  2. After a soft pull on your credit, and if you qualify, you will be presented a list of different loan options that may include different rates and terms.
  3. Once you have chosen the loan you want, you will need to provide additional information to verify your identity. You may also be asked for information that can be used to verify your income and you will need to provide your bank account information so that the money can be distributed.
  4. You will receive your funds 1 – 4 business days after your loan has been approved.

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How their personal loans compare

Marcus offers low APRs and flexible terms with their personal loans, but their main feature is that they have no fees. If you are looking for a straightforward lending experience with no hidden fees or costs, Marcus will be perfect for you since you won’t even have to worry about late fees if you happen to miss a payment.

While Marcus offers some great perks, you may be able to get a lower rate if you choose to go with another lender, such as LightStream or SoFi. Both of these lenders offer lower APR ranges and they don’t charge origination fees, though, LightStreamwill do a hard pull on your credit to preapprove you.

LendingClub and Peerform both have lower credit requirements than Marcus, but they also charge origination fees and, being P2P lending platforms, you will need to wait for your loan to be funded and you run the risk that other users might not fund your loan.

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Overall review of Marcus by Goldman Sachs‘ products

Marcus has really hit it out of the park with their personal loans, online savings, and CD accounts. Each of these accounts offers some of the best features available on the market, while shrinking the fees down to a minuscule, or even nonexistent, amount. Their website is also slick and easy to use for online-savvy people.

The only thing we can find to complain about with Marcus is that they don’t offer an equally-awesome checking account to accompany their other deposit products. Indeed, it seems like Marcus has turned their former hoity-toity image around: Today, they’re a bank that we’d recommend to anyone, even blue-collar folks.

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Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

Lindsay VanSomeren
Lindsay VanSomeren |

Lindsay VanSomeren is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Lindsay here

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Personal Loans

Elastic Personal Loan Review

Monday, July 9, 2018

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any financial institution and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication.

Dan Rafter Dan Rafter

Elastic, a flexible line of credit offered by Louisville, Ky.-based Republic Bank & Trust can help you cover unexpected expenses or consolidate debt.

With an Elastic loan, you can apply for a line of credit for $500 to $3,500. A line of credit is different than a traditional personal loan because you only have to pay back what you actually use. Say you need to spend $2,000 on a new furnace for your home. If you have an Elastic line of credit for $3,000, you can use $2,000 to pay for your new furnace, and you’ll have $1,000 left over that you have available to use for other expenses. It’s a bit like a home equity line of credit, though your credit limit isn’t tied to the amount of equity you’ve built in your home.

You only pay back what you’ve borrowed, after paying an initial cash-advance fee that is either 5%-10% of what you’ve borrowed, depending on how often you are paid, in either monthly or twice-monthly payments (semi-weekly, in which consumers are paid two times a month, or bi-weekly, in which they are paid every two weeks). Once you request funds from your line of credit, those dollars are deposited in your checking account so that you can spend them. Elastic lets you borrow as much as you need up to your credit limit in $20 increments.

The catch? Those cash-advance fees aren’t inexpensive. You’ll pay 5%-10% of the amount you borrow each time you request cash. And if you don’t pay off what you owe by the end of each billing cycle you’ll have to pay an additional fee, what Elastic refers to as a minimum charge.

Elastic personal loan highlights

  • Cash-advance fees: Elastic doesn’t charge traditional interest rates on its line of credit. Instead, it charges you a cash-advance fee every time you borrow. For example, let’s say you are approved for a $1,500 credit limit. If you borrow $1,000, you may be charged a cash-advance fee of either 5% or 10% — a fee, then, ranging from $50 to $100, depending on how often you are paid.
  • Payment schedule: Say you are paid twice a month. You would then make two cash-advance fees every month, one each of 5% of what you borrowed. If you borrowed $1,000, you’d pay $50 twice a month. If you are paid once a month and borrow that same $1,000, you’d make one payment of $100 for that money.
  • Minimum charges: Elastic cash gets more expensive if you don’t pay off all that you borrowed at the end of each billing cycle, which generally hit every two weeks or every month, depending on how you are paid. For borrowers who don’t pay on a monthly basis, Elastic levies a minimum charge of $0 to $135, depending on what these borrowers owe, every billing cycle in which they carry a balance. For customers who pay on a monthly basis, that minimum charge can run from $0 to $270, again depending on what these borrowers owe.
  • Cooling off period: If you carry a balance for too many months, Republic Bank & Trust will cut you off from new cash advances. The bank calls this a “cooling off” period. If you have an outstanding balance on your account for 10 consecutive months, the bank will require that you pay that balance down to $0, and keep it there for at least 20 consecutive calendar days, before it allows you borrow any additional funds.
Elastic
APR

137.00%
To
150.00%

Credit Req.

560

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

10

months

Fees

0.50% - 5.00%

APPLY NOW Secured

on Elastic’s secure website

Elastic personal loan details
 

Fees and penalties

  • Terms: Because Elastic acts more like a traditional line of credit than a loan, it doesn’t come with traditional terms. Instead, you only pay back what you borrow. If you borrow $500 on an Elastic line of credit of $1,000, you only pay back the $500 you borrowed. You’ll make payments on that cash once or twice a month, depending on how you are paid.
  • Prepayment fee: Elastic does not charge a prepayment fee.
  • Other fees: Elastic charges a cash-advance fee of 5%-10% of the money you borrow, depending on how you are paid. If you are paid on a monthly basis, you make one payment a month on the money you borrow in the amount of 10% of what you have borrowed. If you are paid two times a month, you make two payments every month, each equal to 5% of what you borrowed.
  • Minimum charge: If you don’t pay off your balance in full every billing cycle — either once a month or twice a month depending on how you are paid — you will face a minimum charge on what you borrowed. This fee ranges from $0 to $135 for customers who pay more than once a month or $0 to $270 for those who pay once a month. For example, if you owe more than $1,000 up to $1,250 after your billing cycle, you’ll be charged a minimum charge of $45 if you pay twice a month or $90 if you pay monthly. If you owe more than $250 up to to $500 after your billing cycle, you’ll be charged a fee of $15 if you pay bi-weekly or $30 if you pay monthly.

Eligibility requirements

Not everyone will qualify for an Elastic loan. Republic Bank & Trust says that borrowers must have a regular source of income or benefits, be at least 18 and meet the bank’s credit underwriting standards, though it doesn’t list those standards on its site. Borrowers must also have a valid email address.

Applying for an Elastic loan

Applying for an Elastic loan is a simple process. You start by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the site’s homepage. This will bring up a screen that asks for such information as your name, state, email address and phone number.

As you move through the process, Elastic will check your credit to determine if you qualify for a line of credit and for how much.

If you are approved, the cash advances that you request are usually deposited in your bank account the following business day, if you elect the direct-deposit option.

Pros and cons of an Elastic personal loan

Pros:

Cons:

  • Flexibility: You only have to pay back what you borrow. You might have an Elastic line of credit for $2,000, but if you only borrow $500 to cover an unexpected bill, you only have to pay back that amount.
  • If you don’t borrow anything, you won’t have to pay anything: Just because you have an Elastic line of credit, doesn’t mean that you’ll always face a monthly payment. If you haven’t borrowed anything, or if you’ve paid off what you’ve borrowed in full, you won’t have to make any payment until you borrow additional funds.
  • Good source for emergency expenses: Elastic will deposit the cash you need in your bank account the next business day after you request it. Because of this, it’s a good source of cash to cover unexpected emergencies.
  • It’s not cheap: You will have to pay 5%-10% of what you borrow in cash-advance fees, depending on the length of your billing cycles.
  • It’s really expensive if you don’t pay in full: If you don’t pay back all that you borrowed on every payment date, you will face an additional charge that ranges from $0 to $270, depending on your billing cycle.

Who is the best fit for an Elastic personal loan?

Many borrowers who want a flexible line of credit will typically apply for a home equity line of credit. But if you don’t own a home, or if you have little to no equity in your residence, then an Elastic line of credit could be a good fit.

You might also be a good fit if you haven’t managed to save enough money for an emergency fund. Financial pros recommend that everyone build an emergency fund with enough dollars to cover from six months’ to a year’s worth of daily living expenses. That way, you tap that fund to pay for unexpected emergencies, without having to resort to putting these expenses on your credit card. If you haven’t built such a fund yet, an Elastic loan could give you access to the cash you need to pay for emergencies without having to charge them.

Be careful, though: If you don’t pay off what you borrow in full at every billing cycle, you will face additional fees that could add up quickly. The best way to use an Elastic loan? Pay off all that you borrow when your next billing cycle hits.

Alternatives to an Elastic loan

Lending Club

Lending Club
APR

6.16%
To
35.89%

Credit Req.

600

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

1.00% - 6.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

LendingClub is a great tool for borrowers that can offer competitive interest rates and approvals for people with credit scores as low as 600.... Read More

Online lender Lending Club offers a more traditional personal loan in which you receive your money in a single lump. You then pay back what you borrowed each month, with interest. LendingClub loans come with a fixed interest rate and don’t charge prepayment penalties. You can borrow up to $40,000 from LendingClub. Interest rates run from 6.16% – 35.89%.

OneMain Financial

OneMain Financial
APR

16.05%
To
35.99%

Credit Req.

Varies

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

24 to 60

months

Fees

Varies

APPLY NOW Secured

on OneMain Financial’s secure website

If you have a credit score below 600, OneMain Financial is one of the few lenders that you can use to get a personal loan.... Read More

OneMain Financial is another online lender, this one offering personal loans from $1,500 to $30,000. You can apply with OneMain Financial online. If you are approved for a loan, though, you will have to visit a branch to verify your identity, income, debts and employment. Interest rates range from 16.05%–35.99%, and loan terms range from 24 to 60 months.

Avant

Avant
APR

9.95%
To
35.99%

Credit Req.

Varies

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

24 to 60

months

Fees

Up to 4.75%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank, member FDIC.

Avant has helped over 600,000 customers by providing access to over $3.5 billion in personal loans. Whether you need to improve your home, make a major purchase, or consolidate your debts into one simple monthly payment, Avant may be able to provide you access to the funds you need as soon as next business day! ‡

For Example: A $5,700 loan with an administration fee of 4.75% and an amount financed of $5,429.25, repayable in 36 monthly installments, would have an APR of 29.95% and monthly payments of $230.33.

Another online lender, Avant, offers personal loans from $2,000 to $35,000. You can apply online and sign your contract online, too. If you are approved, Avant can deposit your funds into your bank account on the next business day. The APR with Avant loans ranges from 9.95%–35.99%, and loan terms range from 24 to 60 months.

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

Dan Rafter
Dan Rafter |

Dan Rafter is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Dan here

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Personal Loans AD

Get A Pre-Approved Personal Loan

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Won’t impact your credit score

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Getting Approved For 1 Of These Credit Cards Means You Have Excellent Credit

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Personal Loans

Finance Factory Personal Loan Review

Monday, July 2, 2018

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any financial institution and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication.

Jackson Wise Jackson Wise

What is Finance Factory?

Towson, Md.-based Finance Factory has been in business since 2006. Finance Factory helps individuals and small business owners find funding solutions for a wide variety of needs by providing a simple online form where borrowers can apply for financing from multiple lenders. They also have their own personal loan offering under their own banner, which will be the focus of this review.

Finance Factory personal loan highlights

  • Low rates. Personal loan rates start at 5.99%, although the lowest rates will likely only apply to borrowers with the best credit.
  • No prepayment penalties. Finance Factory does not charge any prepayment fees for paying off your personal loan early.
  • Added customer service. Personal loans from Finance Factory come with an added layer of customer service. Financial experts are available to you by phone to offer guidance throughout the course of your loan.
  • Co-applicant. You are able to add a co-applicant, which could help you qualify for a lower rate.
Finance Factory
APR

5.99%

Credit Req.

Not available

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 84

months

Fees

Origination fees will be deducted from your loan proceeds

LEARN MORE Secured

on Finance Factory ’s secure website

Finance Factory personal loan details
 

Fees and penalties

  • Terms: Finance Factory offers personal loan terms of 36 to 84 months.
  • APR range: Rates for personal loans range start at 5.99%
  • Loan amounts: Finance Factory offers personal loans ranging from $5,000 - $500,000.
  • Time to funding: Loans are processed in as little as 48 business hours but might take longer.
  • Hard pull/soft pull: There will be a Soft Pull of your credit score when you check your rate online.
  • Origination fee: Origination fees will be deducted from your loan proceeds. The site does not state how much origination fees are.
  • Prepayment fee: None.
  • Late payment fee: Information not available.

Finance Factory offers to connect personal loan applicants with their financial experts to help create a customized borrowing plan. These experts are available by email and phone, and can help guide customers put together a financial plan that fits their needs.

Unlike some lenders today, Finance Factory does not offer additional perks like a free credit score, payment deferrals, unemployment protection or rate matching.

Eligibility requirements

There is no information on the lender’s site that indicates what credit score is required to qualify either. Fortunately, because Finance Factory offers a Soft Pull pre-qualification feature, you’re able to check your odds of qualifying and get your estimated rate before formally applying, so there’s no risk to your credit.

Personal loans from Finance Factory are available in all 50 states to applicants 18 years and older who reside in the United States. Finance Factory personal loans are also available to those who are self-employed. It’s important to note, that Finance Factory may call your employer to verify employment status. They also may verify the income which you report.

Applying for a personal loan from Finance Factory

Applying for a personal loan via Finance Factory is relatively simple and painless. To start an application, you can either call or fill it out online. If you fill out your application online, you’ll be able to review compare offers from different lenders within minutes.

You’ll need to provide Finance Factory with some basic info regarding your personal loan, including:

  • How much you’d like to borrow
  • The purpose of the loan
  • Your contact information
  • Your employment status
  • Estimated credit score
  • Co-applicant’s information (if you have one)
  • Annual salary
  • Housing status (rent, own, mortgage, etc.)
  • Your Social Security number/ date of birth

Once you input this information, you’ll be able to see of lenders that are available to fund your personal loan. If you find a lender you’d like to borrow from, the formal borrowing process may be initiated and the prospective lender may reach out to you to provide necessary identifying documents, such as a driver’s license.

Pros and cons of a Finance Factory personal loan

Pros:

Cons:

  • Low rates. Finance Factory has competitive, low rates for their personal loans. However, these rates are only available to those with the highest credit scores.
  • No prepayment fees. Finance Factory does not charge any prepayment fees for paying off your loan early.
  • Check your rate with a Soft Pull. When applying for a personal loan with Finance Factory, you will be able to compare multiple offers from different lenders without any hard pull on your credit score.
  • Upfront fees will cut into your loan amount. At the time of closing on your personal loan, you will be responsible for any closing costs such as underwriting or funding fees, or loan processing fees. Finance Factory states that these fees will be deducted from your loan amount.
  • Not the best for short-term financing. While some lenders offer terms as short as 12 months, Finance Factory’s minimum term limit is 36 months (three years), which may not be in line with what you’re looking for. However, because there are no prepayment penalties, you can pay off your loan as early as you like without any consequences.

Who’s the best fit for a Finance Factory personal loan?

Finance Factory personal loans may be a good choice if you have a high credit score. Their low rates, which are only offered to those with the best credit, could provide you with relatively low costs for borrowing. It should be noted that your rate is not only dependent on your credit score, but your employment status, annual income, debt-to-income ratio, among other things.

These personal loans may also be attractive if you’re looking to keep your monthly payments to a minimum. Finance Factory offers terms from 36 to 84 months (three to seven years) and does not charge any prepayment fees for paying off your loan early, so you could limit your monthly payment obligation while also allowing yourself to pay off the loan when you want. For example, if you receive a lump sum or tax refund and want to pay off your debt.

Depending on your credit score and borrowing history, a Finance Factory personal loan could be a way to lower your APR on your credit card debt. If you can find a lower rate with a personal loan, this can be an effective strategy to pay off your credit card debt and lower your interest rate.

Alternative personal loan options

Marcus by Goldman Sachs®

Marcus by Goldman Sachs®
APR

6.99%
To
24.99%

Credit Req.

Varies

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 72

months

Fees

No origination fee

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Marcus by Goldman Sachs® offers personal loans for up to $40,000 for debt consolidation and credit consolidation. ... Read More


A personal loan from Marcus by Goldman Sachs® could be a good alternative to Finance Factory. Marcus advertises a higher starting rate of 6.99% for their personal loans — this is only for applicants with a great credit score — but the major benefit is that they do not charge any fees. Currently, Marcus lets people borrow up to $40,000 via their personal loans, with terms ranging from 36 to 72 months.

SoFi

SoFi
APR

6.58%
To
14.87%

Credit Req.

680

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 84

months

Fees

No origination fee

APPLY NOW Secured

on SoFi’s secure website

Advertiser Disclosure

SoFi offers some of the best rates and terms on the market. ... Read More

Fixed rates from 6.58% APR to 14.87% APR (with AutoPay). Variable rates from 6.275% APR to 12.575% APR (with AutoPay). SoFi rate ranges are current as of July 16, 2018 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See Personal Loan eligibility details. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. If approved for a loan, to qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, years of professional experience, income and other factors. See APR examples and terms. Interest rates on variable rate loans are capped at 14.95%. Lowest variable rate of 6.275% APR assumes current 1-month LIBOR rate of 2.10% plus 4.175% margin minus 0.25% AutoPay discount. For the SoFi variable rate loan, the 1-month LIBOR index will adjust monthly and the loan payment will be re-amortized and may change monthly. APRs for variable rate loans may increase after origination if the LIBOR index increases. The SoFi 0.25% AutoPay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Minimum Credit Score: Not all applicants who meet SoFi’s minimum credit score requirements are approved for a personal loan. In addition to meeting SoFi’s minimum eligibility criteria, applicants must also meet other credit and underwriting requirements to qualify.

SoFi Personal Loans are not available to residents of MS. Maximum interest rate on loans for residents of AK, OK, and WY is 9.99% APR, for residents of IL with loans over $40,000 is 8.99% APR, for residents of TX is 9.99% APR on terms greater than 5 years, for residents of CO, CT, HI, KS, VA, SC is 11.99% APR, and for residents of ME is 12.24% APR. Personal loans not available to residents of MI who already have a student loan with SoFi. Personal Loans minimum loan amount is $5,000. Residents of AZ, MA, and NH have a minimum loan amount of $10,001. Residents of KY have a minimum loan amount of $15,001. Residents of PA have a minimum loan amount of $25,001. Variable rates not available to residents of AK, OK, TX, VA, WY, or for residents of IL for loans greater than $40,000.

Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in an eligible state and meet SoFi's underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, a responsible financial history, years of experience, income and other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS # 1121636. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)


SoFi’s personal loans could be a good alternative for your borrowing needs. Their rates are a little higher (starting at 6.58% fixed rate) for those with great credit, but there is No origination fee. You can borrow up to $100,000, and receive unemployment protection, which allows you to defer payments in case you lose your job while paying off your loan. They also provide live chat customer support seven days a week.

Upgrade

Upgrade
APR

6.87%
To
35.97%

Credit Req.

620

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

1.00% - 6.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Loans made through Upgrade feature APRs of 6.87%-35.97%. All loans have a 1% to 6% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay. For example, a $10,000 loan with a 36 month term and a 17.97% APR (which includes a 5% origination fee) has a required monthly payment of $343.28. Upgrade is available in all states except: Connecticut, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, West Virginia.


Borrow anywhere from $1,000–$50,000 with a personal loan from Upgrade. They advertise rates as low as 6.87% on their personal loans, with terms ranging anywhere from 36 or 60 months. Upgrade also boasts fast funding, which allows you to have money in your account within one day of providing all the necessary information. In addition to personal loans, Upgrade offers credit monitoring, alerts, and education to customers.

Disclaimer: This article may contain links to LendingTree, which is MagnifyMoney’s parent company.

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

Jackson Wise
Jackson Wise |

Jackson Wise is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Jackson here

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Personal Loans AD

Get A Pre-Approved Personal Loan

$

Won’t impact your credit score

Recommended by

2 Credit Cards Charging 0% Interest until 2019

2 Credit Cards Charging 0% Interest until 2019

Getting Approved For 1 Of These Credit Cards Means You Have Excellent Credit

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Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

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This Cash Back Number May Surprise You

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Advertiser Disclosure Comments

Advertiser Disclosure

Personal Loans

Where to Get the Best Personal Loan Rates Online

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any financial institution and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication.

Brian Karimzad Brian Karimzad

Where to Get the Best Personal Loan Rates Online

Updated July 01, 2018

If you want a personal loan to pay off credit card or other debt, the absolute fastest and most effective way to lower the interest you pay is to apply for a balance transfer, with a 0% rate. You can read our guide to balance transfers to learn about their pros and cons.

But a balance transfer isn’t for everyone, especially if your credit score isn’t perfect or if you need to borrow cash.

A personal loan with a set payoff period a few years from now is often the next best thing with these advantages:

  • One monthly payment
  • A set rate
  • You don’t need absolutely perfect credit
  • You can check your rate without touching your score

There are more attractive deals than ever thanks to some new online lenders and you can see sample rates below for excellent credit and good credit.

Tip: Apply for several loans to check rates. Every lender has different approval criteria and different pricing models – and the difference in rate between lenders (even for people with excellent credit) can be significant. So long as you shop with lenders that use a soft credit pull, you can check your rate without negatively impacting your credit score.

Start Here – Multiple Lenders at Once

LendingTree

LendingTree
APR

5.99%
To
35.99%

Credit Req.

Minimum 500 FICO

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

24 to 60

months

Fees

Varies

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

LendingTree is our parent company.... Read More

Dozens of lenders participate in LendingTree‘s personal loan shopping tool – including all of the lenders listed on this page. (Full disclosure, LendingTree is our parent company.) With one online form, LendingTree will perform a soft credit pull (with no impact to your score) and match you with multiple loan offers. This is our favorite (because it is easy) way to get multiple offers from lenders in minutes. For people with excellent credit, you could get an interest rate below 6%. For people with less than perfect credit, there are many lenders participating with more liberal acceptance criteria.

Why is this a good way to save?

Banks don’t care much for personal loans because the lower rates earn them less profit than credit cards.

Fortunately, some new companies believe you should be able to get a competitive rate without dealing with credit card intro offers, even if your credit isn’t perfect.

They’re doing it by lending online only without the overhead of branches.

They pass the savings on to you through better rates, and you can check up on them below.

Personal loans for Excellent Credit

The following providers are for you if you want the absolute lowest possible rates that reward a record of no late payments and good income, even though you have some high rate debt you want to clean up.

Unless you get a rate of 5% or less, you’re probably better off with balance transfer deals, but the convenience of a fixed payment and walking away from credit cards makes personal loans appealing.

SoFi

SoFi
APR

6.58%
To
14.87%

Credit Req.

680

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 84

months

Fees

No origination fee

APPLY NOW Secured

on SoFi’s secure website

Advertiser Disclosure

SoFi offers some of the best rates and terms on the market. ... Read More

Fixed rates from 6.58% APR to 14.87% APR (with AutoPay). Variable rates from 6.275% APR to 12.575% APR (with AutoPay). SoFi rate ranges are current as of July 16, 2018 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See Personal Loan eligibility details. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. If approved for a loan, to qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, years of professional experience, income and other factors. See APR examples and terms. Interest rates on variable rate loans are capped at 14.95%. Lowest variable rate of 6.275% APR assumes current 1-month LIBOR rate of 2.10% plus 4.175% margin minus 0.25% AutoPay discount. For the SoFi variable rate loan, the 1-month LIBOR index will adjust monthly and the loan payment will be re-amortized and may change monthly. APRs for variable rate loans may increase after origination if the LIBOR index increases. The SoFi 0.25% AutoPay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Minimum Credit Score: Not all applicants who meet SoFi’s minimum credit score requirements are approved for a personal loan. In addition to meeting SoFi’s minimum eligibility criteria, applicants must also meet other credit and underwriting requirements to qualify.

SoFi Personal Loans are not available to residents of MS. Maximum interest rate on loans for residents of AK, OK, and WY is 9.99% APR, for residents of IL with loans over $40,000 is 8.99% APR, for residents of TX is 9.99% APR on terms greater than 5 years, for residents of CO, CT, HI, KS, VA, SC is 11.99% APR, and for residents of ME is 12.24% APR. Personal loans not available to residents of MI who already have a student loan with SoFi. Personal Loans minimum loan amount is $5,000. Residents of AZ, MA, and NH have a minimum loan amount of $10,001. Residents of KY have a minimum loan amount of $15,001. Residents of PA have a minimum loan amount of $25,001. Variable rates not available to residents of AK, OK, TX, VA, WY, or for residents of IL for loans greater than $40,000.

Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in an eligible state and meet SoFi's underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, a responsible financial history, years of experience, income and other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS # 1121636. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

SoFi’s believes if you’ve graduated college or went to grad school you’ll be a more responsible borrower, so they may be more likely to give you a better rate, even if your credit history is limited.

For example, if you have $10,000 in credit card debt, good income, and great credit, their best rate could save you as much as 0% balance transfer deals once you factor in the fees for each.

What we like best about SoFi is that they offer No origination fee and no prepayment penalty. If you think you may be able to pay off your loan earlier (or want the flexibility to do that), Sofi is the only lender we reviewed that charges no fee at all. Given their very low rates, we think anyone with good credit should start with Sofi first, and then compare their offer to the rest of the providers.

Amount: $5,000 – $100,000

Available states: Alabama, California, Delaware, Washington D.C., Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington (terms and limitations apply).

Marcus by Goldman Sachs®

Marcus by Goldman Sachs®
APR

6.99%
To
24.99%

Credit Req.

Varies

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 72

months

Fees

No origination fee

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Marcus by Goldman Sachs® offers personal loans for up to $40,000 for debt consolidation and credit consolidation. ... Read More

If you want to work with a traditional bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs® can be a great option. With rates as low as 6.99% APR and flexible terms ranging between 36 to 72 months, they offer a competitive personal loan option that is backed by the security and peace of mind that comes with using a bank that has been in business for 148 years.

While Marcus does not state a required minimum credit score, they do seek out people with prime credit, which usually falls above 660 or higher on the FICO scale. Those that meet the requirements will be able to borrow up to $40,000 for debt consolidation and credit consolidation loans.

BestEgg

BestEgg
APR

5.99%
To
29.99%

Credit Req.

660

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

0.99% - 5.99%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

People looking for a process that is fast and straightforward can’t go wrong when applying through Best Egg for a personal loan. ... Read More

BestEgg is an online personal loan company that offers low interest rates and quick funding. BestEgg is one of the fastest growing personal loan companies in the country, largely because it has been able to provide one of the best combinations of interest rate and loan amount in the market.

You can check to see your interest rate without hurting your score, and they do approve people with scores as low as 660. If you have an excellent credit score, BestEgg will be very competitive on terms.

Amount: up to $35,000

Lightstream

LightStream
APR

3.09%
To
14.24%

Credit Req.

660

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

24 to 144

months

Fees

No origination fee

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Advertiser Disclosure

LightStream is the online lending division of SunTrust Bank.... Read More

Your APR may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term, and your credit profile. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount, which is only available when you select AutoPay prior to loan funding. Rates under the invoicing option are 0.50% higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 3.09% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $291.21.

Lightstream is a great choice for people with excellent credit. It is actually part of a bank you might have heard of, SunTrust Bank. They were recently set up to offer some of the best personal loan rates available, and they are delivering. The interest rate you are charged depends upon the purpose of the loan.Interest rates can be as low as 3.09% for a new car purchase (and LightStream does not put their name on your title. They just put the cash in your bank account, and you can shop around and pay cash for the car). Home improvement loans start at 4.99% APR with AutoPay , making them cheaper and easier than a home equity loan.

They’ll also approve and deposit your money fast, often the same day, and give extra consideration if you have money in your 401K or equity in your home.

Lightstream has created an exclusive offer, just for MagnifyMoney readers. (This offer went live in January 2016). Credit card consolidation loans for MagnifyMoney readers are now as low as 5.49% fixed. The highest fixed rate is 14.69%. Just beware: LightStream does a hard credit pull.

Amount: $5,000 – $100,000

Available states: All

Personal Loans for Good Credit

These providers may be able to help you out if you’re not approved for the very best rates or a 0% balance transfer offer. Check those deals first, there’s no real harm to do that, but if they fall through, give these a try.

LendingClub*

Lending Club
APR

6.16%
To
35.89%

Credit Req.

600

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

1.00% - 6.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

LendingClub is a great tool for borrowers that can offer competitive interest rates and approvals for people with credit scores as low as 600.... Read More

You might not have heard of Lending Club yet, but they are a big player in online loans. And they offer a wide range of rates and terms based on your credit profile and needs. Generally you’ll need a score of about 600 or higher to get approved.

Amount: up to $40,000

Available states: All except Iowa and West Virginia

BestEgg

BestEgg
APR

5.99%
To
29.99%

Credit Req.

660

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

0.99% - 5.99%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

People looking for a process that is fast and straightforward can’t go wrong when applying through Best Egg for a personal loan. ... Read More

BestEgg (reviewed earlier in this post) will approve people with credit scores as low as 660. If you have good credit and are looking for a loan, you should consider BestEgg.

Upstart*

Upstart
APR

8.85%
To
29.99%

Credit Req.

640

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 60

months

Fees

0.00% - 8.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Upstart’s initial focus was to help recent graduates that were struggling with debt, but they have expanded to provide options for those with strong credit profiles as well. They have a unique algorithm that takes into account things such as education, career, job history, and standardized test scores, but you will still need a minimum FICO score of 640.

Upstart offers loans that look a lot like the ones from the bigger online lenders like LendingClub or Prosper.

They’ll let you borrow up to $50,000 for 36 to 60 months. But the key is they will take into account the schools you attended, your area of study, the grades you earned in school, and your work history to see if you can get a better rate.

So while the range of rates Upstart offers is similar to the bigger guys, if you did well in school, you might find the rate you actually get is lower than what the others will offer you, so it’s worth trying.

You’ll need a 640 or better FICO and your monthly payments can’t be more than 55% of your monthly income.

Amount: $1,000 – $50,000

Available states: All

PenFed

PenFed Credit Union
APR

6.49%

Credit Req.

700

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

60

months

Fees

No origination fee

APPLY NOW Secured

on PenFed Credit Union’s secure website

Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) offers personal loans with terms up to five years and maximum loan amounts of $25,000.... Read More

Previously, PenFed offers a fixed rate of 6.49% interest rate for 60 months. Veterans get extra special attention so it’s worth checking this online only offer. You have to be a member of the PenFed credit union, but that’s easy and anyone can do that online as part of the process.

Available states: All

Personal Loans for Bad or Minimal Credit

Avant*

Avant
APR

9.95%
To
35.99%

Credit Req.

Varies

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

24 to 60

months

Fees

Up to 4.75%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank, member FDIC.

Avant has helped over 600,000 customers by providing access to over $3.5 billion in personal loans. Whether you need to improve your home, make a major purchase, or consolidate your debts into one simple monthly payment, Avant may be able to provide you access to the funds you need as soon as next business day! ‡

For Example: A $5,700 loan with an administration fee of 4.75% and an amount financed of $5,429.25, repayable in 36 monthly installments, would have an APR of 29.95% and monthly payments of $230.33.

There is no prepayment fee. Checking your Loan Options will not affect your credit score. Just one warning: if you are willing to borrow money at 35.99%, then you really need to step back and think about building a longer term financial plan. You can download our free Debt Guide, which will help you put together a plan so that you never have to pay interest rates this high again.

Avant‘s platform offers access to loans from $2,000 to $35,000, with terms from 24 to 60 months. The minimum credit score varies, but we have seen people with scores as low as 580 get approved.

The good thing about Avant is that these loans are amortizing. That means it is a real installment loan, and you will be reducing your principal balance with every payment.

Amount: up to $35,000

Available states: All except: Colorado, Iowa, West Virginia, and Vermont.

For Example: A $5,700 loan with an administration fee of 4.75% and an amount financed of $5,429.25, repayable in 36 monthly installments, would have an APR of 29.95% and monthly payments of $230.33.

Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank, member FDIC.

OneMain Financial

OneMain Financial
APR

16.05%
To
35.99%

Credit Req.

Varies

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

24 to 60

months

Fees

Varies

APPLY NOW Secured

on OneMain Financial’s secure website

If you have a credit score below 600, OneMain Financial is one of the few lenders that you can use to get a personal loan.... Read More

OneMain Financial offers personal loans through its branch network to people with less than perfect credit. You can start your application online. If you qualify, you will have to visit a branch to complete the application. Once in the branch, if you have all of the required documents, you can receive you loan proceeds immediately via check.

You can borrow from $1,500 to $30,000. The interest rates are not low, and can go up to 35.99%. They will also charge an up-front origination fee that is not refundable. You should definitely shop around at other lenders first, given the high cost of the loan and the need to visit a branch.

Amount: Up to $30,000

promo-personalloan-wide

* We’ll receive a referral fee if you click on offers with this symbol. This does not impact our rankings or recommendations You can learn more about how our site is financed here.

Got questions? Get in touch via Twitter, Facebook or email (info@magnifymoney.com)

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

Brian Karimzad
Brian Karimzad |

Brian Karimzad is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Brian at brian@magnifymoney.com

TAGS:

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plloan

Personal Loans AD

Get A Pre-Approved Personal Loan

$

Won’t impact your credit score

Recommended by

2 Credit Cards Charging 0% Interest until 2019

2 Credit Cards Charging 0% Interest until 2019

Getting Approved For 1 Of These Credit Cards Means You Have Excellent Credit

Getting Approved For 1 Of These Credit Cards Means You Have Excellent Credit

Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

This Cash Back Number May Surprise You

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Advertiser Disclosure

Personal Loans

Best Egg Personal Loan Review

Friday, June 29, 2018

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any financial institution and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication.

Brynne Conroy Brynne Conroy

Launched in 2014 and backed by Marlette Funding, LLC, online lender BestEgg aims to “find better ways to make money accessible.” Since it was founded, Best Egg has funded over $5 billion of personal loans.

Best Egg’s leadership team is packed with veterans who are working to change the personal loan industry. With experience with big financial institutions like Barclays, CitiGroup and Merrill Lynch, these pros are merging their skill set with those who have worked in the start-up space and government positions to grow an easy-to-use platform while staying conscious of consumer’s legal rights.

Best Egg personal loan highlights

  • No prepayment penalty. When there’s no prepayment penalty, it means you can pay off your loan as quickly as possible without incurring an extra fee. Be aware that Best Egg does charge an origination fee of 0.99% - 5.99%, though.
  • Not great for people with poor credit. A minimum credit score requirement of 660 and three years’ worth of credit history may disqualify some borrowers.
  • Quick turnaround time. About 50% of Best Egg borrowers get their loans funded as soon as the next business day.
  • Take out two loans at once. If you already have a personal loan with Best Egg and it’s in good standing, you’re allowed to take out another one as long as you’re not borrowing a total of more than $50,000.
  • See if you prequalify without hurting your credit.
BestEgg
APR

5.99%
To
29.99%

Credit Req.

660

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

0.99% - 5.99%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

People looking for a process that is fast and straightforward can’t go wrong when applying through Best Egg for a personal loan. ... Read More

Best Egg personal loan details
 

Fees and penalties

  • Terms: 36 or 60 months
  • APR Range: 5.99%-29.99%
  • Loan amounts: $2,000-$35,000
  • Time to funding: Can be funded as soon as the next business day.
  • Hard pull/soft pull: When you first apply, Best Egg will do a Soft Pull on your credit in order to generate a loan offer. If you accept this offer and move forward with the loan process, they will do a hard pull.
  • Origination fee: 0.99% - 5.99%. This fee will be subtracted from your total loan amount so be sure you factor that into your calculation when you decide how much to borrow.
  • Prepayment fee: None
  • Late payment fee: If you are 3+ days late, there is a $15 fee.
  • Other fees: If you aren’t enrolled in automatic payments, there is a $7 payment processing fee. If your payment is returned for any reason, there is a $15 fee.

Some lenders will only allow you to take out one loan at a time. Best Egg is not one of them. You can have two loans from Best Egg at a time, though if you’re thinking of taking out a second, make sure your first loan is at least six months old and that you haven’t missed payments. The total amount of your loans must be $50,000 or less.

Eligibility requirements

  • Minimum credit score: 660
  • Minimum credit history: In order to qualify, you must have at least three years of credit history with at least three open credit accounts — none of which may have open delinquent payments. You will be disqualified if you have a tax lien or bankruptcy on your credit report, or if you are currently working with a credit counselor or debt management company.
  • Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 40%

Best Egg gives qualified U.S. residents its best rates when they have a credit score of 700+ and an income of $100,000+. You can still qualify, though, if your credit score is above 660 and you have an income of $50,000 to $150,000 per year.

Applying for a personal loan from Best Egg

When you fill out Best Egg’s online application — providing information on your housing, income and employment — you’re actually applying for pre-approval. Filling out this application generally takes less than five minutes.

After you’ve filled it out, you’ll be given a loan offer if you qualify. If you’re happy with the rate and terms, you can accept and provide any additional paperwork Best Egg may request or require. Depending on your bank, you’ll be able to get your loan funded in about one to three business days.

Pros and cons of a Best Egg personal loan

Pros:

Cons:

  • Fast funding. Best Egg funds about half their loans in one business day, with other applicants only waiting about three business days.
  • Borrow twice. . Even if you already have a Best Egg loan, you are still eligible to take another out as long as you do so 6+ months apart and you do not borrow more than $50,000 total.
  • Lower minimum loan amounts. You shouldn’t borrow more money than you need. With loans starting at $2,000 depending on your state of residence, many will be able to avoid overborrowing. If you need even less than $2,000, keep in mind that some credit unions will issue personal loans for as little as $500.
  • Various loan options: Borrow funds for everything from debt consolidation and moving expenses, to vacation and adoption expenses.
  • Excellent credit applicants may find better deals elsewhere. While there are certainly lenders who charge much higher interest rates, Best Egg does not have the best rates for their target clientele. For example, to qualify for their lowest rates, you must make $100,000 per year and have a credit score of 700 or higher. You may find other marketplace lenders who offer lower rates for this demographic, so definitely shop around and compare.
  • Origination fees.Not all lenders charge origination fees on personal loans, which makes Best Egg’s fee of 0.99% - 5.99% a negative.
  • Income requirements.If you don’t make at least $50,000, you’re not going to qualify for a loan with Best Egg.
  • No co-borrowers.They do not allow for joint applications

Who’s the best fit for a Best Egg personal loan

If you meet the income and credit requirements, Best Egg may be a good option, especially if you need to get your hands on money quickly. Best Egg is also good for middle- to high-income earners who only need a small loan, as some of their competitors have minimum loan amounts of $5,000 or more, while Best Egg’s minimum is only $2,000.

If you do meet these requirements, be sure to shop around. There are lenders on the marketplace who offer prime borrowers better rates and don’t charge origination fees. Depending on your personal situation, that doesn’t mean Best Egg won’t make you the best offer; it just means you should do your due diligence in case they don’t.

Alternative personal loan options

Upgrade

Upgrade
APR

6.87%
To
35.97%

Credit Req.

620

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

1.00% - 6.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Loans made through Upgrade feature APRs of 6.87%-35.97%. All loans have a 1% to 6% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay. For example, a $10,000 loan with a 36 month term and a 17.97% APR (which includes a 5% origination fee) has a required monthly payment of $343.28. Upgrade is available in all states except: Connecticut, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, West Virginia.

Upgrade offers a similar product to Best Egg, except their maximum APR is much higher and their minimum credit score requirements are much lower. This means that you’re likely to have an easier time getting approved for a loan from Upgrade, but that your interest rate is likely to be higher if you have a lower credit score.

Lending Club

Lending Club
APR

6.16%
To
35.89%

Credit Req.

600

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

1.00% - 6.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

LendingClub is a great tool for borrowers that can offer competitive interest rates and approvals for people with credit scores as low as 600.... Read More

Similar to Upgrade, Lending Club extends loans to those with lower credit scores than Best Egg does, though it does so at a higher rate. If your credit score is less than 620, LendingClub is preferable to Upgrade, though their maximum interest rates are very close — within a tenth of a percentage point of each other.

Marcus by Goldman Sachs®

Marcus by Goldman Sachs®
APR

6.99%
To
24.99%

Credit Req.

Varies

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 72

months

Fees

No origination fee

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Marcus by Goldman Sachs® offers personal loans for up to $40,000 for debt consolidation and credit consolidation. ... Read More

Marcus by Goldman Sachs® — unlike Best Egg — charges No origination fee. Their maximum term length also allows you to stretch out your loan, potentially lowering your monthly payments. Remember, however, that when you stretch out your loan, you usually end up paying more in interest overall even if your monthly payment is lower.

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

Brynne Conroy
Brynne Conroy |

Brynne Conroy is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Brynne here

TAGS:

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plloan

Personal Loans AD

Get A Pre-Approved Personal Loan

$

Won’t impact your credit score

Recommended by

2 Credit Cards Charging 0% Interest until 2019

2 Credit Cards Charging 0% Interest until 2019

Getting Approved For 1 Of These Credit Cards Means You Have Excellent Credit

Getting Approved For 1 Of These Credit Cards Means You Have Excellent Credit

Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

This Cash Back Number May Surprise You

This Cash Back Number May Surprise You

Advertiser Disclosure Comments

Advertiser Disclosure

Personal Loans

RocketLoans Personal Loan Review

Monday, June 25, 2018

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any financial institution and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication.

Hannah Rounds Hannah Rounds

Who is RocketLoans?

RocketLoans is the personal loan affiliate of the Quicken Loans family of companies, the largest mortgage lender in the United States. Quicken Loans started lending mortgages in 1985, but the company didn’t expand into personal loans until 2015 when RocketLoans came onto the scene. RocketLoans is a digital lender that specializes in approving and funding personal loans in real time. RocketLoans states that it aims to create the most user-friendly lending platform in the world.

By automating the lending process, RocketLoans gives all users an individualized experience. From the moment you enter your personal information, you’ll see real offers based off your credit history and stated income. The company streamlines the entire application and underwriting process, so qualified borrowers can expect their loans to be approved and funded (up to $25,000) the same business day that they apply for the loan.

RocketLoans personal loan highlights

  • Only see real offers: RocketLoans won’t waste your time with offers that don’t apply to you. As long as RocketLoans can verify the information from your profile during underwriting, the offers you see will become real loan offers.
  • Soft Pull: Individualized rate offers are generated by a soft credit inquiry which won’t hurt your credit score. During underwriting, RocketLoans uses a hard credit inquiry to confirm the accuracy of the information.
  • Same-day lending: Borrowers who complete their application and sign their loan by 1 p.m. EST can receive up to $25,000 the same day they apply.
  • Completely online: Everything from the application to submitting documentation happens entirely online.
RocketLoans
APR

5.98%
To
29.99%

Credit Req.

640

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

1.00% - 6.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

RocketLoans personal loan details
 

Fees and penalties

  • Terms: 36 or 60 Months
  • APR Range: 5.98%-29.99%
  • Loan amounts: $2,000-$35,000
  • Time to Funding: Same day funding for up to $25,000
  • Hard pull/soft pull: Soft Pull to see offers. Hard credit pull once you submit an application..
  • Origination fee: 1.00% - 6.00%
  • Prepayment fee: None
  • Late payment fee: $15 per occurrence
  • ACH return fee/Returned check fee: $15 per occurrence

Eligibility requirements

  • Minimum credit score: 640 (Using a FICO® 9 model)
  • Minimum credit history: 2 years
  • Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 40% excluding mortgage and 70% including mortgage
  • Minimum income: $24,000 annually (from any source)

Rocket Loans does not lend in North Carolina, Iowa, West Virginia or Nevada. You must be at least 18 years old to apply for the loan (19 in Alabama and Nebraska). Your credit score, existing debt load, or income may disqualify you from a loan from RocketLoans. Your loan rates will be based off of your income, your credit history, your debt-to-income ratio, homeownership and the size of the loan.

You may be required to submit documents to verify the accuracy of your information (such as pay stubs or tax forms).

Applying for a personal loan from RocketLoans

From start to finish, applying for a personal loan from RocketLoans takes just a few minutes.

Before you can see any offers, RocketLoans requires you to enter your personal information, including your name, address, Social Security number, phone number, employment status, income and homeownership status. RocketLoans uses this information to do a “Soft Pull,” which will allow it to analyze your credit history, debt-to-income ratio, and overall debt burden. The credit pull will not show up on your credit report.

After a minute or two, RocketLoans presents a list of personalized loan offers. The offers include the loan amount monthly payment, length, interest rate (Autopay rate) and the APR (which includes the funding fee). As long as you’re able to provide income and address verification, RocketLoans will underwrite the loan with the terms presented.

*Terms may differ from above example

After choosing a loan option, RocketLoans will verify your identity and income information. It may request that you submit documents (pay stubs, driver’s license, tax returns etc.). RocketLoans will also have you log into the bank account where you want to receive the funds. The company does this to make sure it sends funds to the right place. During the verification process, RocketLoans will do a hard credit inquiry. This hard credit pull could impact your credit score.

Once RocketLoans verifies all of your information, you’ll be instructed to sign the loan documents online. Then, RocketLoans will transfer the loan to your bank account via an electronic, automated clearing house transfer (ACH transfer). Funds up to $25,000 may be available the same business day, but funding could take up to three business days based on your bank’s rules.

Pros and cons of a RocketLoans personal loan

Pros:

Cons:

  • Fast: RocketLoans has an easy online application that minimizes the need to find extra documentation. If you qualify, you could receive the funds the day you apply.
  • 24/7/365: RocketLoans doesn’t take days or evenings off. Their loan offers are fully underwritten, so you can apply and be approved for a loan at your convenience. Loan funding only happens on business days.
  • Individualized offers: RocketLoans only shows individualized offers. You don’t have to wonder what your interest rate will be — RocketLoans will show multiple offers based on your ability to repay.
  • Originations fees: Personal loans from RocketLoans carry a 1.00% - 6.00% origination fee. In contrast, many digital lenders have no origination fees.
  • Moderate to high interest rates: Borrowers with excellent credit can see rates as low as 5.98%, but other lenders offer better rates. Some borrowers can face interest rates as high as 29.99% APR.
  • Limited options for repayment terms: Borrowers can choose between 36 or 60 month payback periods. Other lenders offer more repayment options based on a borrower’s ability to repay.
  • Poor credit borrowers may not qualify. With a minimum FICO score requirement of 36 or 60, people with poor credit may not qualify.

Who’s the best fit for a RocketLoans personal loan?

So long as you’ve shopped around and compared offers from several personal loan lenders, you’re ready to make an educated decision about which lender is right for you. RocketLoans makes it easy to shop because you can get individualized offers based on your personal information before you even have to apply.

In the end, RocketLoans may not offer the best rates or terms, but it will give you a point of comparison. Plus, checking your rates on RocketLoans won’t hurt your credit. After you check your rate, you can compare RocketLoans’ offers with rates from other lenders. Since you know from our review that RocketLoans carries a 1.00% - 6.00% origination fee, which is paid upfront, you should look for loans that not only offer a better rate but don’t carry an upfront fee. If you can’t find a better deal elsewhere, RocketLoans may be the best option for you.

People who need their loan funded fast will find RocketLoans most valuable. The application process takes just a few minutes (especially if you have pay stubs or tax documents handy). Once your loan is approved (which can happen almost immediately), RocketLoans will send the funds to your bank. Depending on your bank’s rules, you can gain access to the funds the same day.

Alternative personal loan options

LightStream

LightStream is the online personal lending branch of Suntrust Bank. It sets itself apart by offering no-fee loans (including no late fees and No origination fee). Loans from Lightstream carry some of the best interest rates on the market, with rates ranging from 3.09%–14.24%. People with excellent credit can borrow $5,000–$100,000 from LightStream for 24 to 144 months.

LightStream
APR

3.09%
To
14.24%

Credit Req.

660

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

24 to 144

months

Fees

No origination fee

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Advertiser Disclosure

LightStream is the online lending division of SunTrust Bank.... Read More

Your APR may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term, and your credit profile. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount, which is only available when you select AutoPay prior to loan funding. Rates under the invoicing option are 0.50% higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 3.09% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $291.21.

SoFi

SoFi is another online-only lender with decent interest rates (6.58%–14.87% for fixed-rate loans and 5.28%-13.24% on variable-rate loans) and No origination fee. Personal loans from SoFi have terms ranging from 36 to 84 months. SoFi is one of the only lenders that offers “unemployment protection” on all personal loans. Borrowers who lose a job will be allowed to temporarily stop payments (for up to 12 months). SoFi also offers nontraditional perks to its members including free career coaching and networking events.

SoFi
APR

6.58%
To
14.87%

Credit Req.

680

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 to 84

months

Fees

No origination fee

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on SoFi’s secure website

Advertiser Disclosure

SoFi offers some of the best rates and terms on the market. ... Read More

Fixed rates from 6.58% APR to 14.87% APR (with AutoPay). Variable rates from 6.275% APR to 12.575% APR (with AutoPay). SoFi rate ranges are current as of July 16, 2018 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See Personal Loan eligibility details. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. If approved for a loan, to qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, years of professional experience, income and other factors. See APR examples and terms. Interest rates on variable rate loans are capped at 14.95%. Lowest variable rate of 6.275% APR assumes current 1-month LIBOR rate of 2.10% plus 4.175% margin minus 0.25% AutoPay discount. For the SoFi variable rate loan, the 1-month LIBOR index will adjust monthly and the loan payment will be re-amortized and may change monthly. APRs for variable rate loans may increase after origination if the LIBOR index increases. The SoFi 0.25% AutoPay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Minimum Credit Score: Not all applicants who meet SoFi’s minimum credit score requirements are approved for a personal loan. In addition to meeting SoFi’s minimum eligibility criteria, applicants must also meet other credit and underwriting requirements to qualify.

SoFi Personal Loans are not available to residents of MS. Maximum interest rate on loans for residents of AK, OK, and WY is 9.99% APR, for residents of IL with loans over $40,000 is 8.99% APR, for residents of TX is 9.99% APR on terms greater than 5 years, for residents of CO, CT, HI, KS, VA, SC is 11.99% APR, and for residents of ME is 12.24% APR. Personal loans not available to residents of MI who already have a student loan with SoFi. Personal Loans minimum loan amount is $5,000. Residents of AZ, MA, and NH have a minimum loan amount of $10,001. Residents of KY have a minimum loan amount of $15,001. Residents of PA have a minimum loan amount of $25,001. Variable rates not available to residents of AK, OK, TX, VA, WY, or for residents of IL for loans greater than $40,000.

Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in an eligible state and meet SoFi's underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, a responsible financial history, years of experience, income and other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS # 1121636. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

Prosper

Prosper is a peer-to-peer lending place that offers 36 or 60 months fixed-rate personal loans for $2,000–$40,000. Rates at Propser range from 6.95%–35.99% APR which includes the cost of a closing fee (also known as an origination fee). People with good or excellent credit may find better rates from other lenders, but people with bad credit have a chance to be approved for a loan at Prosper.

Prosper
APR

6.95%
To
35.99%

Credit Req.

640

Minimum Credit Score

Terms

36 or 60

months

Fees

2.41% - 5.00%

LEARN MORE Secured

on LendingTree’s secure website

Advertiser Disclosure

Prosper is a peer-to-peer lending platform that offers a quick and convenient way to get personal loans with fixed and low interest rates. ... Read More

For example, a three-year $10,000 loan with a Prosper Rating of AA would have an interest rate of 5.31% and a 2.41% origination fee for an annual percentage rate (APR) of 6.95% APR. You would receive $9,759 and make 36 scheduled monthly payments of $301.10. A five-year $10,000 loan with a Prosper Rating of A would have an interest rate of 8.39% and a 5.00% origination fee with a 10.59% APR. You would receive $9,500 and make 60 scheduled monthly payments of $204.64. Origination fees vary between 2.41%-5%. APRs through Prosper range from 6.95% (AA) to 35.99% (HR) for first-time borrowers, with the lowest rates for the most creditworthy borrowers. Eligibility for loans up to $40,000 depends on the information provided by the applicant in the application form. Eligibility is not guaranteed, and requires that a sufficient number of investors commit funds to your account and that you meet credit and other conditions. Refer to Borrower Registration Agreement for details and all terms and conditions. All loans made by WebBank, member FDIC.

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

Hannah Rounds
Hannah Rounds |

Hannah Rounds is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Hannah here

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