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Medical bills, unexpected car repairs, layoffs and more - does any of this ring a bell? There are lots of reasons why many people find themselves strapped for cash. What can you do if your income just isn't enough to make ends meet and you need money?
If you have a financially-comfortable friend or relative, you could put yourself through the embarrassment of asking them for a loan - which would be better than paying the extremely high interest rates associated with most credit cards or payday loans. Another option is to consider an installment loan.
Wednesday, April 14th
As a relatively new participant in the social finance market, the appropriately-named SoFi is making an impact. They're one of the only lenders offering unemployment protection - if you lose your job, you may be eligible to put your repayments on hold. You'll find their application process to be very easy using their well-designed website, while you won't be surprised by any hidden fees. SoFi should absolutely be on your list as the source of your installment loan.
Upstart is a professional and organized social lending platform focused on helping people achieve their financial goals. Their loan process is quick and efficient and considers many factors including your education, job history, and credit score. With a solid reputation for success, customers can find answers to many of their financial questions because the site clearly describes how their loans work. They also provide education for those seeking guidance for future financial endeavors.
While LendingTree does not fund loans itself, it does connect borrowers with a wide range of potential lenders and allows customers to negotiate directly with those lenders if they wish. Many of those lenders work with those people who have less-than-perfect credit, making LendingTree a great one-stop shop for researching the best loan for every kind of borrower.
If you'd like to compare rates across multiple lenders with a single application, Credible is a great resource for personal loans. While that kind of one-stop shopping saves you some time, you'll still need to research each lender and read your loan terms carefully. Credible has a strong reputation and gets high marks from customers. Ultimately your personal loan will be funded through a third-party lender, so you'll still need to look at your offers carefully.
When it comes to social lending, LendingClub sets the standard for loans that go outside of the more common lender-based companies. Their track record for arranging installment loans between $1,000 and $40,000 with affordable terms is first-rate, earning LendingClub a high spot among installment loan lenders.
Avant is a relative newcomer to online lending. Their lack of loan prepayment fees and customer service availability 7 days a week, however, shows they're serious about delivering what people want. Their loans can range from $2,000 to $35,000, and funding can be can be provided very quickly. If you're looking for a fast, hassle-free loan, Avant may be a great option.
As the second-highest ranked borrower-to-lender referral service in our review, 100 Lenders gets high marks for a simple online application process. Customers praise their reliable service that connects them with a large network of partner lenders offering installment loans.
Prosper provides a simple lending process and a website that's easy to navigate. Loan rates can range a little higher at Prosper but, if you are in the market for a $2,000 to $40,000 loan Prosper is worth your consideration.
Even is one of several services that let you prequalify for personal loans from multiple lenders with one easy application online. This service has 10 lending partners in their network, making it possible to get up to $100,000. However, Even seems to require you to provide much more personal information to even see what you might be eligible to receive, without giving you a similar degree of details about their company or how they operate. You'll probably get better service with a higher-ranked provider of personal loans.
If you live in one of the 13 states served by NetCredit, you can benefit from their easy-to-complete application process. As a subsidiary of a well-known financial lending company, NetCredit specializes in customers with positive and less-than-perfect credit histories and is one of the few lenders that looks beyond that history to approve or decline a loan application.
If your priority is reliability and a top rating with the Better Business Bureau, OneMain Financial is a strong contender for your installment loan. However, that dependability comes at a price, as OneMain's rates are consistently higher than other lending partners in our review, and you'll have to actually speak with a representative before getting any details about a possible loan offer.
With flexible payment options on installment loans up to $35,000, Personal Loans acts as a referral service between borrower and lender. Although everything about Personal loans looks legit, prospective customers should be aware that there is very little information available about their history and reliability as a company.
LifeLoans is another borrower-to-lender matching service, with no loans funded by the business itself. While we appreciate their membership in the Online Lenders Alliance as a token of trustworthiness, we were unable to find any reviews from customers who have used LifeLoans for an installment loan.
With one of the smallest total loan amounts in our review, MaxLend started out with a lower rating. An "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau, given for numerous complaints relating to extremely high interest rates, deceptive lending practices, and constant pressure on current customers to take out another loan are the reasons why MaxLend is the lowest-rated source of installment loans in our review.
Repaid over time with a predetermined number of set payments, these loans can help bridge the gap between what you have and what you need while allowing you to comfortably accommodate the repayment schedule. Many installment loans today are funded using a system known as a social lending network, matching borrowers with lenders through a peer-to-peer structure. Compared with other loans available, these installment loans usually have lower interest rates, mostly because of the lower overhead costs associated with this type of borrowing.
While you may feel a little apprehensive when trying to choose a lender for your installment loan, there are several factors you can use to make sure your loan is on solid footing. When looking at any potential lender, here are three things to check out:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best Installment Loans available today. We hope this information helps you find the loan you need with the best possible rate and terms!
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