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With inflation on the rise and an endless list of possibilities for unexpected expenses - car repairs, visits to the ER, and broken appliances, to name a few - it's no wonder that an increasing number of people are applying for personal loans.
Sound familiar? If you find yourself in need of some cash, you've probably considered borrowing from a friend or relative - but there's no guarantee that your loved ones are in a position to help, and who really wants to ask? Fortunately, you've got options that don't involve an awkward conversation with people you know. There are many lenders that specialize in personal loans ranging from $500 to as much as $100,000, with simple application processes that can be completed 100% online.
Saturday, June 3rd
Upstart features extensive artificial intelligence to improve access to credit for borrowers of all types. Looking beyond your credit score makes it more likely you'll be approved for your loan. Thousands of people have used this platform to get personal loans very quickly once approved. For their innovative approach to lending, competitive interest rates, and high customer satisfaction, Upstart earns our highest rating.
LendingTree is an online loan marketplace for every type of borrowing, from personal loans to credit cards and beyond. You can use this service to easily compare offers from up to five lenders at a time, helping you access good rates and terms for your personal loan. We love the detailed information provided on each lending partner, with thousands of client reviews to help determine which one is the best choice for a personal loan. LendingTree has a great reputation and is a trustworthy option if you want to use a referral service to research and secure a personal loan.
SoFi has some big benefits compared with other options for personal loans. They offer the lowest average interest rates, assistance (and forbearance) if you lose your job while repaying a loan, and even occasional sign-up bonus money. But an increase in the number of complaints from SoFi clients, which describe negative experiences specifically with the customer service department, gave us some cause for concern.
SuperMoney offers comparison shopping for many financial products, including personal loans. They offer funding through just over a dozen partners, and you can see detailed information and reviews about each one before filling out your application. SuperMoney hasn't been around as long as some of the other referral platforms we evaluated and so there's not as much customer feedback yet. SuperMoney is a good way to gather information about personal loans you might be eligible for, and their streamlined process makes it easy to complete your application.
Upgrade is one of the newer options in the personal loans industry, but the company has already made a strong showing. With just two lenders in their partnership, Upgrade can typically offer a one business day turnaround once you've accepted a loan offer. The BBB gives this service the highest possible rating, and most consumers won't have trouble getting a good personal loan here.
Prosper gives everyday investors (and institutions) the ability to fund personal loans for everyday individuals. This peer-to-peer lending platform offers next-day funding in many cases, but you need a credit score of at least 640 to be eligible to borrow money here. Overall, Prosper has a good reputation and is a reliable source of personal loans if you qualify - just remember, peer-to-peer lending is a different kind of experience.
If you'd like to compare rates across multiple lenders with a single application, Credible is a good 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. Overall, Credible has a strong reputation and gets high marks from customers.
LendingClub used to crowdfund all of their personal loans through investors. But, after undergoing some changes, their lending is now structured more like a regular bank. They offer fixed-rate loans with repayment terms of at least 36 months, and recent customer feedback is very positive. You should have a good experience if you choose to get a personal loan here, but we're holding back a higher recommendation while they continue proving out their new structure.
With a name like Personal Loans, you'd think this referral service would be the best all-around choice for borrowing money. Not so much. You'll be asked to provide extremely detailed personal information, including your SSN and employer's contact information, only to be given a list of lenders you could choose to approach for a loan. Although Personal Loans' reputation has improved over the years, there are still much better options out there for getting the cash you need.
Leap Credit offers personal loans of up to approximately $3,500 but is only authorized to operate in 10 states. However, even if you live in one of those locations, you'll probably want to avoid this lender: with interest rates of as much as 800%, hundreds of complaints from consumers, and a customer service team that's practically nonexistent, Leap Credit is one of the last places we would turn to get help in a difficult financial situation.
What's the catch? There isn't one, as long as you choose your lender carefully. Some providers of personal loans charge excessively high interest rates and offer shorter-than-average terms, making it harder for you to pay it back on time. On the other hand, most reputable sources of personal loans are completely transparent with their interest rates, give repayment terms of up to five years, and won't charge you any fees if you're able to pay off your loan earlier than anticipated.
How can you determine which lender is the best choice for your personal loan? That largely depends on your individual circumstances, but there are several factors to keep in mind as you consider your options. They include the following:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best providers of personal loans available today. We're confident that this information will help you get the money you need, deposited quickly and at the lowest possible rates!
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