Having good credit is more than just a three-digit number. It can make or break your chances of getting a loan.
A minimum credit score of 670 is a “good” credit score. And for the most part, the better your credit score, the better rates and terms your loan will be.
Before you take out a personal loan, check to see which lenders offer the best loans for you.
Best personal loans for excellent credit
Excellent credit is a score between 800 and 850 — with 850 being perfect. If your score is excellent, you’re most likely going to get approved for a personal loan with better rates. Here are some lenders that offer unsecured personal loans for excellent credit.
Lightstream
If you have excellent credit, you can take advantage of low, fixed rates starting from 3.99%+ APR. Repayment terms last from two to seven years, giving you the chance to have low monthly payments that won’t derail your budget.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
These loan terms give you up to 6 years to repay your personal loan with Marcus. If you have stellar credit, you could get rates from Marcus starting at 6.99%+ APR.
Best personal loans for good credit
Having a “good” credit score means it’s at least 670. Here are some loans that might work for your good credit score.
Lending Club
This is a good loan option if you have good credit. Rates start from 6.95%+ APR. You can elect either 3- or 5-year loan terms — whichever best aligns with your budget.
Prosper
Rates get as low as 6.95%+ APR with 3- and 5-year terms. If you qualify, you can borrow up to $35,000.
Best Egg
Like other loans for good credit, Best Egg allows you to have 3- and 5-year loan terms. But the better your credit, the more likely you are to qualify for the 5.99%+ APR interest rates.
Best personal loans if you have little or no credit history
If you haven’t had credit for long or don’t have much on your credit report to prove your creditworthiness, it might be hard to qualify for a personal loan. Luckily there are a few companies who help those with “thin” credit.
Avant
Avant’s interest rates are higher than others because you can qualify for a loan with a credit score as low as 580. If you can get a loan through Avant, interest rates start at 9.95%+ APR with loan terms up to 5 years.
Upgrade
You might qualify for up to $50,000 if you get a loan from Upgrade. With interest rates starting at 7.99%+ APR, this could be a great loan rate if you have minimal credit.
Upstart
If your credit score is on the lower end, an Upstart loan might work for you. Interest rates get as low as 8.89%+ APR and terms are either 3 or 5 years.
Best personal loans for debt consolidation
If you’re looking to move all your loans into one lender, you can probably get a debt consolidation loan through almost any lender you’d like. But some loan servicers specialize in loan consolidation. Find ones that have no origination fee, prepayment penalty, or transfer charges.
Payoff
Interest rates are as low as 5.99%+ APR. You might also qualify for loan terms up to 5 years, which can allow you to have lower monthly payments.
FreedomPlus
You can take advantage of relatively low interest rates if you have awesome credit. Rates start as low as 4.99%+ APR with terms up to 5 years.
Credit score factors
Your FICO credit score comes from a few different factors. While some have a higher impact on your score than others, it’s important to pay attention to each category when building up your credit.
- Payment history (35%): Late payments are one of the biggest hits your credit score can take. Always try to make on-time payments as much as possible.
- Total loan amount owed (30%): Sometimes referred to as credit utilization, this is the amount of credit card debt (and other debt) you have divided by the amount of credit available to you. If you’ve maxed out all your credit cards, for example, you’re at 100%. This makes you look very risky to lenders. It’s best to try to keep your credit usage below 30%.
- Length of credit history (15%): The longer you’ve been using credit, the more attractive you are to lenders. Borrowers who are new to the lending world are riskier than those who have been managing credit for a while.
- Credit mix (10%): This is the type of credit you’re using. Having more than one type of credit can show lenders your borrowing diversity. A mix can include a student loan, a car loan, and a credit card.
- New credit (10%): Apply for new credit with caution. Every new application causes a hard credit check, which can cause your score to take a temporary dip. Lots of applications signals to lenders that you’re in financial trouble, which could hurt your chances of getting approved.
The better your credit score, the better chances you have of getting approved for a personal loan.
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