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There are a few types of lenders that offer personal loans, including online lenders as well as traditional banks and credit unions. Keep in mind that each lender has its own requirements and terms — so it’s important to shop around and consider your options from as many as possible to find the right loan for your needs.
When you apply for a loan, the lender will review your credit to determine your creditworthiness. You’ll typically need good to excellent credit to get approved for a loan — a good credit score is usually considered to be 700 or higher. In general, the higher your credit score, the better your chances of getting approved for a personal loan.
Here’s what you should know about where to get a personal loan (and how to qualify for one):
- Online lenders
- Banks
- Credit unions
- Find the right loan for you
- What you’ll need to get a personal loan
Online lenders
There are a variety of online lenders that offer personal loans. Keep in mind that the best personal loan lenders provide low interest rates and a variety of repayment terms. Some also provide other features with their loans — such as no origination fees or no late fees.
Getting a personal loan from an online lender is often much faster compared to taking out a loan through a bank or credit union, which could make it a good choice if you need your funds quickly.
Pros
- Easy application process: Online lenders generally provide a quick and easy application process, and you might get an approval decision within minutes.
- Faster loan funding: If you’re approved for a loan from an online lender, you can typically expect to get your funds within five business days — faster than many banks and credit unions.
- Lower rates and fees: Online-only lenders don’t have to worry about as many overhead costs as brick-and-mortar lenders, which can sometimes translate into savings for borrowers with lower rates and fewer fees.
Cons
- Fewer options for poor or fair credit: You’ll generally need good to excellent credit to qualify for a personal loan. If you have poor or fair credit, you might have an easier time getting approved for a loan with your current bank or credit union.
- No in-person locations: Online-only lenders don’t have physical locations. If you prefer in-person service, another type of lender could be a better fit for you.
Learn More: How to Check If a Personal Loan Company Is Legitimate
Banks
Not all banks offer personal loans, but if you already have a bank account with a traditional bank, it’s a good idea to ask if they do. Existing customers might even qualify just for having an account at the bank.
While great credit can ensure you’re eligible for a bank loan, you might find a better interest rate or loan term at other financial institutions. Sometimes, the loan application process at banks is longer and requires more paperwork than other lenders. Try to compare getting a loan from a bank to other places.
Pros
- Loyalty discounts: Many banks offer rate discounts on loans to borrowers who already have an account with them.
- Physical locations: If you prefer in-person service, taking out a personal loan with a bank that has physical locations could be a better experience for your needs.
Cons
- Not all banks offer personal loans: While some banks offer personal loans, not all of them do.
- Might need to already have an account with them: Depending on the bank you choose, you might need to have an existing account in order to apply for a loan.
- Could have higher rates and fees: Because banks have greater overhead costs compared to online lenders, their loans sometimes come with higher rates and fees.
Check Out: Low-Income Loans: Personal Loans for a Tight Budget
Credit unions
Credit unions are another place to look to get a loan. Because credit unions are nonprofit organizations, they sometimes offer lower rates and fees on personal loans than other lenders. Additionally, approval ratings are higher for those with bad credit compared to banks.
The downside is that you’ll have to become a credit union member before qualifying for a loan. Requirements to join vary by credit union, but you usually need to be a member for a certain period of time — like a month, for example — before receiving a loan. Just like banks and other lenders, make sure you check out your local credit union loan offers before signing up.
Pros
- Lower rates and fees: Because credit unions are nonprofit organizations, they often have lower rates and fees compared to other lenders.
- Could be easier to qualify with bad credit: Credit unions sometimes have less stringent eligibility requirements, which means it could be easier to qualify for a loan if you have poor or fair credit.
Cons
- Must join the credit union: While you typically don’t have to be a credit union member to apply for a loan, you’ll have to join the credit union if you are approved and want to accept the loan. Membership criteria depends on the credit union credit union but often requires you to live in a certain area, work in a specific field, or join an affiliated association.
- Smaller loan amounts: Personal loans at credit unions tend to be smaller than what you can borrow with online lenders or banks — usually no higher than $50,000.
| Pros | Cons | |
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| Online lenders |
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| Banks |
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| Credit unions |
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Find the right loan for you
Regardless of where you’re trying to get a loan, many different factors can impact your approval. Browse through bank loans, credit unions, and online lenders to see which one is the right fit. You don’t need to settle on the first one you find. It’s important to research each company’s offerings before signing up.
Remember before you even start to look for personal loans, do a credit check first. Some lenders offer personal loans to those with credit history that’s not so great, but you could end up paying higher interest rates because of it.
There are a few potential ways to improve your credit, such making on-time payments on all of your bills and paying down credit card balances.
If you’re ready to take out a personal loan, remember to compare as many lenders as possible to find the right loan for you. Credible makes this easy — you can compare your prequalified rates from multiple lenders in two minutes.
| Lender | Fixed rates | Loan amounts | Min. credit score | Loan terms (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 9.95% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $35,000** | 550 | 2, 3, 4, 5* |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 4.99% - 35.99% APR | $5,000 to $35,000 | 600 | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 5.99% - 24.99% APR | $2,500 to $35,000 | 660 | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 5.99% - 24.99% APR | $5,000 to $40,000 | 600 | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.04% - 35.89% APR | $1,000 to $40,000 | 600 | 3, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.99% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $36,500 | 580 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 3.99% - 19.99% APR | $5,000 to $100,000 | 660 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (up to 12 years for home improvement loans) |
|
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 6.99% - 19.99% APR1 | $3,500 to $40,0002 | 660 (TransUnion FICO®️ Score 9) | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 18.0% - 35.99% APR | $1,500 to $20,000 | None | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 5.49% - 17.99% APR | $600 to $50,000 (depending on loan term) | 660 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.95% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $40,000 | 640 | 3, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 8.93% - 35.93% APR7 | $1,000 to $50,000 | 560 | 3, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 6.55% - 35.97% APR | $1,000 to $50,000 | 560 | 2, 3, 5, 6 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 5.4% - 35.99% APR4 | $1,000 to $50,0005 | 580 | 3 to 5 years4 |
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What you’ll need to get a personal loan
Before you look for how to get a loan, make sure you have all your necessary paperwork in place. The more prepared you are, the less time it can take to get approved. Here’s what you should do as you prepare to apply for a loan:
- Review your credit. Get your free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com to see if you have any bad marks. Derogatory marks can bring down your credit score, so you want to clear your report to make sure it’s in the best shape possible to take out a loan.
- Decide how much you need. It might seem like a good idea to apply for a loan that’s more than you need right now, but it’s not worth it. Only request what you need and remember when you pay it back, it’s with interest. Also how much you need might determine where you get a loan as many lenders require a minimum loan amount.
- Check your budget. If your personal loan is going to add another monthly payment, make sure there’s room in your budget for it.
Once you’re ready to get a loan, you can use Credible to compare your prequalified rates from multiple personal loan lenders by filling out one simple form. If you think you won’t qualify for the rates you want based on your credit, you can also consider getting a cosigner.
Ready to find your personal loan?
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Ashley Harrison contributed to the reporting for this article.
