Personal Loans for Good Credit: Best of 2024
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The best personal loans for good-credit borrowers (with credit scores from 690 to 719) typically have low interest rates, plus perks like free credit monitoring and hardship assistance programs. Generally, the better your credit, the wider pick of lenders you have.
Here are the top lenders offering the best personal loans for borrowers with good credit.
LendingClub: Best for joint loans.
Rocket Loans: Best for fast funding.
Reach: Best for debt consolidation.
First Tech: Best for small loan amounts.
LightStream: Best for home improvement.
SoFi: Best for high loan amounts.
Discover: Best for low rates.
Personal Loans for Good Credit: Best
Our pick for
Good credit and joint loans
LendingClub personal loans are a solid option for good-credit borrowers looking to consolidate debt and build their credit.
- Joint loan option.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
- Option to change your payment date.
- Origination fee.
- Minimum credit score: 600; average borrower score is above 700.
- Minimum income: None; lender requires proof of income. Borrower average is $100,000 per year.
- Maximum DTI: 40%.
- Minimum credit history: 36 months and two accounts.
- Origination fee: 3% to 8%.
- Late fee: 5% of payment or $15 after 15-day grace period.
- Insufficient funds: $15.
Our pick for
Good credit and fast funding
- Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Fast funding.
- Option to change your payment date.
- Wide range of loan amounts.
- Origination fee.
- Only two repayment term options.
- No secured, co-signed or joint loan options.
- No direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Minimum credit score: 640.
- Minimum annual gross income: $24,000.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 40% or 70% including a mortgage.
- Minimum credit history: 2 years.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must be a U.S. resident living in one of the states where the lender does business.
- Origination fee: Up to 9%.
- Late fee: $15.
- Non-sufficient funds fee: $15.
Our pick for
Good credit and debt consolidation
Reach Financial Personal Loans
5.99-35.99%
$3,500-$40,000
660
Payoff offers loans and ongoing support to help good-credit borrowers pay off credit card debt.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Fast funding.
- Customizable repayment terms.
- Hardship program for borrowers in need.
- Origination fee.
- No co-signed, joint or secured loan options.
- Reports payments to only two of the three major credit bureaus.
- Minimum credit score: 660.
- Minimum credit history: 3 years and 1 account.
- Minimum net income: $1,000 left after monthly bills, such as rent and other debt installments, are paid.
- Acceptable income sources: Employment, alimony, retirement, child support, Social Security payments and disability benefits.
- Must be a U.S. resident who lives in one of the 41 states where the company does business, or Washington, D.C.
- Origination fee: 4% to 8%.
- Late fee: $15.
- Non-sufficient funds fee: $25.
Our pick for
Good credit and small loan amounts
First Tech Credit Union Personal Loan
8.14-18.00%
$500-$50,000
660
First Tech’s personal loans are a sound option for members who want a customizable loan with fast funding.
- Co-sign and joint loan options.
- Wide range of loan amounts.
- Wide variety of repayment term options.
- Fast funding.
- Pre-qualification results are limited.
- No direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- No rate discount.
- Minimum credit score: 660.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 50%.
- Must be a member of First Tech Federal Credit Union.
- Must provide a Social Security number and copy of your driver's license or other state-issued ID.
- Late fee: $29
Our pick for
Good credit and home improvement
LightStream targets strong-credit borrowers with no fees and low rates that vary based on loan purpose.
- No fees.
- Rate discount for autopay.
- Long repayment terms and large loan amounts.
- Fast funding.
- Rate Beat program and Experience Guarantee.
- No option to pre-qualify.
- No direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- High minimum loan amount.
- Minimum credit score: 660, but can vary depending on the loan purpose and amount.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 50%.
- Minimum credit history: 3 years.
- Income sources accepted: Employment, retirement, rental income, alimony, child support, Social Security payments and disability benefits.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years old and has a U.S. bank account.
- Origination fee: None.
- Late fee: None.
Our pick for
Good credit and high loan amounts
SoFi Personal Loan
8.99-29.99%
$5,000-$100,000
None
SoFi is a strong option for good-credit consumers, offering low rates, no fees and flexible payments.
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Fast funding.
- Large loan amounts.
- Joint loan option.
- Mobile app to manage loan.
- No option to choose initial payment date.
- High minimum loan amount.
- Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent or non-permanent resident, including DACA recipients and asylum seekers.
- Must be employed, have sufficient income from another source, or have an offer of employment to start within the next 90 days.
- Acceptable income sources: Employment, spouse’s income, retirement, alimony, child support, Social Security payments and disability benefits.
- Origination fee: 0% to 7%.
- Late fee: None.
Our pick for
Good credit and low rates
Discover® Personal Loans
7.99-24.99%
$2,500-$40,000
660
Discover’s online experience, strong customer support and borrower perks make it a top lender for good- and excellent-credit applicants.
- No origination fee.
- Fast funding.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Wide variety of repayment term options.
- Available nationwide.
- No rate discount.
- Late fee.
- No co-sign or joint loan option.
- Minimum credit score: 660.
- Minimum annual household income: $25,000. Income can come from employment, retirement, alimony, child support, Social Security payments and disability benefits.
- Must provide a valid U.S. address and email address.
- Must be 18 years old with a valid Social Security number.
- Origination fee: None.
- Late fee: $39.
NerdWallet's guide to good-credit personal loans
Most personal loans are unsecured, which means lenders evaluate applicants' ability to repay by considering factors like credit score rather than relying on collateral. A good credit score often means lower annual percentage rates (APRs) and more favorable loan terms.
Here’s what makes our picks for the best personal loans for good credit stand out:
LendingClub: Best good-credit loans for co-borrowers
LendingClub offers joint personal loans for applicants financing a shared expense. Adding a co-borrower with excellent credit or a higher income may help you qualify for a lower rate or larger loan amount.
Rocket Loans: Best good-credit loans for fast funding
Rocket Loans can approve a personal loan application the same day you submit. When you pre-qualify, the lender lets you instantly preview loan offers. Once you select a loan offer and formally apply, Rocket Loans provides approval decisions within minutes. If you sign the loan documents by 1 p.m. ET on a business day, the funds will be sent to your bank account that day.
Reach: Best good-credit loans for debt consolidation
Reach Financial provides personal loans solely for the purpose of consolidating credit cards or other debts. If approved for a loan, Reach pays your creditors directly, saving you that step in the debt consolidation process. The lender can send electronic payments the same day the loan is approved or overnight checks if electronic payments aren’t an option.
First Tech: Best good-credit loans for small loan amounts
The minimum loan amount for a First Tech personal loan is $500, making it suitable for small expenses, such as a minor home or car repair. Most personal loan amounts start at or above $1,000.
LightStream: Best good-credit loans for home improvement
LightStream offers extended loan terms of up to 20 years for home improvement loans of $25,000 or more. The lender provides loans of up to $100,000, which can fund a major home renovation project.
SoFi: Best good-credit loans for high loan amounts
The maximum loan amount for a SoFi personal loan is $100,000, which can cover a wide variety of borrowing needs. Many personal loans lenders cap borrowing to $50,000 or less.
Discover: Best good-credit loans for low rates
Rates for Discover personal loans are — and have historically been — lower than most other lenders’ rates. A good credit score gives you a better chance at getting a low rate.
What are rates on good-credit loans?
Good-credit borrowers tend to get lower APRs on personal loans compared to fair- or bad-credit borrowers. A lower rate means you’ll pay less interest over the life of the loan.
The rate also affects your monthly payment. Use our personal loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments based on interest rate.
Here is what personal loan rates look like, on average:
Borrower credit rating | Score range | Estimated APR |
Excellent | 720-850. | 11.30%. |
Good | 690-719. | 14.06%. |
Fair | 630-689. | 16.85%. |
Bad | 300-629. | 20.28%. |
Source: Average rates are based on aggregate, anonymized offer data from users who pre-qualified through NerdWallet from Nov. 1, 2024, through Nov. 30, 2024. Rates are estimates only and not specific to any lender. The lowest credit scores — usually below 500 — are unlikely to qualify. Information in this table applies only to lenders with maximum APRs below 36%.
Where to get a personal loan with good credit
Good-credit borrowers can get a personal loan from online lenders, credit unions or banks.
Online lenders
An online lender lets you pre-qualify, apply and manage the loan from your computer or phone. Good- and excellent-credit borrowers tend to get the best rates and features, so pre-qualifying with multiple lenders and comparing offers is a good idea.
» MORE: Best online loans
Credit unions
Local and national credit unions may offer lower interest rates and more flexible terms than other lenders. You typically have to be a member to borrow from a credit union.
Banks
Banks offer personal loans to existing account holders, often at low rates. Bank customers can also benefit from rate discounts and a streamlined online application process.
» MORE: Best bank loans
How to choose a personal loan
A good credit score could get you loan offers from multiple lenders. Consider these factors to choose the right loan for your plans:
Compare rates across lenders: If you’re someone with good credit, it pays to shop around for the best combination of low rates and fees. Many lenders let you pre-qualify to check rates without affecting your credit.
Loan amount: The amount of money you could receive with a personal loan ranges from about $1,000 to $50,000, though some lenders offer up to $100,000. The amount you request from a lender may factor into their decision to qualify you, so carefully consider how much you need.
Loan purpose: A benefit of personal loans is you can use the money for almost any reason. Common uses are to pay off high-interest credit cards or finance home improvements, and rates can vary based on the loan purpose.
Loan term: Personal loan repayment terms are generally from two to seven years, though some lenders offer extended terms for specific purposes like home improvement. A shorter loan term means you'll pay less total interest on the loan. A longer term lowers your monthly payments.
Loan features: Some lenders have mobile apps where you can track your loan and manage monthly payments. Others offer flexible payment schedules or payment assistance programs. If you’re consolidating debt, some lenders will send loan proceeds directly to your creditors, saving you an important step.
Additional benefits: Take advantage of benefits a lender may offer such as free credit score monitoring and financial planning resources.
How does a personal loan affect your credit?
Though pre-qualifying for a personal loan typically won’t hurt your credit score, a lender will conduct a hard credit check when you formally apply, which can cause your score to drop a few points.
However, payment history represents 35% of an individual’s credit score, according to the credit scoring company FICO. Making on-time loan payments can build your score, while a missed payment can cause your score to drop by as much as 100 points.
If you don’t have other forms of installment credit, such as a student loan or auto loan, getting a personal loan may add to your credit mix, which makes up about 10% of your score, according to FICO.
Alternatives to personal loans for good-credit borrowers
While a good credit score may qualify you for low personal loan rates, consider alternatives to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
Zero-interest credit card: A 0% APR credit card lets you borrow at no cost, as long you pay the card’s balance within the introductory period — typically 15 to 21 months. Most zero-interest cards require good or excellent credit.
Personal line of credit: A personal line of credit functions like a mix between a personal loan and a credit card. During the “draw” period, you borrow against your credit limit as needed, make payments and can borrow more as your balance replenishes. Your monthly payments and interest costs are based on your outstanding balance. Once the draw period ends, you’ll make monthly payments until the balance is repaid.
Home equity financing: With a home equity loan or home equity line of credit, you can borrow against your home’s equity, which is its value minus what you owe on it. Equity financing options usually have lower rates and longer repayment terms than personal loans. Your home is collateral for this type of financing, meaning if you default, the lender could take your property.
Last updated on November 7, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates personal loan products from more than 35 financial technology companies and financial institutions. We collect over 50 data points and cross-check company websites, earnings reports and other public documents to confirm product details. We may also go through a lender’s pre-qualification flow and follow up with company representatives. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.
Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer consumer-friendly features, including: soft credit checks to pre-qualify, competitive interest rates and no fees, transparency of rates and terms, flexible payment options, fast funding times, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to credit bureaus and financial education. Our ratings award fewer points to lenders with practices that may make a loan difficult to repay on time, such as charging high annual percentage rates (above 36%), underwriting that does not adequately assess consumers’ ability to repay and lack of credit-building help. We also consider regulatory actions filed by agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to consumers and how meaningfully they impact consumers’ experiences.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for personal loans and our editorial guidelines.
NerdWallet's Personal Loans for Good Credit: Best of 2024
- LendingClub: Best for Good credit and joint loans
- Rocket Loans: Best for Good credit and fast funding
- Reach Financial Personal Loans: Best for Good credit and debt consolidation
- First Tech Credit Union Personal Loan: Best for Good credit and small loan amounts
- LightStream: Best for Good credit and home improvement
- SoFi Personal Loan: Best for Good credit and high loan amounts
- Discover® Personal Loans: Best for Good credit and low rates
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good credit score for a personal loan?
Good credit scores are between 690 and 719. The credit score you need for a personal loan can vary by lender and the reason you're borrowing. The best personal loan rates and terms are reserved for those with good or excellent credit.
- How do I get a personal loan with good credit?
Lenders favor borrowers with good or excellent credit scores (above 689). Lenders also consider your debt-to-income ratio on a loan application. When you're ready to apply for a personal loan, pre-qualify and compare offers from multiple lenders to make sure you're getting the best rates and terms available.
