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Best personal loans for fair credit in June 2023

Jun 08, 2023

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PERSONAL LOANS

BEST FOR FAST FUNDING

4.7

Bankrate Score
Est. APR
8.49- 35.99%
with AutoPay
Loan amount
$1k- $50K
Term: 2-7 yrs
Min credit score
Not disclosed
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PERSONAL LOANS

BEST FOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS

4.7

Bankrate Score
Est. APR
8.99- 35.99%
Loan amount
$2k- $50K
Term: 3-5 yrs
Min credit score
600
See offersArrow Right

Check rate with Bankrate

PERSONAL LOANS

BEST FOR COMPETITIVE INTEREST RATES

4.6

Bankrate Score
Est. APR
7.99- 35.99%
Loan amount
$5k- $50K
Term: 2-5 yrs
Min credit score
640
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PERSONAL LOANS

BEST FOR SECURED LOANS

4.1

Bankrate Score
Est. APR
18.00- 35.99%
Loan amount
$1.5k- $20K
Term: 2-5 yrs
Min credit score
Not disclosed
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PERSONAL LOANS

BEST FOR BORROWERS WITH LOW CREDIT

4.5

Bankrate Score
Est. APR
9.95- 35.99%
Loan amount
$2k- $35K
Term: 1-5 yrs
Min credit score
580
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PERSONAL LOANS

BEST FOR SHORT CREDIT HISTORY

4.7

Bankrate Score
Est. APR
6.70- 35.99%
Loan amount
$1k- $50K
Term: 3-5 yrs
Min credit score
Not disclosed
See offersArrow Right

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PERSONAL LOANS

BEST FOR SUBPRIME BORROWERS

4.4

Bankrate Score
Est. APR
7.99- 35.99%
Loan amount
$2k- $36.5K
Term: 2-6 yrs
Min credit score
600
Read our reviewArrow Right

on Bankrate

PERSONAL LOANS

BEST FOR JOINT APPLICATIONS

4.4

Bankrate Score
Est. APR
6.99- 35.99%
Loan amount
$2k- $50K
Term: 2-5 yrs
Min credit score
600
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PERSONAL LOANS

BEST LOAN FOR USING A CO-BORROWER

4.1

Bankrate Score
Est. APR
9.57- 36.00%
Loan amount
$1k- $40K
Term: 2-5 yrs
Min credit score
Not disclosed
Read our reviewArrow Right

on Bankrate

PERSONAL LOANS

BEST FOR CREDIT CARD DEBT

4.6

Bankrate Score
Est. APR
11.25- 29.99%
Loan amount
$5k- $40K
Term: 2-5 yrs
Min credit score
640
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How to choose a fair-credit lender

To find the best lender for you, keep an eye on the factors below.

Interest rates

Many personal loan lenders advertise low APRs (annual percentage rates), but those rates are reserved for people with the best credit and high incomes. With fair credit, you can expect higher APRs. When researching personal loan lenders, look for those that offer the lowest interest rates based on your credit score.

Fees and repayment terms

Find a lender that has minimal fees and flexible repayment terms, such as choosing your due date. Additionally, some lenders offer longer repayment terms that could reduce your monthly payment amount.

Co-signers or co-borrowers

If you can’t find a lender because of your fair credit score, search for one that allows co-signers or co-borrowers, as this could help you get approved for a better rate. Also, consider waiting until you can boost your score.

Discounts and extras

Some lenders offer discounts for signing up for automatic payments and having other accounts with them, among other things. These discounts can help you further save money on your loan by reducing how much you pay in interest each month.

It’s equally important to take a look at any additional perks offered by the lender that could be of use. These may include unemployment protection, flexible payment dates and grace periods.

Best personal loans for fair credit

While you can still get approved for a personal loan with less-than-stellar credit, you’ll have to do some digging to find the most competitive rates. To help you on your search, we’ve rounded up a list of the best fair credit loans.

Best personal loans for fair credit in 2023

LENDER BEST FOR ESTIMATED APR MINIMUM LOAN AMOUNT MAXIMUM LOAN AMOUNT
Avant Borrowers with low credit 9.95%-35.99% $2,000 $35,000
Best Egg Home improvement 8.99%-35.99% $2,000 $50,000
Upgrade Fast funding 8.49%-35.99% (with autopay) $1,000 $50,000
Happy Money Credit card debt 11.25%-24.50% $5,000 $40,000
Upstart Short credit history 6.70%-35.99% $1,000 $50,000
LendingClub Availability in most states 9.57%-36.00% $1,000 $40,000
Prosper Joint applications 6.99%-35.99% $2,000 $50,000
Achieve Competitive interest rates 7.99%-35.99% $5,000 $50,000
Discover Long repayment terms 6.99%-24.99% $2,500 $35,000
PenFed Credit union members 7.74%-17.99% $600 $50,000
LendingPoint Subprime borrowers 7.99%-35.99% $2,000 $36,500
LightStream Wide range of repayment terms 8.99%-24.99%* with AutoPay $5,000 $100,000
National Debt Relief Debt settlement Not disclosed $10,000 $100,000
Pacific Debt Relief Debt consolidation Not disclosed $10,000 $100,000

How we choose our best lenders

To select the best personal loans, Bankrate’s team of experts evaluated over 30 lenders. Each lender was ranked using a meticulous 20-point system, focusing on four main categories:

  • Checkmark
    Affordability
    The interest rates, penalties and fees are measured in this section of the score. Lower rates and fees and fewer potential penalties result in a higher score. We also give bonus points to lenders offering rate discounts, grace periods and that allow borrowers to change their due date. 
  • Checkmark
    Availability
    Minimum loan amounts, number of repayment terms, eligibility requirements, ability to apply using a co-borrower or co-signer and loan turnaround time are considered in this category.
  • Checkmark
    Customer experience
    This category covers customer service hours, if online applications are available, online account access and mobile apps.
  • Checkmark
    Transparency
    For this factor, we consider how well information is presented to the borrower on the lender’s website. This includes listing credit requirements, rates and fees, in addition to offering prequalification.

What is a fair credit loan?

A fair credit loan is a personal loan from a lender that accepts borrowers with a FICO score between 580 and 669 or a VantageScore between 650 and 699. These loans typically carry higher interests than good credit or excellent credit loans, but can still be affordable.

What does it mean to have fair credit?

Having a fair credit score means that your score is neither poor nor good, it’s average. You may still qualify for a loan, but only with select lenders. If you do qualify, you might not get the lowest interest rate available. Those are reserved for people who have excellent credit.

Lenders that offer personal loans for fair credit may charge more or higher fees than lenders that target borrowers with good or excellent credit. This means you might be on the hook for more money over the life of your loan.

FICO credit score ranges

CATEGORY CREDIT SCORE RANGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THIS CATEGORY
Exceptional 800-850 21%
Very Good 740-799 25%
Good 670-739 21%
Fair 580-669 17%
Poor 300-579 16%
Source: Experian

How to qualify for a loan with fair credit

To improve your chances of obtaining a personal loan with fair credit, try taking some of these steps before you apply.

  • Use a co-signer: Different from a co-borrower, a co-signer adopts responsibility for your loan — and therefore risk. Because of this, they may make it easier for you to qualify. Choosing a co-signer with good credit will improve your overall creditworthiness and may allow you to secure better terms and interest rates.
  • Prequalify: If you're unsure if you'll qualify for a loan with a particular lender, see if it offers prequalification. That way, you'll not only know how much you can borrow but also avoid harming your credit score even further before applying.
  • Pay down debt: Many lenders consider your debt-to-income ratio in addition to your credit score. By paying down credit card debt before applying for a loan, you'll look better to potential lenders.
  • Use a local bank or credit union: Your existing bank or a local credit union may be more lenient when it comes to your credit score, especially if you have a history of timely payments on your accounts.

How to apply for a fair credit loan

To apply for a fair credit personal loan make sure you follow these five steps.

  1. Determine how much you need: Calculate how much money you need and factor in any origination fees that may be deducted from your loan proceeds.
  2. Check your credit score: The higher your credit score, the better APR you'll receive. If you have fair credit, you should consider a co-signer for more favorable rates.
  3. Get prequalified: This lets you check your rates with multiple lenders without hurting your credit score.
  4. Compare rates and loan terms: Look at a variety of lenders, including banks, credit unions and online lenders to see which offers you the most competitive rates.
  5. Complete the application process: You’ll need to submit documents such as pay stubs, tax returns and personal identification.

Alternative loan options for fair credit

If you’re unable to take out a personal loan due to your fair credit, you may want to look at other options.

  • Federal credit union: While you usually have to join a credit union before taking out a personal loan, federal credit unions tend to be more forgiving to those with fair credit. 
  • Balance transfer credit card: If you’re looking to pay off credit card debt, consider getting a credit card with a 0 percent APR introductory offer. That way, you can move your balance over and keep interest from adding up. Keep in mind that you might not qualify for the full balance to be moved over.
  • Home equity loan or line of credit: If you have a home, you may be able to use that as collateral and take out a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC). Remember, your home is used to secure the loan, so if you miss payments, the house could be subject to foreclosure.

How to improve your fair credit score

Raising your credit score will give you the best chance of qualifying for a personal loan with lower rates. Ways to improve your credit score include:

  • Pay off existing debt: Your credit utilization ratio makes up 30 percent of your FICO score. Lowering your total debt shows more responsible use of credit.
  • Make payments on time: Payment history makes up 35 percent of your credit score, so making late payments or missing payments altogether will tank your score.
  • Keep old accounts open and don't open new ones: Keeping old, unused accounts open raises the average age of your accounts, which makes up 15 percent of your credit score. Don’t open new credit accounts before applying for a loan, as that will lower the average age of your account.

FAQs about personal loans