LightStream Personal Loans: 2021 Review

LightStream features

Here's a breakdown of some of the benefits and drawbacks of LightStream personal loans.

LightStream offers high borrowing amounts and low rates on its unsecured personal loans, which can be used for nearly any purpose, including debt consolidation and adoption financing.

LightStream charges no fees on its personal loans and is even willing to beat competitors’ rates by 0.1 percent (with some restrictions). Plus, it offers to send you $100 if you’re unsatisfied with the loan process. If you have a strong credit history and plenty of assets, this lender could be a good fit.

LightStream is the online lending division of Truist (formerly SunTrust Bank).

LightStream snapshot

Pros and cons of LightStream personal loans

Here’s a breakdown of some of the benefits and drawbacks of LightStream personal loans.

Pros:

• Low rates: LightStream loan APRs start at 5.95 percent, which is very competitive. To qualify for the lowest rate, you’ll need to enroll in auto-payments to receive a 0.5 percent discount. Your APR will differ based on the loan purpose, amount, and term length and your credit.
• No fees: LightStream doesn’t charge any fees on its loans.
• Fast approval and funding: Qualified borrowers can be approved and receive their funds as soon as the same day.
• Digital experience: The process is entirely online, and LightStream has an app where you can apply for a loan, see account balances, check payment due dates, and make payments.

Cons:

• Minimum loan amount is a bit high: The smallest loan amount available with LightStream is $5,000. If you’re looking for a loan below that amount, you’ll have to find a different lender.
• Requires a long credit history: LightStream customers typically have several years of credit history across different account types such as major credit cards, auto loans and home mortgages.

Lending terms

The typical LightStream customer has a minimum FICO score of 660. The lender also considers your:

• Credit score and credit history.
• Requested loan amount.
• Requested loan purpose.
• Repayment term (two to seven years, depending on the loan amount).
• Available assets.
• Payment record on all loans and credit cards.

Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000, and the fixed APR ranges from 5.95 percent to 19.99 percent. All LightStream personal loans come with two- to six-year terms, and loans of $25,000-$100,000 are also available with terms up to seven years.

If you find a better APR with a different lender, LightStream will beat the rate by 0.1 percent if you can show you were approved by the competitor for the same type of fixed-rate loan for the same amount, term, purpose and payment method.

Other lenders might offer lower loan amounts, shorter terms or more limitations on how borrowers can use the loan funds. LightStream does have a few restrictions, though. You can’t use a LightStream personal loan to:

• Fund college or post-secondary education expenses, though you can use LightStream loans for preschool and K-12 expenses.
• Refinance previous college or post-secondary education loans.
• Refinance existing LightStream loans.
• Fund businesses.
• Fund a cash-out refinance.
• Purchase stocks, bonds, or stock options, or repay a loan against a stock option.
• Contribute to retirement, life insurance or education savings programs.

Fees and penalties

LightStream charges no origination fees, prepayment penalties or late fees, and there’s also no fee if you set up an automatic ACH debit through your bank account. You will not receive the 0.5 percent auto-pay discount if you pay manually.

How to apply for a loan with LightStream

LightStream’s application process is quick and straightforward. Here are the details you’ll need to provide:

• Loan purpose, amount and term
• Payment method
• Personal information (including your address, phone number, email address and Social Security number)
• Employment information
• Current monthly housing payments, such as rent or mortgages
• Income and balances of checking and savings accounts
• Stocks, bonds and vested retirement assets

Once you’ve submitted the loan application, LightStream will review it, conduct a hard credit pull and email you with the status of your application. If approved, you can sign your loan agreement and set up your funding date and payment information online.

Once you’re approved, the lender will disburse funds to your account. That can happen as soon as the day you apply, as long as your application is verified and approved before 2:30 p.m. Eastern on a business day.

Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Eastern. LightStream’s website doesn’t provide a phone number, but you can email your questions and a representative will respond during business hours.

How Bankrate rates LightStream

Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the lender’s website for the most current information.