Best Personal Loans in Athens (GA)
We have found 111 personal loans to apply for in Athens, GA. Add more criteria to compare personal loans and find the best one for you.
- Minimum credit:Fair (580-669)
- Autopay discount:0.5%
- Origination fee:No origination fee.
- Funds available in:1 business day.
- Loan Purpose:Personal Loan
- Pros:
- Low rates
- No fees
- Fast approval and funding
- Rate discount for autopay
- Digital experience
- Cons:
- Minimum loan amount is a bit high
- Requires a long credit history
LightStream is the online lending division of Truist (formerly SunTrust Bank).
The key feature of LightStream's online personal loans is that they can be up to $100,000 and used for nearly any reason.
LightStream charges no fees on its personal loans. Plus, it offers to send you $100 if you’re unsatisfied with the loan process.
- Minimum credit:Fair (580-669)
- Autopay discount:0.25%
- Origination fee:No origination fee.
- Funds available in:5 business days.
- Loan Purpose:Personal Loan
- Pros:
- No fees
- Autopay discount
- Cons:
- Long time to receive funds
- No Cosigner Option
Marcus offers unsecured personal loans up to $40,000 with rates from 6.99% to 24.99%.
Marcus does not charge origination, late payment and check processing fees.
- Minimum credit:Poor (300-579)
- Origination fee:10%
- Funds available in:1 business day.
- Loan Purpose:Personal Loan
- Pros:
- No prepayment penalty
- Next day funding
- Cons:
- Origination Fee
- Extra Fees
Upstart loans range from $1,000 to $50,000. Not all applicants will qualify for the full amount.
The minimum loan amount: $7,000 (MA), $6,000 (Ohio), $5,100 (NM), $3,100 (GA), $2,100 (HI).
Borrowers need credit scores of 580 or higher.
Upstart offers fixed-rate APRs that vary from 5.60% to 35.99%. Loan terms are available for 3 or 5 years.
The origination fee ranges from 0% to 8%.
- Minimum credit:Good (670-739)
- Origination fee:5%
- Funds available in:3-6 business days.
- Loan Purpose:Personal Loan
- Pros:
- No prepayment or late fees
- Free monthly FICO score updates
- Cons:
- Co-signers are not accepted
- Origination Fee
- Slow funding
- Not available in all states
The Payoff Loan™ is an unsecured personal loan designed to consolidate your credit cards into one monthly payment. Payoff requires a minimum FICO credit score of 640 or higher. It provides loans of up to $40,000.
The Payoff platform provides loans with rates between 8.99% and 29.99% APR. Minimum loan amount and APR may vary in certain states.
- Minimum credit:Poor (300-579)
- Origination fee:3 - 6%
- Funds available in:1 business day.
- Loan Purpose:Personal Loan
- Pros:
- Quick, easy online application
- Fast funding
- Cons:
- Origination fee
LendingClub offers loans of $1,000 to $40,000.
The APR range is from 8.30% to 36.00%. Loan terms are available for 3 or 5 years.
LendingClub charges an origination fee of 3% to 6% on personal loans.
- Minimum credit:Good (670-739)
- Autopay discount:0.25%
- Origination fee:No origination fee.
- Funds available in:1 business day.
- Loan Purpose:Personal Loan
- Pros:
- Fast approval and funding
- Rate discount for autopay
- No Fees
- Cons:
- Not available to residents of Mississippi
- No secured loan option
SoFi loans range between $5,000 to $100,000.
The APR range is from 7.99% to 23.43% (with discounts). Loan terms are available for 2 or 7 years.
The loan is not available in Mississippi.
SoFi personal loans have no fees: no origination fees, no late fees, no prepayment penalties.
- Minimum credit:Poor (300-579)
- Origination fee:4.75%
- Funds available in:1 business day.
- Loan Purpose:Personal Loan
- Pros:
- Fast approval and funding
- Low minimum credit score requirements
- No prepayment fees
- Cons:
- Fees
- No Autopay discount
- No Cosigner Option
Avant offers unsecured loans of $2,000 to $35,000. Rates range from 9.95% to 35.95%.
Avant charges an origination fee up to 4.75%.
Avant personal loans are not available in Colorado, Iowa, West Virginia, New York, Vermont, Hawaii, and Nevada.
- Minimum credit:Fair (580-669)
- Origination fee:2.41 - 5%
- Funds available in:1 business day.
- Loan Purpose:Personal Loan
- Pros:
- Fast approval and funding
- Simple application process
- Cons:
- Origination fee
- Extra Fees
- No Autopay Discount
- Not available in all states
Prosper offers fixed-rate APRs that vary from 7.95% to 35.99%. Loan terms are available for 3 or 5 years.
The origination fee ranges from 2.41% to 5%. Prosper charges $15 for failed payments or returned checks. Payments that are 15 or more days late are assessed a late fee.
If you don't qualify for a personal loan with Prosper, consider applying with a co-applicant.
- Minimum credit:Good (670-739)
- Origination fee:0.99 - 8.99%
- Funds available in:1-3 business days.
- Loan Purpose:Personal Loan
- Pros:
- Fast approval
- Low fixed rates
- Fast funding
- Cons:
- Fee charged
Best Egg is a national online lending platform offering personal loans starting at $2,000 for a variety of purposes.
Best Egg’s personal loans are ideal for consolidating debt or funding major expenses. Borrowers cannot use loans toward securities or postsecondary educational expenses.
There are no prepayment penalties, so you can pay off the loan ahead of schedule without extra fees.
Best Egg origination fees vary from 0.99% to 8.99%.
The quote you receive is based on multiple factors, including: Credit score and history, Income, Debt obligations, Loan amount, Repayment term (36 vs. 60 months).
- Minimum credit:Poor (300-579)
- Origination fee:$25 - $500
- Funds available in:1 business day.
- Loan Purpose:Personal Loan
- Pros:
- Secured and unsecured options
- Poor-credit applicants considered
- Cons:
- Origination fee
- Extra Fees
- High Rates
OneMain Financial offers loans that range from $1,500 to $20,000. The annual percentage rate ranges from 18.00% to 35.99%.
You may be approved for an unsecured or a secured loan. A secured loan requires you to provide collateral, such as a motor vehicle, while an unsecured loan doesn’t require any collateral at all.
OneMain charges late payment fees. These fees may range from a flat amount of $5 to $30 per late payment, or they may be a percentage of your entire monthly payment amount or a percentage of the delinquent portion of your monthly payment amount, ranging from 1.5% to 15%.
The lender charges an origination fee. Flat fees vary by state and range from $25 to $500. Percentage fees range from 1% to 10% of the loan.
TOP 5 banks offering personal loans in Athens
- Bank name
- Total Assets
- Branches
How to choose the best personal loan in Athens, Georgia?
Personal loans can be a useful tool to fill in any gaps in your budget. When used smartly, a personal loan can give you some financial flexibility and improve your financial health. So, it is important to find a loan that is compatible with your finances.
There are a few factors to consider when choosing a personal loan, including:
- Annual Percentage Rate (APR). The APR is the most important feature of a loan to consider. It is a measure of the total cost of the loan, including interest and fees.
- Loan amount. You might not know exactly how much money you need, so it helps to research loan amount options and pick a lender that provides a substantial amount.
- Monthly payments. The monthly payment is the total amount you have to pay every month. Make sure that the monthly amount is something that fits comfortably into your budget.
- Credit requirements. Generally speaking, most lenders prefer borrowers with good to excellent credit (670 or higher). However, some lenders will accept those with poor to fair credit.
- Collateral. Most personal loans are unsecured, which means they do not require collateral. However, some loans will require it. Secured loans often have lower interest rates as the lender incurs less risk with the collateral present. Unsecured loans, in contrast, usually have higher interest rates.
- Origination fee. Most lenders charge processing fees in addition to interests. The processing fee, also called loan origination fee, is a percentage of the total loan amount. The usual loan origination fee is around 0.5% - 1% of the loan amount, but amounts may vary from lender to lender. Choosing a personal loan with low processing fees can save you money in the long run.
Once you have considered the factors above, you can start comparing personal loans.
Compare and choose the best personal loan in Athens
| Lender | APR | Loan Amount | Loan term | Origination Fee | Score Required | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LightStream | 6.49 - 21.99% | $5,000 - $100,000 | 2 - 6 years | No origination fee. | From Fair (580-669) to Fair (580-669) | Check rates On partner's site |
Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 7.24 - 25.24% | $3,500 - $40,000 | 3 - 6 years | No origination fee. | From Fair (580-669) to Excellent (740-799) | Check rates On partner's site |
Upstart | 5.6 - 35.99% | $1,000 - $50,000 | 3 - 5 years | 10% | From Poor (300-579) to Excellent (740-799) | Check rates On partner's site |
Payoff® | 8.99 - 29.99% | $5,000 - $40,000 | 2 - 5 years | 5% | From Good (670-739) to Excellent (740-799) | Check rates On partner's site |
LendingClub | 8.3 - 36% | $1,000 - $40,000 | 3 - 5 years | 3 - 6% | From Poor (300-579) to Excellent (740-799) | Check rates On partner's site |
SoFi | 8.24 - 23.68% | $5,000 - $100,000 | 2 - 7 years | No origination fee. | From Good (670-739) to Excellent (740-799) | Check rates On partner's site |
Avant | 9.95 - 35.95% | $2,000 - $35,000 | 1 - 5 years | 4.75% | From Poor (300-579) to Excellent (740-799) | Check rates On partner's site |
Prosper | 7.95 - 35.99% | $2,000 - $40,000 | 3 - 5 years | 2.41 - 5% | From Fair (580-669) to Excellent (740-799) | Check rates On partner's site |
Best Egg | 7.99 - 35.99% | $2,000 - $50,000 | 3 - 5 years | 0.99 - 8.99% | From Good (670-739) to Good (670-739) | Check rates On partner's site |
OneMain Financial | 18 - 35.99% | $1,500 - $20,000 | 2 - 5 years | $25 - $500 | From Poor (300-579) to Excellent (740-799) | Check rates On partner's site |
Tips for increasing your chances of getting approved for a personal loan
- Get your credit in good shape. The best way to improve your chances of getting approved for a personal loan is to have good credit. You can improve your credit by paying your bills on time, keeping your credit utilization low, and disputing any errors on your credit report.
- Increase your income. If your income is low, you may have a harder time getting approved for a personal loan. You can increase your income by getting a raise, getting a second job, or starting a side hustle.
- Be prepared to provide documentation. When you apply for a personal loan, you will need to provide documentation of your income, assets, and debts. This documentation will help the lender assess your ability to repay the loan.
- Shop around for the best interest rate. Don't just take the first personal loan offer you see. Shop around and compare offers from different lenders to find the best interest rate.
Conclusion
Getting a personal loan can be a great way to consolidate debt, finance a big purchase, or cover unexpected expenses. However, it is important to compare loans carefully and shop around for the best interest rate. By following the tips above, you can increase your chances of getting approved for a personal loan and getting the best possible terms.