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Best personal loans for bad credit in February 2025

SEE IF YOU PREQUALIFY FOR A PERSONAL LOAN

Find out if you prequalify for personalized loan offers in 2 minutes or less—with no impact to your credit

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Upgrade: Best for a wide range of repayment terms

4.6
Est. APR
7.99- 35.99%
with AutoPay
Loan term
2-7 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $50K
Min credit score
580

PERSONAL LOANS

Avant: Best for lower credit scores

4.5
Est. APR
9.95- 35.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k- $35K
Min credit score
550

PERSONAL LOANS

Upstart: Best for limited credit history

4.7
Est. APR
7.40- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $50K
Min credit score
300

PERSONAL LOANS

BEST EGG: BEST FOR SECURED LOAN OPTIONS

4.6
Est. APR
6.99- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k- $50K
Min credit score
600

PERSONAL LOANS

ONEMAIN FINANCIAL: BEST FAST-FUNDING BAD CREDIT LENDER

4.3
Est. APR
18.00- 35.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$1.5k- $20K
Min credit score
Not disclosed

PERSONAL LOANS

LendingPoint: Best for low minimum rate with many repayment terms

4.4
Est. APR
7.99- 35.99%
Loan term
2-6 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $36.5K
Min credit score
600
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Upstart
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7
Est. APR
7.40%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $50k
Min credit score
300

OneMain
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Est. APR
18.00%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1.5k– $20k
Min credit score
Not specified

Upgrade
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
Est. APR
7.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $50k
Min credit score
580

Best Egg
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
Est. APR
6.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k– $50k
Min credit score
600

Avant
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5
Est. APR
9.95%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k– $35k
Min credit score
550

Lending Point
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
Est. APR
7.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $37k
Min credit score
600
Credit rating Credit score Average loan interest rate
Bad 300–629 28.50%-32.00%
Fair 630–689 17.80%-19.90%
Good 690–719 13.50%-15.50%
Excellent 720–850 10.73%-12.50%
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LEARN MORE ABOUT

Personal Loan Interest Rate Forecast For 2024

Average personal loan interest rates hover around 12 percent in early 2024.

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Pros

  • Save hundreds of dollars in interest compared to credit cards.
  • Pay off revolving debt like credit cards and boost your credit score.
  • Get funds within one business day.
  • Avoid putting your car or home at risk.
  • Qualify more easily than with home equity loans.
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Cons

  • Incur origination fees up to 12 percent of the loan amount.
  • Receive funds all at once instead of reusing credit.
  • May not qualify if you don’t have a steady income.
  • Pay higher interest rates and costs than home equity loans.
  • Receive shorter terms than home equity loans or cash-out refinances.
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BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

Ask the experts: If I get a bad credit personal loan, can I refinance it later?


Nationally recognized student financial aid expert

"You may be able to refinance a bad credit personal loan, depending on your specific circumstances. You might qualify for a new loan at a lower interest rate if your credit score has improved or prevailing interest rates have decreased. If your income has increased or you’ve paid down other debt, your debt-to-income ratio may have decreased, making you more attractive to potential lenders. Adding a cosigner with very good or excellent credit can help you qualify for a lower interest rate. Lender criteria may vary, so it pays to shop around."

Senior writer, Loans

"It may be worth it to refinance a bad credit personal loan if your scores have improved enough to get a much lower rate. First, determine if your lender charges a penalty for paying the loan off early. If they do, a refinance may not make financial sense because the prepayment penalty costs will eat into your refinance savings. Second, if the lender charges fees for your refinance, calculate your refinance breakeven point. For example, if a refinance will save you $50 per month but costs you $1,000, it will take you 20 months to recoup the refinance costs. Refinancing makes sense if you plan to keep the loan for more than 20 months. Finally, avoid extending your term if possible. An example of this would be if you have three years left on a five-year personal loan term, try to refinance to a new loan with a three-year term, so you don’t start the five-year payoff clock again."

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Bankrate insight

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48

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45

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