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Best personal loans for excellent credit in March 2025

Updated Mar 03, 2025

What to know first: A credit score from 800 to 850 shows you know how to manage your credit. And an excellent credit score comes with many perks, including access to some of the best personal loan APRs available, higher loan amounts and more repayment options.

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Upgrade: Best for paying off debt

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

Happy Money: Best for specialized debt consolidation

4.2
Est. APR
8.95- 17.48%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$5k- $40K
Min credit score
640

PERSONAL LOANS

Upstart: BEST FOR LOW INTEREST RATES

4.7
Est. APR
6.70- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $50K
Min credit score
300

PERSONAL LOANS

Best Egg: BEST FOR QUICK FUNDING

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

PERSONAL LOANS

Splash Financial: Best for initial comparison research 

4.0
Bankrate Review
Est. APR
8.99- 35.99%
Loan term
2-7 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $100K
Min credit score
Not disclosed

PERSONAL LOANS

Citi® Personal Loan: Best for no fees

4.6
Est. APR
11.49- 20.49%
Loan term
1-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k- $30K
Min credit score
Not disclosed

PERSONAL LOANS

Prosper: BEST FOR JOINT APPLICATIONS

4.5
Est. APR
8.99- 35.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k- $50K
Min credit score
600

PERSONAL LOANS

Achieve: BEST FOR PEOPLE WITH AN EXCELLENT CREDIT CO-BORROWER

4.5
Est. APR
8.99- 29.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$5k- $50K
Min credit score
620
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A closer look at our top excellent credit loan lenders

Here's a deep dive into the lenders, why each is the best in its category and, specifically, who would benefit most as a client.

LightStream: Best for excellent credit

LightStream
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: LightStream — part of Truist Bank — is an online lender providing loans that can be used for practically any legal purpose. It offers exceptionally low rates for creditworthy borrowers, and is the only company among our best lenders that offers a customer service guarantee of $100.

Est. APR
6.99%–25.29%
Loan amount
$5k– $100k
Min credit score
695

Upstart: Best for low interest rates

Upstart
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7

Overview: Upstart was founded in 2012 and is an online lender that leverages AI technology to evaluate applications. It doesn't charge any prepayment fees, offers same-day funding and has one of the lowest minimum rates out of the best excellent credit lenders, starting below 8 percent. 

Est. APR
6.70%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $50k
Min credit score
300

Achieve: Best for people with an excellent credit co-borrower

Achieve
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: Achieve is a lender dedicated to helping borrowers consolidate and eliminate excessive amounts of high-interest debt. It offers discounts to its members and provides personalized debt relief solutions. 

Est. APR
8.99%–29.99%
Loan amount
$5k– $50k
Min credit score
620

Happy Money: Best for specialized debt consolidation

Happy Money
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2

Overview: Founded in 2009 in Costa Mesa, California, Happy Money is a lender that features one loan designed to consolidate debt — the Payoff Loan. It also features the lowest APR maximum out of our best excellent credit lenders.

Est. APR
8.95%–17.48%
Loan amount
$5k– $40k
Min credit score
640

Citi: Best for no fees

Citi® Personal Loan
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: Citi has the longest history out of all of our best lenders across all categories. Established in 1812, the national bank started as the City Bank of New York. It offers loans for borrowers with excellent credit and unlike most of our excellent credit lenders, doesn't charge any fees.

Est. APR
11.49%–20.49%
Loan amount
$2k– $30k
Min credit score
Not specified

Upgrade: Best for paying off debt 

Upgrade
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: Aside from credit cards, checking and savings accounts, Upgrade offers personal loans that can help you consolidate debt.

Est. APR
7.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $50k
Min credit score
580

Best Egg: Best for quick funding

Best Egg
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: Best Egg offers tools, products and resources to help consumers get approved for financing products and reach their financial goals. Unlike most traditional lenders, the company offers both secured and unsecured loan options.

Est. APR
6.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k– $50k
Min credit score
600

Prosper: Best for joint applications

Prosper
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: Founded in 2005, Prosper is headquartered in San Francisco. It started solely as a peer-to-peer lender but has since added other products while maintaining a solid core personal loan offering. Its minimum APR is on the lower end, and it allows for co-applicants, which can make landing that low APR more attainable.

Est. APR
8.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k– $50k
Min credit score
600

What is an excellent credit personal loan?

An excellent credit loan is a personal loan that's geared toward the most creditworthy borrowers. This means that only those with higher FICO scores will qualify for the best terms or, in some cases, at all. Borrowers may also have to meet stringent financial requirements to qualify. 

While this will vary depending on the lender, most require that applicants have a strong, established credit history, a steady income (some even have minimum income requirements), a clean credit report and a low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio

Excellent credit loans aren't easy to qualify for, seeing as they're the most competitive on the market. When compared to other loans, they offer the lowest minimum APRs, lower origination fees and flexible repayment options.

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What are the best uses for an excellent credit personal loan?


Student Loans and Student Aid Expert, College Admissions and Financial Aid

If you have excellent credit, you are more likely to qualify for a personal loan, but you will also pay a lower interest rate, saving you money. Although you can use a personal loan for many things, such as paying for a wedding, cosmetic surgery, traveling and going on a vacation, the best uses are the ones that yield a positive return on your investment, as opposed to pure consumption. These include paying for your education, home improvement and business startup expenses. Using a personal loan for debt consolidation can also help you save money by reducing the average interest rate on your debt.

Senior writer, Loans

With some excellent credit rates hovering around the 6 percent range, an excellent credit personal loan can be a strategic tool to fill temporary cash needs. It can fund the completion of an over budget home improvement much more quickly and at a lower rate than current home equity loans. If you need a quick funding source to make a large purchase you had intended to pay for with a delayed commission or bonus, an excellent credit loan may fill the gap. These loans also come in handy if you’re buying and renovating property and need quick, cheap cash to complete the improvements.

Average personal loan rates for excellent credit

The average personal loan rate for excellent credit is 12.37 percent APR, according to Bankrate's weekly Bankrate Monitor survey. However, with some lenders, your rate could be much lower. In fact, some of the lenders profiled offer rates below 8 percent.

CATEGORY CREDIT SCORE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THIS CATEGORY ESTIMATED APR
Excellent 800-850 21% 10.73%-12.50%
Very good 740-799 25% 10.73%-12.50%
Good 670-739 21% 10.73%-19.90%
Fair 580-669 17% 17.80%-32.00%
Very poor 300-579 16% 28.50%-32.00%
Source: Experian, Bankrate Data
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In the news

Excellent credit borrowers may benefit from three Fed rate cuts in 2024, with some personal loan lenders offering rates below 7 percent to qualified applicants. That said, average rates are holding strong over 12 percent, which may be a sign of how difficult it is to qualify for those single-digit minimum rates. Despite the Fed rate cuts, mortgage rates have remained stubbornly high, making personal loans an attractive alternative. You can also get cash quickly to get your home show-ready without tying up any equity needed for a down payment on your next home.
 

How to compare excellent credit lenders

When choosing a personal loan lender, consider your needs and financial goals. You’ll want to shop around and compare lenders to find the best match for your situation. Compare:

  • Qualification requirements: The more selective a lender is, the harder it is to qualify for their loans. But successfully qualifying could mean saving money with a lower APR and fewer fees.
  • Available loan amounts: A higher credit score or income could make you eligible to borrow more money from your lender — but don't borrow more than you need or can pay off.
  • Loan terms: Longer loan terms come with smaller monthly payments, but you'll end up paying more interest on your loan. Shorter terms can save you money on interest if you can afford a higher monthly payment. The right monthly payment balances affordability and frugality.
  • Annual percentage rate: Your excellent credit could help you qualify for some of the lowest rates available, but some lenders go lower than others.
  • Fees: Origination fees are common with personal loans, although some lenders, such as LightStream, don't charge fees. You're more likely enjoy waived fees if you have excellent credit.
  • Time to funding: Some lenders offer same-day funding, while others may take a few days or weeks to finalize details and distribute funds.
  • Customer support: Some may offer live chat, while others can only be contacted by phone during business hours. Online banks are frequently accessible 24/7, but you won't have the option for face-to-face contact like you would with traditional banks or credit unions.

Pros and cons of excellent credit personal loans

As with any financial product, there are advantages and disadvantages of personal loans — even if you have excellent credit.

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Pros

  • Lower interest rates than credit cards.
  • Not secured by any assets.
  • Fixed interest and repayment terms.
  • Flexibility with use of funds.
Red circle with an X inside

Cons

  • Origination fees.
  • Must pay interest over life of loan.
  • May increase debt-to-income ratio.
  • Funds disbursed in one lump sum

Alternatives to personal loans for excellent credit

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Alternatives to personal loans

If a personal loan isn't the best fit for your situation, there are alternative funding options to consider. Look into each product's details and consider the potential long-term financial impact before making a final decision. 

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Frequently asked questions about excellent credit personal loans

How we choose our best excellent credit loan lenders

Bankrate's trusted personal loans industry expertise

48

years in business

30

lenders reviewed

20

loan features weighed

665

data points collected

To select the best excellent-credit 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: