Our top picks for personal loans for fair credit
To make our choices for the best personal loans for fair credit, we collected 806 data points for popular lenders, including 26 individual data points for 31 lenders. We also looked at customer reviews and overall ratings from ConsumerAffairs reviewers. We then used these data points to evaluate factors that have the most impact on borrowers, such as credit score requirements, annual percentage rates (APRs), funding timelines and fees, which we used to help us make our final selections.
Our picks may be Authorized Partners who compensate us. This doesn’t affect our recommendations or evaluations, but it may impact the order in which the companies appear.
Our picks for the best personal loans for fair credit come from:
Note that specific loan amounts, rates and terms may not be available in all states. Even application availability can vary by lender and state law, so make sure to check any existing state restrictions before choosing your lender.
- Loan amount
- $2,000 to $50,000
- Term lengths
- 3 to 5 years
- Minimum credit score
- 640
Partner Disclosures
LendingClub disclosures
A representative example of payment terms for a Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $27,198 for a term of 36 months, with an interest rate of 14.49% and a 6% origination fee of $1,632, for an APR of 17.32%. In this example, the borrower will receive $25,566 and will make 36 monthly payments of $936. Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $75,000 and loan term lengths range from 24 months to 84 months. Some amounts, rates, and term lengths may be unavailable in certain states, and may not be available for all Personal Loan products and/or through all application channels or platforms. For Personal Loans, APR ranges from 5.96% APR to 35.99% APR and origination/processing fee ranges from 0.00% to 8.00% of the loan amount. APRs and origination/processing fees are determined at the time of application. The lowest APR may be available to borrowers with excellent credit, subject to additional factors including, but not limited to, loan amount, loan term, and sufficient investor commitment. Advertised rates and fees are valid as of April 27, 2026, are subject to change without notice, and may not be available for all Personal Loan products and/or through all application channels or platforms. Loans are made by Happen Bank, N.A., Equal Housing Lender (“Happen Bank”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Happen, Inc, NMLS ID 167439. Credit eligibility is not guaranteed. Loans are subject to credit approval and may be subject to sufficient investor commitment. Credit union membership may be required. “Happen” and the “H” symbol are trademarks of Happen Bank. Happen Bank is not an affiliate of this platform, which is an unrelated third party ("third party”). Happen Bank is not responsible for any products and services provided by this third party, which may receive compensation if you visit the Happen Bank’s websites or use any of its products or services. Certain information that Happen Bank subsequently obtains as part of the application process (including but not limited to information in your consumer report, your income, the loan amount that you request, the purpose of your loan, and qualifying debt) will be considered and could affect your ability to obtain a loan. Loan closing is contingent on accepting all required agreements and disclosures.
Best Egg disclosures
Best Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. Eligibility is not guaranteed. The term, amount and APR of any loan we offer to you will depend on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, loan amount, credit history and other factors. If offered, your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. Your application is complete when you submit it to Best Egg. Your acceptance of an offer may impact your credit score. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. Loan amounts range from $5,000–$50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,500; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001. Only two active Best Egg loans are available at one time and your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 6.99%–35.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0.99%–9.99% of your loan amount, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. The origination fee on a loan term 4 years or longer will be at least 4.99%. Your loan term will impact your APR, which may be higher than our lowest advertised rate. Eligibility for the best available rate subject to creditworthiness. For example: a 5-year $10,000 loan with a 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81; a 3-year $5,000 loan with 6.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $152.83. Best Egg loans can be prepaid at any time without penalty. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Best Egg loans have a minimum term of 36 months and a maximum term of 60 months. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey Chartered Bank, operating from its Wilmington, Delaware, branch location, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, or Column N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. © 2026 Marlette Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved.
- Loan amount
- $2,000 to $35,000
- Term lengths
- 2 to 5 years
- Minimum credit score
- 580
- Loan amount
- $1,000 to $75,000
- Term lengths
- 2 to 7 years
- Minimum credit score
- 660
Partner Disclosures
LendingClub disclosures
A representative example of payment terms for a Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $27,198 for a term of 36 months, with an interest rate of 14.49% and a 6% origination fee of $1,632, for an APR of 17.32%. In this example, the borrower will receive $25,566 and will make 36 monthly payments of $936. Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $75,000 and loan term lengths range from 24 months to 84 months. Some amounts, rates, and term lengths may be unavailable in certain states, and may not be available for all Personal Loan products and/or through all application channels or platforms. For Personal Loans, APR ranges from 5.96% APR to 35.99% APR and origination/processing fee ranges from 0.00% to 8.00% of the loan amount. APRs and origination/processing fees are determined at the time of application. The lowest APR may be available to borrowers with excellent credit, subject to additional factors including, but not limited to, loan amount, loan term, and sufficient investor commitment. Advertised rates and fees are valid as of April 27, 2026, are subject to change without notice, and may not be available for all Personal Loan products and/or through all application channels or platforms. Loans are made by Happen Bank, N.A., Equal Housing Lender (“Happen Bank”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Happen, Inc, NMLS ID 167439. Credit eligibility is not guaranteed. Loans are subject to credit approval and may be subject to sufficient investor commitment. Credit union membership may be required. “Happen” and the “H” symbol are trademarks of Happen Bank. Happen Bank is not an affiliate of this platform, which is an unrelated third party ("third party”). Happen Bank is not responsible for any products and services provided by this third party, which may receive compensation if you visit the Happen Bank’s websites or use any of its products or services. Certain information that Happen Bank subsequently obtains as part of the application process (including but not limited to information in your consumer report, your income, the loan amount that you request, the purpose of your loan, and qualifying debt) will be considered and could affect your ability to obtain a loan. Loan closing is contingent on accepting all required agreements and disclosures.
Best Egg disclosures
Best Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. Eligibility is not guaranteed. The term, amount and APR of any loan we offer to you will depend on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, loan amount, credit history and other factors. If offered, your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. Your application is complete when you submit it to Best Egg. Your acceptance of an offer may impact your credit score. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. Loan amounts range from $5,000–$50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,500; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001. Only two active Best Egg loans are available at one time and your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 6.99%–35.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0.99%–9.99% of your loan amount, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. The origination fee on a loan term 4 years or longer will be at least 4.99%. Your loan term will impact your APR, which may be higher than our lowest advertised rate. Eligibility for the best available rate subject to creditworthiness. For example: a 5-year $10,000 loan with a 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81; a 3-year $5,000 loan with 6.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $152.83. Best Egg loans can be prepaid at any time without penalty. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Best Egg loans have a minimum term of 36 months and a maximum term of 60 months. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey Chartered Bank, operating from its Wilmington, Delaware, branch location, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, or Column N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. © 2026 Marlette Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved.
- Loan amount
- $5,000 and $50,000
- Term lengths
- 2 to 5 years
- Minimum credit score
- 640
How to get a loan with fair credit
Here are the steps to take to get a personal loan for fair credit:
1. Narrow down your lender options
The type of funding you need can influence which lender will work best for you. Are you looking for a general use loan, or do you prefer a lender that specializes in debt consolidation, credit card consolidation, home improvement or emergency loans?
Additionally, consider what type of financial institution you’re most comfortable working with. Online lenders are known for fast funding and ease of approval. However, traditional banks and credit unions may provide more personal service, and credit unions in particular often offer lower rates to their members. If you’re a member of a credit union or have a longtime bank relationship with your bank, it can also improve your odds of getting approved for a loan.
2. Compare fair credit lenders
If you need to borrow with a fair credit score, make sure you do your research and look at lenders that offer personal loans to people with fair credit. Compare factors like APRs, fees and repayment terms.
Consider which factors matter most to you and what tradeoffs you’re willing to make. For example, if you want a loan with minimal fees and the lowest APR you can qualify for, can you compromise on funding speed or loan amount?
To check your rate and compare loan terms across multiple lenders, you can usually prequalify with no impact to your credit score. This involves a soft credit check. Proceeding with the application after prequalification will trigger a hard credit inquiry, which can cause a temporary dip in your credit score.
3. Make sure you meet requirements
Confirm that you have the necessary qualifications to apply for a loan. For instance, lenders may set a minimum credit score. You’ll also need to submit proof of income as part of your application. Some lenders require a minimum income, while others weigh your income alongside other factors as part of a more holistic approval process.
Along with your credit score and annual income, lenders also consider your debt-to-income ratio, employment stability and recent credit history. These components, combined with the specific loan amount and term you’re applying for, mean that even borrowers with the same credit score may receive different offers.
If you don’t know what the qualifications are, you can usually get prequalified, which will give you a better idea of the loans you’re eligible for.
4. Apply for a loan
You can generally apply for a loan online. To do this, you’ll need to provide some personal and financial details, such as your income and current debts. If your request is approved, you can then select a loan offer based on the rate, terms and payment options you prefer. Once your loan is approved, the money is sent straight to your bank account or directly to your creditors.
Tips for borrowers with fair credit
Getting a personal loan with fair credit is possible, but if you don’t need money right away, it’s best to improve your credit score first or apply with a co-borrower or co-signer.
Improve your credit score
If you want to qualify for a better interest rate and you don’t need a loan immediately, it’s best to focus on increasing your credit score. Even increasing your score from 590 to 650 should open up your loan options. However, if you’re able to increase your credit score to the good range, or a FICO score of 670 to 739, you should be able to qualify for more loan options, better terms and lower rates.
Consider adding a co-signer or a co-borrower
If you’re struggling to qualify for a loan, look for one that permits a co-borrower or co-signer. A co-borrower is a person who applies for a loan with you and gets equal access to the funds, while a co-signer is someone who takes on the responsibility to repay the loan if you miss payments.
If you’re able to apply with a co-signer or co-borrower with good to excellent credit, that should provide you with more loan options and increase your approval odds.
» MORE: Guide to getting a personal loan with a co-signer
Investigate personal loan alternatives
An unsecured personal loan isn’t the only way to borrow money with fair credit. If you’ve had difficulty qualifying for an unsecured personal loan, you can also consider alternatives such as a balance transfer credit card for debt consolidation.
A secured loan is another option if you have collateral, and it may be easier to get approved with fair credit. Expanding your search to lenders that offer these options can help you find the right fit.
FAQ
How much of a loan can you get with a fair credit score?
How much of a loan you can get with a fair credit score will vary by lender. Other factors like your income, employment and current debt may also impact how much you can borrow. You can typically get prequalified on a lender’s website with no impact to your credit score, which will allow you to see what loan amount, terms and rates you might qualify for if you apply.
Are personal loans for fair credit legit?
It’s possible to get a personal loan from a legitimate lender if you have fair credit. However, don’t expect to qualify for the best interest rates or repayment terms, since those are typically reserved for people with excellent credit.
What is needed to qualify for a personal loan?
The qualifications for personal loans will vary from lender to lender, but you’ll typically have the best odds of approval with a good credit score or better, a low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio and steady employment and income.
Bottom line
A personal loan can be an effective way to gain fast access to cash. With a fair credit score, it’s possible to get approved for a loan, but you can expect fewer options and higher interest rates than someone with an excellent credit score.
When looking for a fair credit lender, compare lenders based on factors like interest rates, repayment terms and fees. If you don’t need a loan immediately, you may also want to consider improving your credit score first to get access to more loan options or better rates.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- myFICO, “What is a FICO Score?” Accessed July 13, 2026.
