Opening a new account may temporarily ding your credit score. However, if you are consistent about making your payments, refinancing a personal loan can actually help you build your credit score over time.
Lender | User ratings | Best for… | APR range | Loan terms | Loan amounts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Excellent credit borrowers | 6.99% - 25.49% (with autopay) | 24 to 84 months | $5,000 - $100,000 | See Personalized Results | |
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Small loan amounts | 7.99% - 17.99% | 12 to 60 months | $600 - $50,000 | See Personalized Results | |
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Repayment assistance options | 7.99% - 24.99% | 36 to 84 months | $2,500 - $40,000 | See Personalized Results | |
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Bad credit borrowers | 8.49% - 35.99% (with discounts) | 24 to 84 months | $1,000 - $50,000 | See Personalized Results | |
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Same-day funding | 8.99% - 29.99% (with discounts)* | 24 to 84 months | $5,000 - $100,000 | See Personalized Results | |
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Debt consolidation | 8.99% - 35.99% | 36 to 60 months | $2,000 - $50,000 | See Personalized Results | |
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Large loan amounts | 13.39% - 24.91% | 36 to 120 months | $20,000 - $200,000 | See Personalized Results |
APR range | 6.99% - 25.49% (with autopay)** |
Loan terms | 24 to 84 months** |
Loan amounts | $5,000 - $100,000*** |
Minimum credit score | Not specified |
Origination fee | None |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Autopay rate discount Wide range of loan terms available Same-day funding available | Not an option for bad credit borrowers Higher minimum loan amount No ability to prequalify |
Still, since the company requires good to excellent credit, it may not be a fit for those with lower credit scores. Plus, there’s no option to prequalify for a loan, so it can be hard to shop around for the best rate with this lender.
Read our full LightStream personal loan review.
**Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Excellent credit is required to qualify for lowest rates. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 5.99% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $304.17. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2024 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.
*** While LightStream offers loans up to $100,000, LendingTree marketplace customers will only find loan amounts up to $50,000.
APR range | 7.99% - 17.99% |
Loan terms | 12 to 60 months |
Loan amounts | $600 - $50,000 |
Minimum credit score | 760 |
Origination fee | None |
Pros | Cons |
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Lower maximum APR No origination fee Offers joint applications | Low maximum loan amount Credit union membership required High minimum credit score requirement |
That said, at least one borrower will need to have a high credit score in order to qualify, and you’ll need to join the credit union in order to receive your loan funds.
Read our full PenFed Credit Union personal loan review.
APR range | 7.99% - 24.99% |
Loan terms | 36 to 84 months |
Loan amounts | $2,500 - $40,000 |
Minimum credit score | 720 |
Origination fee | None |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Repayment assistance options available for borrowers who are having trouble making payments Competitive APR No origination fee | Low maximum loan amount Steep late payment fee ($39) High minimum credit score requirement |
At the same time, though, Discover’s maximum loan amount is fairly low and its minimum credit score requirement is fairly high, which means it may not be a fit for all borrowers. You’ll also face a steep late payment fee if your payment arrives after its due date.
Read our full Discover personal loan review.
APR range | 8.49% - 35.99% (with discounts) |
Loan terms | 24 to 84 months |
Loan amounts | $1,000 - $50,000 |
Minimum credit score | 580 |
Origination fee | 1.85% - 9.99% |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Low minimum credit score requirement Interest rate discounts available Offers the opportunity to apply with a co-borrower | Charges an origination fee High maximum APR Charges late fees ( $10) |
Keep in mind that if you go this route, you may get hit with some pretty hefty added fees. Upgrade charges an origination fee that extends up to 9.99% and a $10 fee on late payments.
Read our full Upgrade personal loan review.
APR range | 8.99% - 29.99% (with discounts)* |
Loan terms | 24 to 84 months |
Loan amounts | $5,000 - $100,000* |
Minimum credit score | 680 |
Origination fee | 0.00% - 7.00% (optional) |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
High maximum loan amount Offers same-day funding Interest rate discounts available | Higher minimum loan amount Must accept origination fee for lowest APRs Higher minimum credit score requirement |
Be aware that SoFi’s minimum loan amount is fairly high at $5,000, so those looking for small loans may need to go elsewhere. Plus, with a minimum credit score of 680, you’ll need a good credit score to qualify for one of its loans.
Read our full SoFi personal loan review.
APR range | 8.99% - 35.99% |
Loan terms | 36 to 60 months |
Loan amounts | $2,000 - $50,000 |
Minimum credit score | 600 |
Origination fee | 0.99% - 8.99% |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Will pay your creditors directly Allows prequalification Option to choose a secured loan | Charges an origination fee Not available in all states No joint loan option |
With that in mind, note that Best Egg charges a mandatory origination fee on all of its loans and its loan products are not available in all states. You can’t get a Best Egg loan if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia or any U.S. territories.
Read our full Best Egg personal loan review.
APR range | 13.39% - 24.91% |
Loan terms | 36 to 120 months |
Loan amounts | $20,000 - $200,000 |
Minimum credit score | 660 |
Origination fee | 3.00% - 4.00% |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Wide range of loan amounts available Longer loan terms available Offers opportunity for prequalification | High interest rates Charges an origination fee Longer funding times (up to 5 days) |
Yet, BHG Money’s interest rates are definitely on the higher end, and this lender charges an origination fee. On top of that, it may take up to five days to complete your funding request.
Read our full BHG Money personal loan review.
Once you’ve received the funds for your new loan, you’ll be expected to start making payments on it. You’ll continue making regular payments on your new loan balance until it is paid off in full.
Yes, many lenders offer the option to refinance a personal loan — but it’s best to check in with your lender to be sure.
Note that even though you could refinance a personal loan multiple times, each instance of taking out a new loan can temporarily hurt your credit score. Generally, requirements for refinancing include maintaining good credit and qualifying with the lender.
Not all lenders allow you to use their funds to refinance an existing loan. However, once you’ve compiled a shortlist of candidates, it’s a good idea to compare loan offers. Taking this step can save you money in the long run.
Here’s how to do it:
APRs: The APR on a personal loan measures the total cost of the loan, including the interest rate and any fees. Pay close attention to this metric because it can make a big difference in the amount you pay over the life of the loan.
Added fees: Some lenders charge added fees, such as origination fees or prepayment penalties. Be sure to ask each lender to provide you with a fee schedule, so you’ll know what to expect in terms of additional charges.
Loan terms: The loan term refers to the total amount of time you have to repay your loan. Long-term personal loans typically come with lower monthly payments, but you’ll likely pay more in interest charges overall. Short-term loans will allow you to save on interest, but your monthly payment will be higher.
Funding time: Every lender has its own funding time. Some lenders have the capacity to offer same-day funding while others will take a few days to complete your request. Make sure the lender’s timeline works in your schedule before you sign on the dotted line.
Lender perks: Occasionally, lenders will offer perks, like interest rate discounts or direct payments. Consider these factors as you’re weighing your options.
Here’s how to refinance a personal loan in five easy steps:
Here are three signs it could be a good idea to refinance your loan:
And, here are two signs you should wait to refinance:
We reviewed more than 29 lenders to determine the overall best seven personal loans for refinancing. To make our list, lenders must offer joint loans with competitive APRs. From there, we prioritize lenders based on the following factors:
Opening a new account may temporarily ding your credit score. However, if you are consistent about making your payments, refinancing a personal loan can actually help you build your credit score over time.
Yes, it’s possible to refinance a personal loan with bad credit. Focus your search on bad credit loans for the best results.
Ultimately, refinancing a loan is a personal decision. If you can get a lower rate, refinancing can help you save money and may even help you pay off your loan faster. But if you can’t, refinancing may be more costly than it’s worth.
*Pricing Disclosure:
Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 29.99% APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% direct deposit interest rate discount. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 02/06/2024 and are subject to change without notice. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2022 was around $30K. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed and will depend on the term you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and a variety of other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0%-7%, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to potentially receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction for setting up direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A. or eligible cash management account offered by SoFi Securities, LLC (“Direct Deposit Account”), you must have an open Direct Deposit Account within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled payroll direct deposits of at least $1,000/month to a Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off direct deposits to your Direct Deposit Account. You are not required to enroll in direct deposits to receive a Loan.