Compare 14 lenders before a dash of cash

May suit: Wide range of amounts and terms. Funding: As little as 24 hours after approval.

Happen Bank is the recent new name for LendingClub, one of the longer-running online lenders; the old LendingClub site now redirects to Happen Bank. Personal loans run from $1,000 to $75,000 with terms of 24 to 84 months and APRs from 5.96% to 35.99%. Applicants can check a rate with a soft credit pull, and the lender says funds can arrive in as little as 24 hours after approval. Joint personal loan applications are accepted, and for debt consolidation the lender can pay creditors directly. Loans are available in all U.S. states and D.C., but not in U.S. territories. It may suit borrowers who want a broad choice of amounts and term lengths or who plan to apply with a co-borrower. The main watchout is the origination fee of 0% to 8%, deducted from the proceeds, so someone who needs $1,000 in hand may need to request more. NerdWallet reports a 600 minimum credit score and a 40% maximum debt-to-income ratio.

May suit: Members wanting loans from $500. Funding: Typically within a few business days.

Andrews Federal Credit Union is a federal credit union offering personal loans from $500 to $50,000, one of the lower minimums in this comparison. Advertised rates start as low as 7.49% APR on a 36-month loan and as low as 12.00% on an 84-month loan, but the credit union does not publish a maximum APR for its signature loans, so the rate a given borrower receives may sit well above the starting figure. Terms reach 84 months, although loans under $5,000 are capped at 48 months and terms of 72 months or longer require at least $10,000. Funding typically takes a few business days. You must be a member to take out a personal loan; the lender says joining is free, and the eligibility rules are on the lender's site. No sign-up fees are stated. For other fees and for whether a soft-pull rate check is offered, check the lender's site. It may suit people who qualify for membership and want a smaller loan from a not-for-profit lender.

May suit: Borrowers with no credit history yet. Funding: 1–4 days (review-site estimate).

Oportun lends from $300 to $10,000 and does not require a credit history, which makes it one of the few options here for people who are new to credit; NerdWallet reports no minimum credit score. Applicants can prequalify with a soft credit pull. The tradeoff is cost. NerdWallet estimates APRs of about 31.95% to 35.95%, close to the 36% ceiling used in this comparison, and Oportun charges an administrative fee of up to 10%. The lender's own page shows only a 35.95% example rather than a full range. Terms run 12 to 60 months, and NerdWallet reports funding in one to four days. Availability is limited: Oportun's personal loans are not offered in Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Washington, West Virginia or D.C., and higher minimums apply in Hawaii ($1,600) and for some Georgia loans ($3,100). It may suit borrowers with thin credit who have already checked whether a lower-cost option is open to them.

May suit: Existing members planning ahead. Funding: Typically same day once approved.

Alliant Credit Union is an online-only credit union offering personal loans from $1,000 to $100,000 with terms of 12, 24, 48 or 60 months. Advertised rates start as low as 8.741% APR on a 12-month term and as low as 11.741% on a 60-month term. The maximum APR is not published, so check the lender's site for the rate you would actually qualify for. Alliant says no service charges are deducted from the loan amount, so the full approved amount is deposited, and approved loans are typically deposited the same day. The main hurdle is timing: you must have been an Alliant member for at least 90 days before you can apply, which rules it out for an urgent expense unless you already belong. LendingTree reports that Alliant does not offer a soft-pull rate check, so applying likely means a hard inquiry. It may suit existing members who are planning a purchase a few months ahead and want no fee taken out.

May suit: Fair to good credit, capped rate. Funding: As soon as the next day.

PenFed Credit Union offers personal loans from $600 to $50,000 with terms of 12 to 60 months and no origination fee. NerdWallet lists APRs of 6.09% to 17.99%, including a 0.25% autopay discount, while LendingTree lists a 6.39% floor, so confirm the current starting rate on PenFed's site. The maximum, just under 18%, is about half the 35.99% cap many online lenders use. Applicants can prequalify with a soft credit pull, and approved loans can fund as soon as the next day. Membership is required but open: anyone can join by opening a savings account with $5, and non-members can join while applying. Loans are available in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. It may suit borrowers with fair to good credit who want a capped rate and no upfront fee. The watchouts are the membership step and the 60-month maximum term, which keeps payments on larger balances higher than a longer term would.

May suit: Eligible employees wanting payroll repayment. Funding: As little as 1 business day after approval.

Kashable works differently from every other lender in this comparison: it is an employer benefit, and loans are repaid automatically through payroll deduction. Its personal loans run from $250 to $30,000, with terms from 6 to 36 months and APRs from 6% to 35.99%. There is no origination fee, but Finder reports a processing fee of up to 10%, capped at $200, and says the application uses a hard credit check rather than a soft pull. Approval is based mainly on employment, and Finder reports funding in as little as one business day after approval. The big limit is eligibility. Federal employees and retirees can apply in every state except West Virginia, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, while other workers qualify only if their employer partners with Kashable. Active-duty military members are not eligible. It may suit eligible employees who want small loans with payments taken out before the paycheck reaches their account.

May suit: Military-connected households needing small amounts. Funding: Most within 24 hours; same day for Personal Expense loans.

Navy Federal Credit Union offers personal loans from $250, one of the lowest minimums here, up to $150,000, with APRs of 8.74% to 18.00% and no origination fee. Terms reach 60 months for personal expense and debt consolidation loans and up to 180 months for home improvement loans. Funding is quick: the lender says most loans fund in 24 hours or less, with same-day funding for Personal Expense loans. NerdWallet reports no published minimum credit score. Membership is the key requirement and is limited to members of the armed forces, Department of Defense personnel, veterans and their families. Loans over $50,000 need a qualified co-applicant, and debt consolidation loans are capped at $50,000. NerdWallet reports that Navy Federal does not offer a soft-pull rate check, so an application likely means a hard inquiry. It may suit military-connected households that want a small, low-fee loan with the rate capped at 18%.

May suit: Checking a credit union rate softly. Funding: Same day for most approved applicants.

First Tech Federal Credit Union offers personal loans from $500 to $50,000 with no origination fee and a soft-pull rate check. The lender's rates page shows APRs from as low as 11.99% for 24- to 60-month terms and does not publish a maximum; NerdWallet lists an 18.00% maximum and a lower floor, so confirm current figures on the lender's site. Longer terms depend on the amount: a 48-month term requires at least $5,000 and a 60-month term at least $10,000, so a small loan carries a shorter term and a higher monthly payment. NerdWallet, citing First Tech, reports same-day funding for most approved applicants. Membership is required, and there are several ways in, such as joining the Financial Fitness Association or the Computer History Museum, being related to a member, or living in certain Oregon or Massachusetts localities. It may suit borrowers who want to see a credit union rate without a hard inquiry.

May suit: Nationwide membership and longer terms. Funding: Check the lender's site.

Connexus Credit Union offers personal loans from $1,000 to $50,000 with terms of 24 to 84 months, among the longest terms in this comparison. The advertised APR range is 9.99% to 18.49%, but that range includes two 1% discounts, one for eStatements and one for autopay, so a borrower without both may see a higher rate. Qualifying prior borrowers may get an extra 0.25% loyalty discount. Membership is open nationwide by joining the Connexus Association with a $5 one-time donation and depositing $5 in savings. The loan page does not state an origination fee and links to a fee schedule, so check the lender's site for fees. The lender cites one-business-day approvals, but for funding timing and for whether a soft-pull rate check is offered, check the lender's site. It may suit borrowers outside the usual credit union membership rules who want a longer term to lower the monthly payment.

May suit: Good credit, $2,000 or more, fast. Funding: Same day if finalized by 4 p.m. ET on a business day.

Rocket Loans offers personal loans from exactly $2,000 up to $75,000, so it fits only the top of the small-loan range. APRs run from 7.99%, which includes an autopay discount, to 29.99%, the lowest maximum among the lenders here that are not credit unions. Applicants can prequalify with a soft credit pull, and funding can arrive the same day if the loan is finalized by 4 p.m. ET on a business day. Terms are limited to 36 or 60 months. The origination fee runs up to 9.99% and is deducted from the proceeds, which matters at the $2,000 minimum. NerdWallet reports a 640 minimum credit score and a $24,000 minimum income. Loans are not available in Iowa, Maryland, Nevada, West Virginia or U.S. territories. It may suit borrowers with good credit who need at least $2,000 quickly and are comfortable with a three- or five-year term.

May suit: Small, short loans with capped rates. Funding: 2–3 days (review-site estimate).

Patelco Credit Union offers personal loans from $300 to $100,000 with APRs of 6.99% to 17.90% and no origination fee. Terms run from 6 to 84 months, but the minimum amount rises with the term: the $300 minimum applies to 6- to 24-month terms, and 73- to 84-month terms require $20,000. NerdWallet reports that applicants can prequalify without affecting their credit score and that funding takes two to three days; the lender itself describes quick funding. Patelco's LevelUp program can cut the APR by up to 1.5 percentage points. Membership is required before the loan funds, and NerdWallet reports it is open nationwide through the Financial Fitness Association, with the fee covered for the first year. The watchouts: NerdWallet lists a 630 minimum credit score and says Patelco reports only to Experian, so on-time payments may not show on all three credit reports. It may suit fair-credit borrowers who want a small, short loan.

May suit: Limited credit history, strong work record. Funding: As fast as 24 hours after approval and signing.

Upstart offers personal loans from $1,000 to $75,000 with APRs of 6.3% to 35.99% and looks beyond the credit score, considering factors such as education and work history. NerdWallet reports that Upstart accepts scores as low as 300 and publishes no minimum, which may help borrowers with a limited credit file. Applicants can check a rate with a soft credit pull, and the lender says funds can arrive as fast as 24 hours after approval and signing. Terms are usually 36 or 60 months; NerdWallet notes a rare 84-month option. Upstart lends in all 50 states and D.C., with higher state minimums in Georgia ($3,100), Hawaii ($1,500) and Massachusetts ($7,000). The main watchout is the origination fee, which NerdWallet puts at 0% to 12%, above most lenders here; the lender's own page shows only an 8.15% example. On a $1,000 loan, a 12% fee would be $120. It may suit thin-credit borrowers who compare that fee carefully.

May suit: Branch access with co-signer option. Funding: Check the lender's site.

Mariner Finance offers personal loans from $1,000 to $25,000 with terms of 12 to 72 months and APRs of 15.99% to 35.99%, a high starting rate compared with most lenders here. Applicants can prequalify with a soft credit pull, and Mariner allows co-signers and offers vehicle-secured loans. It also advertises a 15-day satisfaction period; check the lender's site for how it works. Origination fees vary by state, and for funding speed, check the lender's site. NerdWallet lists availability in 29 states, including California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. Online loans run from $1,500 to $14,000, so amounts outside that range may require a branch visit, and Georgia loans are available only above $3,000. NerdWallet also notes that Mariner did not respond to its survey and that its unsolicited mailed "live check" offers draw complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It may suit borrowers near a branch who want a co-signer option.

May suit: Bad credit considered, branch network. Funding: Up to 1 hour after closing to a debit card; ACH 1–2 banking days.

OneMain Financial offers personal loans from $1,500 to $35,000 with terms of 24 to 60 months and APRs of 11.99% to 35.99%. It runs a branch network, accepts joint applications, offers vehicle-secured loans and considers applicants with bad credit; NerdWallet reports no minimum credit score. Applicants can prequalify with a soft credit pull. Funding can arrive within about an hour after closing when sent to a debit card, or in one to two banking days by ACH. Fees vary by state: either a flat $25 to $500 or 1% to 10% of the loan. OneMain is not available in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont or D.C., and several states set higher minimums, such as $2,000 in Ohio, $3,000 in California and $3,100 in Georgia. One watchout to weigh: NerdWallet reports that 13 state attorneys general recently sued OneMain over add-on products, claims OneMain disputes. Ask whether any add-on is optional before signing.