Average Personal Loan Interest Rates for January 2024 - NerdWallet (2024)

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The average personal loan interest rate for consumers with good credit (690 to 719 credit score) is 17%, according to aggregate, anonymized offer data from NerdWallet’s pre-qualification marketplace.

Like home and other consumer loans, personal loan annual percentage rates are currently higher than usual. But many factors determine your rate, including shifts in the economy, the type of lender you apply with and your credit profile.

» MORE: Compare the best personal loan rates

Here are current average personal loan rates, plus more information about how lenders decide your rate.

Average online personal loan rates

Borrower credit rating

Score range

Estimated APR

Excellent

720-850.

14.21%.

Good

690-719.

17.00%.

Fair

630-689.

19.95%.

Bad

300-629.

22.20%.

Source: Average rates are based on aggregate, anonymized offer data from users who pre-qualified in NerdWallet’s lender marketplace from Dec. 1, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2023. Rates are estimates only and not specific to any lender. The lowest credit scores — usually below 500 — are unlikely to qualify. Information in this table applies only to lenders with maximum APRs below 36%.

APR ranges for online lenders

Here are APR ranges on loans from online lenders that NerdWallet reviews and rates.

Lender

APR range

Achieve

8.99% - 35.99%.

Avant

9.95% - 35.99%.

Best Egg

8.99% - 35.99%.

Happy Money

11.72% - 17.99%.

Laurel Road

8.99% - 24.25%.

LendingClub

9.57% - 35.99%.

LendingPoint

7.99% - 35.99%.

LightStream

8.49% - 25.49%.

Mariner Finance

15.49% - 35.99%.

OneMain Financial

18.00% - 35.99%.

Oportun

29.00% - 35.95%.

Prosper

6.99% - 35.99%.

Reach

14.30% - 35.99%.

Rocket Loans

9.12% - 29.99%.

SoFi

8.99% - 25.81%.

Universal Credit

11.69% - 35.99%.

Upgrade

8.49% - 35.99%.

Upstart

6.40% - 35.99%.

Zable

12.00% - 29.99%.

» MORE: Best online loans

Average bank personal loan rates

In November 2023, the average APR on a two-year loan from a commercial bank was 12.35%, according to the Federal Reserve.

APR ranges for bank lenders

Here are APR ranges on loans from banks that NerdWallet reviews and rates.

Lender

APR range

American Express

5.91% - 17.97%.

Axos

11.29% - 21.34%.

Citibank

10.49% - 19.49%.

Discover

7.99% - 24.99%.

PNC

7.49% - 30.49%.

Santander

6.99% - 24.99%.

TD Bank

8.99% - 23.99%.

Truist

8.19% - 17.24%.

USAA

9.34% - 17.74%.

U.S. Bank

8.24% - 21.49%.

Wells Fargo

7.49% - 23.74%.

» MORE: Best bank loans

Average credit union personal loan rates

In December 2023, the average APR on a three-year loan from a credit union was 10.78%, according to the National Credit Union Administration.

APR ranges for credit union lenders

Here are APR ranges on loans from credit unions that NerdWallet reviews and rates.

Lender

APR range

Alliant

11.79% - 29.49%.

First Tech

8.99% - 18.00%.

Navy Federal

7.49% - 18.00%.

PenFed

7.74% - 17.99%.

» MORE: Learn the benefits of credit union loans

Are current personal loan rates high?

Overall, personal loan rates are the highest they’ve been in years. Commercial bank loan rates are at a high not seen since before the Great Recession, according to Fed data.

Unlike mortgages, personal loans aren’t directly affected by occasional, incremental changes in the Federal Funds rate — lenders can tolerate those hikes without increasing their rates.

However, persistently rising rates coupled with recession fears prompted lenders to raise their rates in late 2022 and early 2023, and they’ve kept them high.

» MORE: What rising personal loan rates mean for borrowers

Average online personal loan rates over time

Average bank personal loan rates over time

Average credit union personal loan rates over time

🤓Nerdy Tip

Rates are high for most types of financing right now, including credit cards and mortgages. Compare personal loans and alternatives, like 0% APR credit cards and home equity financing, to find the most affordable one.

Why lenders charge different personal loan rates

Most personal loans are unsecured and don’t require collateral to secure the loan. Instead, lenders use borrowers’ financial and credit profiles to make approval decisions and determine their rates. Most lenders tailor their APR ranges to the type of borrower they want to attract.

Lenders that accept good- or excellent-credit borrowers may charge lower rates because those consumers’ credit reports show a strong history of repaying credit cards and other loans. Lenders that target mostly bad-credit consumers, with credit histories showing missed payments, may charge higher rates to make up for the added risk.

Online lenders: Online lenders often narrow their target borrower pool to a couple of credit segments — fair- and bad-credit borrowers, for example, or good- and excellent-credit borrowers — and price their loans accordingly.

Banks: Large banks usually work with good-credit borrowers and offer the lowest rates to existing customers because they know how those borrowers manage credit and debt and may see them as less risky.

Credit unions: Credit unions are an exception: They often accept fair- or bad-credit borrowers but charge relatively low rates. Federal credit unions cap personal loan APRs at 18%. Because they work exclusively with their members, credit unions are able to consider the borrower’s membership history when determining their rate.

» MORE: Compare personal loans

How is your personal loan rate decided?

Here are four factors that are likely to affect your personal loan rate.

  1. Credit score: Many lenders set minimum credit score requirements and may publish this information on their websites. This can help you rule out lenders with credit score requirements well above or below yours.

  2. Payment history: Your repayment history toward other loans and credit cards is a top factor that lenders use to determine your rate. A long history of on-time payments to multiple creditors will work in your favor, while a history of missed and late payments may contribute to a higher rate.

  3. Income: Most lenders like to see that you have at least enough money to make monthly loan payments and cover your other bills. Having extra cushion in your budget each month may show the lender that you’re a low-risk borrower and get you a lower rate.

  4. Debt-to-income ratio (DTI): Your DTI is the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward other debts, such as car, student or mortgage loan payments. Lenders try to avoid providing loans that will overextend borrowers’ budgets, so many like to see a DTI at or below 50%, but lower is better.

» MORE: Personal loan requirements

Pre-qualify to compare offers

Lenders don’t usually divulge their underwriting techniques, but many major banks, credit unions and online lenders offer pre-qualification. This process allows you to check your potential loan amount, rate and repayment term without a hard credit pull.

As an expert and enthusiast, I can provide you with information on various topics, including personal loans and how lenders determine interest rates. I have access to a wide range of sources and can provide you with accurate and up-to-date information.

In the article you provided, it discusses the average personal loan interest rates for consumers with different credit scores. According to the article, the average personal loan interest rate for consumers with good credit (690 to 719 credit score) is 17% However, it's important to note that personal loan rates can vary depending on several factors, including shifts in the economy, the type of lender you apply with, and your credit profile.

The article also provides information on average online personal loan rates based on borrower credit ratings. Here are the estimated APR ranges for different credit ratings:

  • Excellent (720-850 credit score): 14.21% APR
  • Good (690-719 credit score): 17.00% APR
  • Fair (630-689 credit score): 19.95% APR
  • Bad (300-629 credit score): 22.20% APR Additionally, the article mentions specific APR ranges for online lenders, bank lenders, and credit union lenders. Here are a few examples:

Online lenders:

  • Achieve: 8.99% - 35.99% APR
  • Avant: 9.95% - 35.99% APR
  • Best Egg: 8.99% - 35.99% APR Bank lenders:
  • American Express: 5.91% - 17.97% APR
  • Citibank: 10.49% - 19.49% APR
  • Wells Fargo: 7.49% - 23.74% APR Credit union lenders:
  • Alliant: 11.79% - 29.49% APR
  • Navy Federal: 7.49% - 18.00% APR
  • PenFed: 7.74% - 17.99% APR It's worth noting that these rates are estimates based on aggregate, anonymized offer data and may vary depending on individual lenders and specific circ*mstances. The lowest credit scores, usually below 500, are unlikely to qualify for personal loans.

The article also mentions that personal loan rates are currently high, with commercial bank loan rates at a high not seen since before the Great Recession Rising rates coupled with recession fears have prompted lenders to raise their rates in recent years.

When it comes to determining personal loan rates, lenders consider several factors, including:

  1. Credit score: Many lenders set minimum credit score requirements and use credit reports to assess a borrower's creditworthiness.
  2. Payment history: Lenders consider a borrower's repayment history toward other loans and credit cards to determine their rate.
  3. Income: Lenders like to see that borrowers have enough income to make monthly loan payments and cover other expenses.
  4. Debt-to-income ratio (DTI): Lenders assess a borrower's DTI, which is the percentage of monthly income that goes toward other debts. A lower DTI is generally preferred by lenders.

It's important to note that lenders have different target borrower pools and may tailor their APR ranges accordingly. For example, online lenders may focus on specific credit segments, such as fair- or bad-credit borrowers, while large banks often work with good-credit borrowers and offer lower rates to existing customers.

To compare loan offers, many lenders offer pre-qualification, which allows you to check your potential loan amount, rate, and repayment term without a hard credit pull.

I hope this information helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.

Average Personal Loan Interest Rates for January 2024 - NerdWallet (2024)

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