7 Best Personal Loans in Atlanta, GA
When shopping for a product or service, most people look for the best deal. They might compare prices at different stores, read reviews, and ask for recommendations from friends and family.
Getting a personal loan is no different.
Ideally, you want to compare interest rates, terms, and fees of different Atlanta personal loans to find the best deal before you choose a lender.
Top personal loans in Atlanta, GA
Personal loans can help you consolidate debt, fund a special purchase, or cover an emergency expense. Lenders usually require a credit score check and proof of income to approve a loan.
1. Truist
At Truist, you can get same-day access to cash. There are no origination fees, so you don't have to worry about processing costs, and you can add a co-borrower to your application.
If you take out a debt consolidation loan, Truist can send the loan funds directly to your creditors. And they allow you to choose a payment plan from six to 60 months, which you can change multiple times to make your repayments more affordable.
- Loan amount: $3,500-$50,000
- APR range: 8.19%-17.24%
- Credit requirements: Unspecified
- Ratings: A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Best for consolidating debt, paying for home improvements, or managing significant expenses such as wedding or medical bills
2. LendingPoint
The financial technology platform LendingPoint offers fast funding (sometimes on the day of application). Once approved, you can change the final loan repayment date once per year.
What makes LendingPoint exceptional is its hardship plan. If you need help making repayments, the program provides options such as reduced payments over time, a lowered interest rate, or an extended repayment term.
- Loan amount: $2,000-$36,500
- APR range: 7.99% to 35.99%
- Credit requirements: Unspecified
- Ratings: A+ rating from the BBB and a TrustPilot score of 4.8 based on more than 5,000 reviews
- Best for rebuilding your credit if you have an average credit score
3. Upstart
Upstart is an online lending platform that uses artificial intelligence to approve more applicants than lenders that only review credit scores and finances.
That's because its nontraditional underwriting model reviews college major work and employment history. The downside is that origination fees can top 8%, and Upstart doesn't offer joint, co-signed, or secured loans.
- Loan amount: $1,000-$50,000
- APR range: 5.2%-35.99%
- Credit requirements: 300+
- Ratings: A+ rating from BBB and a Trustpilot score of 4.9 based on over 43,000 reviews
- Best for making big-ticket purchases if you have a thin credit history or a low credit score
4. Discover
Discover provides personal loans for almost any purpose. What's more, applicants don’t face any origination or up-front fees. The funds are also accessed very quickly—typically the next business day.
You have 30 days during which the loan can be paid back or canceled penalty-free. Those with a Discover loan can use their mobile app for payment management and receive a free credit scorecard.
- Loan amount: $2,500-$40,000
- APR range: 7.99%-24.99%
- Credit requirements: 660+
- Ratings: A+ rating from the BBB
- Best for consolidating or refinancing debt
5. Best Egg
Best Egg is an online lender renowned for offering unsecured and secured personal loans. These personal loans are perfect for debt consolidation because they can directly pay up to 10 creditors on your behalf.
While these loans come with an origination fee, they provide the option of using permanent fixtures such as cars or homes as collateral for secured loans.
- Loan amount: $2000-$50,000
- APR range: 8.99%-35.99%
- Credit requirements: 640+
- Ratings: A+ BBB rating and a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot based on over 5,000 reviews
- Best for consolidating debt
6. SoFi
If you lose your job while paying off a SoFi loan, you can take advantage of the unemployment protection program, which modifies the monthly payments, meaning you can make interest-only payments until you find work.
Besides having various loan amounts and flexible repayment terms, SoFi's origination fees of up to 6% may be deducted in exchange for a lower interest rate.
- Loan amount: $5,000-$100,000
- APR range: 8.99% - 20.31%
- Credit requirements: 670+
- Ratings: A+ BBB rating and 3.2 stars on Trustpilot based on over 14,000 reviews
- Best for consolidating debt and big purchases such as travel, weddings, and home improvements
7. Lightstream
If you opt for automatic payments when you apply for a loan through LightStream, you'll be eligible for a 0.50% rate reduction. They also have generous repayment terms ranging from 24 to 144 months.
Plus, their Rate Beat Program guarantees to beat any competitor's interest rate by 0.10%, so long as the loan is unsecured. The catch? You need a good to excellent credit score.
- Loan amount: $5,000-$100,000
- APR range: 7.99%-25.99%
- Credit requirements: Good to excellent credit; the exact number is unspecified
- Ratings: A+ rating from BBB and 4.9 star rating on Trustpilot based on over 27,500 reviews
- Best for home improvement, debt consolidation, family planning, and recreation
Strategies for comparing personal loans in Atlanta
Below are some key takeaways to help you identify the right lender:
Remember your end goal
Seek out lenders that match your purpose. For example, if you're looking to resolve credit issues and debt, apply to personal loan providers who specializing in debt consolidation.
Calculate fees
Try reducing your loan cost by opting for a lender with the lowest fees. If you have a choice, avoid lenders who include an origination cost because this will add to the overall burden of your loan.
Customer support
Consider customer reviews, available customer support, company longevity, and other factors to help narrow down options and make it easier to compare lenders.
Looking for the right lender and finding the best personal loan in Atlanta takes time and effort, after all, you're shopping for the best deal.
Consider consulting a financial expert to ensure you make the right financial decision.