This page lines up 26 real lenders that people comparing avant lending options tend to weigh when they need somewhere between $500 and $5,000. The short verdict: credit unions such as PenFed, Patelco and First Tech usually win on price if you can join, online lenders such as Upgrade, Upstart and Prosper suit fair credit with fast funding, branch lenders like OneMain and Lendmark help when you want a face-to-face meeting, and a small group of high-APR lenders belongs at the bottom of your list.
We are an independent, free loan-request service. We are not any of these lenders, we are not Avant, LLC, and none of the companies below reviewed or endorsed this page. Our one form shares your request with lending partners who may make offers, and we may be paid by lenders. Every figure here comes from published lender disclosures and major review sites, and terms change often, so confirm each number on the lender's own site or in your written offer before you sign.
How We Compared These Lenders
We scored each lender on its published loan amounts, APR range, repayment terms, origination fee, credit requirements, funding speed, co-borrower options and state limits, giving extra weight to how well each one handles a $500 to $5,000 personal loan.
- Fit for small amounts. A lender with a $5,000 minimum is useless for a $900 brake job, so we favored lenders that start at $1,000 or less.
- Total cost. We looked at the full APR range and whether an origination fee comes out of your proceeds.
- Access. Minimum credit score, income rules, membership requirements and the states where each lender does not operate.
- Flexibility. Joint applications, co-signers, collateral options, payment-date changes and hardship programs.
- Speed. How quickly money typically arrives after approval and signing.
We left out national banks with high minimums and lenders whose smallest personal loan starts at $5,000 or more, because most avant lending requests are smaller than that. Where a lender does not disclose a figure, the table says "not published" rather than guessing. Ranges are what lenders advertise; your own APR depends on your credit, income, state and loan size. Many avant loans reviews stop at the advertised rate; we also flag fees and state limits because they change what you actually pay.
Avant Lending Comparison Table: All 26 Lenders
The table below gives a one-glance avant lending snapshot of each lender's published amounts, APRs, terms and fees, plus the borrower each one suits best. Lower APR ceilings and no-fee loans generally mean a cheaper personal loan.
| Lender | Loan amounts | APR range | Terms | Origination fee | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upgrade | $1,000–$75,000 | 7.74%–35.99% | 24–84 months | 1.85%–9.99% | Fair credit with a co-signer or vehicle collateral |
| Universal Credit | $1,000–$50,000 | 11.69%–35.99% | 24–60 months | 5.25%–9.99% | Credit scores in the high 500s |
| LendingPoint | $1,000–$36,500 | 7.99%–35.99% | 24–72 months | 0%–10% by state | Fair credit with $35,000+ income |
| Upstart | $1,000–$75,000 | 6.20%–35.99% | 36 or 60 months (84 rare) | 0%–12% | Thin credit, solid job or education history |
| Best Egg | $2,000–$50,000 | 6.99%–35.99% unsecured | 36–60 months | 0.99%–9.99% | Homeowners open to fixture-secured loans |
| Prosper | $2,000–$50,000 | 8.99%–35.99% | 24–72 months | 1%–9.99% | Joint applications |
| Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub) | $1,000–$75,000 | 5.96%–35.99% | 24–84 months | Up to 8% | Joint applications, established credit |
| Discover | $2,500–$40,000 | 6.99%–24.99% | 36–84 months | None | Good credit, no-fee borrowing |
| Oportun | $300–$10,000 unsecured | Up to 35.95% | 12–54 months | Up to 10% | Thin or no credit history |
| OneMain Financial | $1,500–$30,000 | 11.99%–35.99% | 24–60 months | 1%–10% or $25–$500 flat | Bad credit with a co-borrower or collateral |
| Mariner Finance | $1,000–$25,000 | 15.99%–35.99% | 12–72 months | Varies by state | Branch help with a co-signer |
| Regional Finance | $600–$45,000 | Not published | 12–60 months | Varies by state | In-branch service in 20 states |
| World Finance | $450–$10,000 ($12,000 in some states) | Not published | 6–46 months (average) | Not published | Small loans with in-person funding |
| Republic Finance | Up to $25,000 | Not published (sample 30.04%) | 12–60 months | Varies by state | Branch borrowers in the South |
| Lendmark Financial Services | Not published | Up to 35.99% | 12–72 months | Varies by state | Branch borrowers who need quick funding |
| Heights Finance | Up to $10,000 or more | Up to 35.99% on advertised programs | 12–72 months | Not published | In-person help in the South and Midwest |
| PenFed Credit Union | $600–$50,000 | 6.09%–17.99% | 12–60 months | None | Anyone willing to join with $5 |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | $250–$50,000 | 8.74%–18.00% | Up to 60 months | None | Military families |
| Alliant Credit Union | $1,000–$100,000 | From 9.49% (top not published) | 12–60 months | None | Members who can plan ahead |
| Patelco Credit Union | $300–$100,000 | 6.99%–17.90% | 6–84 months | None | Co-signer or secured options |
| First Tech Federal Credit Union | $500–$50,000 | 6.99%–18.00% | 6–84 months | None | Low rates with joint loans |
| OppLoans | $500–$5,000 | 99%–195% | 9–24 months | None | Last resort after other denials |
| NetCredit | $1,000–$10,000 | 34%–99.99% | 6–60 months | None on recent loans | Last resort for larger amounts |
| Rise | $500–$5,000 | 59.80%–299% | 7–36 months | Up to 5% in five states | Last resort only |
| Personify Financial | $500–$15,000 | 36%–179.5% (partner offers can be lower) | 12–48 months | 5%–5.99% | Last resort; compare partner offers |
| Possible Finance | $50–$500 ($1,000 for repeat customers) | About 98%–163% | About 8 weeks | Flat $15–$25 per $100 | Very small, very short gaps |
Ranges are published figures gathered from lender disclosures and review sites and can change at any time. Your offer may differ, so read the APR, fee and term in the actual loan agreement.
A quick way to read the personal loan table: if two lenders show similar APR ranges, the one without an origination fee usually puts more money in your hand. If you are shopping for an avant consolidation loan to clear two or three credit cards, also note which lenders can pay your creditors directly, because a few of them trim the rate for doing so.
Online Lenders for Fair Credit
Online personal loan lenders suit most avant lending shoppers with fair credit, roughly scores in the 580 to 670 range, because they prequalify with a soft check, decide quickly and often fund within one business day. Watch the origination fee, which ranges from zero to 12%.
People who search avant online loans or an avant cash loan usually want two things: a decision today and money tomorrow. The nine lenders below deliver that for most approved borrowers, but their fee structures differ more than their APR ranges do.
Upgrade
Upgrade is one of the more flexible online personal loan options for fair credit, with a published minimum score of 600 and no minimum income requirement. The catch on a small personal loan is the origination fee of 1.85% to 9.99%, deducted from your proceeds, so a $2,000 loan with the top fee puts about $1,800 in your account.
- Not available in Washington, D.C.
- 0.5-point autopay discount, plus a larger discount when Upgrade pays creditors directly on a consolidation loan.
- A co-signer or vehicle collateral may lower your rate.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is owned by Upgrade but aims its personal loans at weaker credit, with a published minimum score of 560. Expect a higher floor: APRs start at 11.69%, and every personal loan carries an origination fee of 5.25% to 9.99%, taken out before funding. Most approvals are instant, which suits an avant lending need that cannot wait, and money typically lands about a day later.
- Single applicants only; no co-signers or collateral.
- Same 0.5-point autopay discount and direct-pay discount for consolidation.
- Not offered in Washington, D.C.
LendingPoint
LendingPoint asks more of personal loan applicants than most fair-credit lenders: a minimum score of 640, at least $35,000 in annual income and two years of credit history. Terms run two to six years, with funding as soon as the next business day. Its origination fee runs 0% to 10% depending on your state and is added to the balance by default.
- Not available in CT, IA, ME, MD, NE, NV, VT, WV or Washington, D.C.
- No co-borrowers, co-signers or secured loans.
- Can send funds directly to creditors.
Upstart
Upstart weighs education and employment history alongside credit and has no published minimum score, which helps borrowers with thin files. APRs run 6.20% to 35.99%, but the origination fee can reach 12%, the highest ceiling on this list. Terms are mainly three or five years, longer than many people need for a $1,500 personal loan.
- State minimums apply, including $3,100 in Georgia and $7,000 in Massachusetts.
- Most approved funds arrive within one business day.
- No prepayment penalty.
Best Egg
Best Egg personal loans start at $2,000, so they fit the upper half of the $500 to $5,000 range. Unsecured APRs run 6.99% to 35.99% with origination fees of 0.99% to 9.99%. Homeowners can secure a loan with permanent fixtures such as cabinets or light fixtures, which can lower the rate without pledging the house itself.
- Minimum credit score of 600; terms of three to five years.
- Not available in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia or Washington, D.C.
- No co-borrowers or co-signers.
Prosper
Prosper is one of the few online lenders here that takes joint applications, and a co-borrower may help you clear its credit and debt-to-income limits. Its personal loans start at $2,000 with APRs of 8.99% to 35.99% and an origination fee of 1% to 9.99%. Underwriting can also weigh cash flow and bank data, not just your score.
- Published minimum credit score of 560.
- Terms of two to six years; most loans fund the day after approval.
- Not offered in Iowa, North Dakota or West Virginia.
Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub)
LendingClub recently rebranded as Happen Bank, and its published personal loan terms currently show $1,000 to $75,000, APRs of 5.96% to 35.99% and an origination fee of up to 8%. Joint applications are accepted. You need at least three years of credit history and a debt-to-income ratio under 40%.
- Minimum credit score of 600.
- 0.5-point discount for autopay or for paying creditors directly.
- 15-day grace period before a late fee; available in all states and Washington, D.C.
Discover
Discover, now part of Capital One, charges no origination, late or prepayment fees, so its quoted APR is close to your true cost. APRs run 6.99% to 24.99%, but you need a score of at least 660 and $25,000 in income, and loans start at $2,500. For an avant lending request near $5,000 with good credit, it is a strong personal loan pick.
- Terms of three to seven years.
- Can pay creditors directly, but not Discover or Capital One accounts.
- Individual applicants only.
Oportun
Oportun builds its personal loans for thin or no credit history and sets no minimum score. Unsecured loans run $300 to $10,000 with APRs capped near 36%; its own examples use 35.95%. An administrative fee of up to 10% comes out of the proceeds, so a $1,000 loan could net $900. Co-signed and joint loans are offered.
- Unsecured terms of 12 to 54 months.
- Vehicle-secured loans to $18,500 in eight states.
- Not offered in CO, CT, IA, ME, MD, MA, NY, WA, WV or Washington, D.C.
Branch-Based Installment Lenders
Branch lenders fit an avant lending request when you want to sit across from a loan officer, need a co-borrower or collateral to qualify, or have been turned down online. Expect APRs mostly between the mid-teens and 35.99%, with state-set fees.
These personal loan companies lend through storefronts, mostly across the South, Midwest and West, and many now take applications online first. For any avant lending request made at a branch, ask for the APR in writing, and politely decline optional credit insurance or add-on products unless you have a clear reason to want them, because they raise the cost of the personal loan.
OneMain Financial
OneMain has no published minimum credit score and lets you add a co-borrower or pledge a vehicle, which can open doors after a rough credit stretch. Personal loans start at $1,500 with APRs of 11.99% to 35.99% and funding as soon as the same day. The fee depends on your state: 1% to 10% of the loan or a flat $25 to $500.
- Terms of two to five years.
- Not available in AK, AR, CT, MA, RI, VT or Washington, D.C.
- Review any optional add-on products carefully before signing.
Mariner Finance
Mariner Finance offers personal loans of $1,000 to $25,000 through branches in 29 states, though online applications top out at $14,000. APRs run 15.99% to 35.99%, so borrowers with good credit can usually find a cheaper personal loan elsewhere. For an avant lending request with shaky credit, Mariner allows a co-signer who does not have to be a family member, and a vehicle can serve as collateral.
- Terms of one to six years.
- Origination fee varies by state.
- Minimum credit score and funding time are not published.
Regional Finance
Regional Finance makes personal loans of $600 to $45,000 online and in branches across 20 states, with the largest amounts generally tied to a vehicle. Checking offers is a soft inquiry, and underwriting looks at income and budget alongside your score. Regional does not publish an APR range on its site, so read the APR in your offer closely; costs vary by state.
- Terms of roughly 12 to 60 months.
- Origination fees may apply depending on the state.
- States include AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, TX and VA.
World Finance
World Finance focuses on small fixed-payment personal loans of $450 to $10,000 in most states and up to $12,000 in some. For an avant lending need under $1,000, you can apply online, by phone or at a branch, and the lender says many approved loans fund within about an hour. Payments are reported to all three credit bureaus.
- Average terms of 6 to 46 months.
- APR and fees are not published; reviewers report rates well above 36% in some states.
- Approval triggers a hard credit check.
Republic Finance
Republic Finance runs more than 280 branches across 16 Southern and Midwestern states and lets eligible borrowers prequalify, apply and close online. Personal loans go up to $25,000 with typical terms of 12 to 60 months. Its own example shows a 30.04% APR on a $7,000, 60-month loan for an average customer with good credit, a useful signal of where rates sit.
- Origination fees apply based on your state.
- Secured loans require collateral and insurance and close in a branch.
- Minimum loan amount is not published.
Lendmark Financial Services
Lendmark caps APRs on new loans at 35.99% and offers terms of 12 to 72 months through more than 550 branches in 24 states. Its representative example is a $4,500 loan at 33.10% APR repaid over 42 months. The lender reports that about two-thirds of recent personal loan applications were approved and funded within one business day.
- Loan amount range is not published on its site.
- Origination fees may apply under state law; no prepayment penalty.
- Vehicle collateral may be required, though covered military borrowers cannot pledge one.
Heights Finance
Heights Finance and its sister brands Covington Credit, Quick Credit and Southern Finance operate more than 285 branches, mostly in the South and Midwest. You can start online, but final paperwork is usually completed in a branch. Advertised programs carry a maximum APR of 35.99%, though some state products can go higher, so confirm the figure before signing.
- Terms of 12 to 72 months; amounts up to $10,000 or more.
- Fees are not published; optional credit insurance is offered.
- Personal property or a vehicle may be requested as collateral.
Credit Unions With Low-Cost Personal Loans
Credit unions usually offer the cheapest personal loan in this comparison, with most APRs capped near 18% and no origination fee. The tradeoff is membership: you must join first, and some credit unions skip soft-check prequalification.
For an avant lending shopper with fair-to-good credit, joining a credit union for a $5 deposit can save hundreds of dollars. Compare a $2,500 loan over 24 months at 17.99% APR, about $124.80 a month and $495.20 in interest, with the same loan at 35.99%, about $147.61 a month and $1,042.64 in interest. Both figures are estimates.
PenFed Credit Union
PenFed is open to anyone who opens a savings account with a $5 deposit, which makes it one of the easiest credit unions to join. Personal loans start at $600 with APRs of 6.09% to 17.99%, where the low end includes a 0.25-point autopay discount, and there is no origination fee. You can prequalify with a soft check.
- Terms of one to five years.
- Joint loans with a co-borrower who is also a member; no co-signers.
- Can pay creditors directly for consolidation.
Alliant Credit Union
Alliant makes personal loans from $1,000 with no origination fee and same-day funding into your Alliant account. Its advertised starting rate is 9.49% on a 12-month term, rising for longer terms and about 0.4 points higher without autopay; the top of the range is not published. Anyone can join through its partner charity, and Alliant covers the $5 opening deposit.
- Terms of 12 to 60 months.
- Hard credit pull at application; no soft prequalification.
- Some reviewers report a 90-day membership wait before you qualify, so ask first.
Patelco Credit Union
Patelco offers the widest set of personal loan options among these credit unions: co-borrowers, co-signers and secured loans are all available. Personal loans start at $300 with APRs of 6.99% to 17.90%, no origination fee and a published minimum score of 630. Eligible borrowers can earn a 0.5-point rate cut after 12 straight on-time payments, up to 1.5 points in total.
- Terms of six months to seven years.
- Funding takes two to three days.
- Payments are reported to Experian only.
First Tech Federal Credit Union
First Tech lends $500 to $50,000 at 6.99% to 18.00% with no origination fee, and most applicants get an instant decision with same-day funding when approved. Membership is open through partner nonprofits such as the Financial Fitness Association or the Computer History Museum. Joint loans are available, and savings or a share certificate can secure a personal loan.
- Terms of six months to seven years.
- Minimum credit score is not published.
- Not for business or post-secondary education costs.
High-Cost Options to Approach With Caution
High-cost lenders charge APRs from 34% to nearly 300%, so treat them as a last resort after credit unions, online lenders and branch lenders decline you. A small avant cash loan from this group can cost more in interest than you borrowed.
All five approve personal loans for borrowers with poor or no credit and fund fast, which is exactly why they are tempting. Before you finish an avant lending request in this tier, ask whether a payment plan with the creditor, a hardship program or a smaller amount would solve the problem instead.
OppLoans
OppLoans makes personal loans of $500 to $5,000 with no minimum credit score and no origination, late or prepayment fees, but published APRs run 99% to 195%. A $1,000 loan at 99% APR over 12 months works out to about $134.42 a month and roughly $613 in interest, an estimate. Approval by noon Central can mean same-day funding.
- Terms of 9 to 24 months; $18,000 minimum income.
- Reports to all three bureaus.
- Not offered in CO, CT, GA, IA, ME, MD, NY, SD, VT, WV or Washington, D.C.
NetCredit
NetCredit lends $1,000 to $10,000 at APRs of 34% to 99.99%, depending on your state. It no longer charges origination, late or prepayment fees on recently made personal loans, and approval does not rest on your credit score alone. Applying by 11 a.m. Central on a business day may get same-day funding. Use it only after cheaper lenders decline.
- Terms of 6 to 60 months, varying by state.
- Available in 37 states.
- A courtesy due-date change may be possible if you call before the payment is due.
Rise
Rise offers personal loans of $500 to $5,000 with APRs of 59.80% to 299%, repaid in biweekly installments over seven months to three years. The lender itself calls it an expensive form of credit. Prequalification uses a soft check, there is no prepayment penalty, and accepting by 6 p.m. Eastern can mean next-business-day funding.
- Origination fee of up to 5% in DE, ID, MO, UT and WI only.
- Available in 30 states; minimum income of $12,000 a year after tax.
- Be wary of refinancing offers that stretch the debt.
Personify Financial
Personify personal loans generally run $500 to $15,000 over 12 to 48 months. Its own programs, some made through First Electronic Bank, carry APRs of 36% to 179.5% and fees of 5% to 5.99%, while offers from its participating creditors can run 6% to 35.99%. Eligible loans above 35.99% can drop 2 points after each six months of on-time payments, though never below 24%.
- Georgia loans run $3,100 to $10,000.
- Your details may be shared with participating creditors.
- No prepayment penalty.
Possible Finance
Possible Finance makes small app-based loans, generally $50 to $500 for new customers and up to $1,000 for repeat borrowers, repaid in four installments over about eight weeks. Instead of interest, most states use a flat fee of $15 to $25 per $100 borrowed, which works out to estimated APRs of 98% to 163%. Payments can be rescheduled without a late fee.
- No minimum credit score; bank account history matters more.
- Available in 34 states.
- Reports to Experian and TransUnion, not Equifax.
How to Compare Personal Loan Offers Side by Side
Compare offers on total repayment, not the monthly payment: multiply the payment by the number of months, subtract any fee from the cash you actually receive, and confirm there is no prepayment penalty before you pick one.
Most avant lending questions come down to APR. Once your avant loan application turns into two or three real offers, line them up on the same three numbers. For reference, our representative example is $2,000 borrowed for 12 months at 24.99% APR with no origination fee: about $190.08 per month, $2,280.94 total repaid and $280.94 total interest, an estimate. You can test other combinations with our personal loan payment calculator.
Total cost and term length
A longer term lowers the payment but raises the total, a tradeoff that shapes almost every avant lending decision. A $3,000 loan at 29.99% APR costs about $167.72 a month over 24 months, or $1,025.28 in interest. Stretch it to 36 months and the payment drops to about $127.34, but interest climbs to about $1,584.24. Both are estimates.
Origination fees and cash in hand
If that same $3,000 personal loan carries a 6% fee deducted up front, you receive $2,820 but still repay the full $3,000 plus interest. When you need a set amount, such as $3,000 for a contractor, ask whether to borrow slightly more to cover the fee. Our guide to current personal loan rates and fees explains how fees fold into the APR.
Prepayment, autopay and due dates
- Upstart, Best Egg, Discover, Lendmark, Alliant, Rise and Personify all state there is no prepayment penalty; confirm it in your own agreement either way.
- Autopay discounts of 0.25 to 0.5 points are common at Upgrade, Universal Credit, Happen Bank and PenFed.
- Flexible due dates matter if your paycheck lands mid-month; Discover, OppLoans and LendingPoint allow changes.
When a Personal Loan Is the Wrong Move
A personal loan is the wrong tool when the payment would squeeze your rent or groceries, when the expense can wait a few weeks, or when the only offers you receive carry triple-digit APRs.
- Ask a hospital or utility about an interest-free payment plan before borrowing for a bill.
- For a $600 shortfall, a credit union's small personal loan or a short wait for your next paycheck often beats any high-cost offer.
- Skip consolidation if you expect to run the cards back up afterward; an avant consolidation loan only helps when the old balances stay at zero.
Next Steps for Your Avant Lending Request
Next steps are simple: check basic eligibility, decide the smallest amount and shortest term you can afford, then submit one free personal loan request and compare any offers against this table before accepting anything.
- Review the basic personal loan eligibility requirements: age 18 or older (19 in Alabama and Nebraska), steady income, a checking account in your name and a valid Social Security number.
- Pick your amount and term with the calculator, keeping your avant lending budget realistic, and set a maximum payment before you see any offer.
- Check a credit union first if you qualify for membership, especially for an avant lending request under $2,000, since it may beat every online offer.
- Send one free loan request through our form; an avant loan application through us takes a few minutes. Many partners start with a soft inquiry; accepting an offer may lead to a hard inquiry.
- Compare the APR, fee and total repaid in each offer with the ranges above, and decline anything that does not fit. There is no obligation to accept.
Whether you came here from avant lending reviews or a search for avant apply for loan, the goal is the same: borrow only what you need, at the lowest total cost you can find, from a lender whose terms you have read in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you one of the 26 lenders on this page?
No. We are an independent request service, not a lender, and we are not Avant, LLC. We do not make credit decisions, set rates or fund loans, and we may be paid by lending partners. Sending an avant lending request through our form is free, and you are never obligated to accept an offer.
Do the APR ranges in the table include origination fees?
Yes. An APR includes required charges such as an origination fee, which is why a loan with a low interest rate and a large fee can show a similar APR to a no-fee loan. The fee still matters for cash in hand, because many lenders deduct it before the money reaches your account.
Which lenders here allow a co-borrower or co-signer?
Prosper, Happen Bank, OneMain, Oportun, PenFed, Navy Federal and First Tech accept a second applicant, and Patelco allows both co-borrowers and co-signers. Upgrade and Mariner allow co-signers. A partner with stronger credit can lower your APR, but that person becomes legally responsible for the debt as well.
Will checking rates with several lenders hurt my credit score?
For most avant lending shoppers, prequalification at the lenders on this list uses a soft inquiry, which does not affect credit scores. A hard inquiry usually comes when you submit a full application or accept an offer. Navy Federal and Alliant do not offer soft prequalification on personal loans, so applying there means a hard pull.
Why are the largest banks missing from this comparison?
Many large banks set personal loan minimums of several thousand dollars or lend only to existing customers. Readers searching avant lending reviews usually need $500 to $5,000, so we focused on online lenders, branch-based installment lenders and credit unions that fit that avant lending range.