How we chose the best personal loans
Our team of consumer lending experts follows an objective and robust methodology to rate lenders and pick the best.
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Lenders reviewed
We review over 35 lenders, including major banks, top credit unions, leading digital platforms, and high interest installment lenders operating across multiple states.
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Categories assessed
Each lender is evaluated across five weighted categories and 27 subcategories, covering affordability, eligibility, consumer experience, flexibility, and application process.
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Data points analyzed
Our team tracks and reassesses hundreds of data points annually, including APR ranges, fees, credit requirements, and borrower tools, ensuring up to date, accurate comparisons.
Star rating categories
We evaluate more categories than competitors and carefully weigh how each factor impacts your experience.
We review lenders’ annual percentage rate offerings at least twice per year and the competitiveness of each lenders’ APR range. We also assess whether a lender charges an origination fee and any opportunity for borrowers to receive a rate discount.
We consider the experience of the consumer trying to manage a personal loan, which means accessibility of customer service representatives, whether borrowers can choose and change their payment due date, and the ability to track their loan on a mobile app.
Underwriting and eligibility
We consider the rigorousness of each lender’s underwriting practices and how widely available their loans are. This category includes whether a lender does a hard credit check before providing a loan, the range of credit profiles they accept and how many states their loans are offered in.
We assess how flexible lenders can be with borrowers, including whether they offer multiple loan types, personal loan amounts and repayment term options and whether they offer direct payment to creditors on debt consolidation loans.
We consider the lender’s full application process, including a borrower’s ability to preview their loan offer via pre-qualification, whether basic loan information such as APR range and repayment terms are available and easy to find online and how quickly a loan can be funded after approval.
NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates personal loan products from more than 35 financial technology companies and financial institutions. We collect over 70 data points and cross-check company websites, earnings reports and other public documents to confirm product details. We may also go through a lender’s pre-qualification flow and follow up with company representatives. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.
Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer consumer-friendly features, including: soft credit checks to pre-qualify, competitive interest rates and no fees, transparency of rates and terms, flexible payment options, fast funding times, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to credit bureaus and financial education. Our ratings award fewer points to lenders with practices that may make a loan difficult to repay on time, such as charging high annual percentage rates (above 36%), underwriting that does not adequately assess consumers’ ability to repay and lack of credit-building help. We also consider regulatory actions filed by agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to consumers and how meaningfully they impact consumers’ experiences.
What is a medical loan?
A medical loan is a type of unsecured personal loan. Personal loans are fixed-rate loans you pay back over a set term, typically two to seven years. Unsecured means the loans do not require collateral. Banks, online lenders and credit unions all offer personal loans, but interest rates and features can differ among lenders. Medical loans can be used for expenses like:
If you have outstanding medical debt already, a medical loan with a low rate can help consolidate debt into one monthly payment for the loan term, which can help you pay it off faster. Pros and cons of medical loans
Pros
A medical loan can cover expected and unexpected medical costs.
Online lenders have fast approval and funding.
A low-interest loan can be a good way to consolidate existing medical debt.
Cons
Lowest rates are only for good- or excellent-credit borrowers.
Some lenders have origination fees.
They may have higher interest rates than other options.
How to get a medical loan
The process to get a medical loan is generally the same as for any personal loan:
Know your credit score: Your credit score is a key factor in determining whether you qualify for a loan and how much you can borrow. You can check your credit score for free on NerdWallet. Figure out how much you can afford: Use a personal loan calculator to estimate monthly payments and determine whether they fit comfortably within your budget. Pre-qualify and compare loans: Pre-qualifying lets you see potential loan terms, including the loan’s interest rate, loan amount and payments, without impacting your credit score. Compare offers from multiple lenders and identify the best loan for your needs and budget. Complete the application: Once you’ve decided on a lender, you can formally apply for the loan. Lenders typically send the loan proceeds directly to your bank account, with funding available within a few days after approval.
How to compare medical loans
Below are factors to consider when selecting the best medical loan.
Annual percentage rate. A loan’s APR represents the true cost of borrowing, including interest and fees, and ranges from about 6% to 36% on personal loans. APRs can help you compare apples-to-apples between different loans and lenders — the loan with the lowest APR is generally the cheapest. To get the lowest rates, you'll need excellent credit. Origination fee. Some lenders charge one-time origination fees to cover the cost of processing a loan. The fee typically ranges from 1% to 10% of the loan amount, and most lenders subtract the origination fee from the loan proceeds. For example, a $5,000 loan with an origination fee of 3% would cost $150, leaving you with $4,850. Loan term. The length of the repayment period affects your monthly payments. A longer repayment term results in lower monthly payments but higher total interest paid over the life of the loan. Aim for a loan term with payments that fit within your budget.
Speed. If you need fast funding to cover health care costs, consider a lender with a quick approval and funding process. Some online lenders can provide loan funds as quickly as the same day.
Medical loans for bad credit
If you have fair or bad credit (689 credit score or lower), you may receive a high APR on your medical loan, which means you’ll pay more in interest over the loan term.
Here is what that can mean for your costs: A five-year, $5,000 loan with a 21.99% interest rate would cost $3,284 in interest payments. The same loan at 35.99% APR leads to a total interest cost of $5,838, which is more than the original loan amount. Financial experts generally advise that APRs should not exceed 36%.
There are ways for borrowers with low credit scores to improve their credit. Here are a few steps you can take: Alternatives to medical loans
Here are other ways to pay for medical procedures or pay off medical debt that may be better for your wallet than a medical loan.
Payment plans. Payment plans provided by your medical provider may be a cheaper way to pay for health care expenses. Plans can be interest-free and generally require monthly payments for a set term. Some health care providers require a deposit followed by monthly payments, while others accept just monthly payments until the debt is repaid in full.
Ask your medical provider about any fees or charges associated with the payment plan so you know the total cost of this option.
Credit card for medical expenses. CareCredit is one example of a specialty credit card for medical expenses that offers short-term financing. The card, issued through Synchrony Bank, is accepted by over 270,000 health care providers. CareCredit can cover medical events related to LASIK surgery, dentistry, cosmetic surgery and general health care. Approved borrowers may receive 0% interest for a promotional period of six, 12, 18 or 24 months for expenses of $200 or more. However, if the balance is not paid off by the end of the term, CareCredit will charge interest retroactively from the purchase date. The standard APR for CareCredit financing is 32.99%, which may be higher than rates on other credit cards.
0% credit card. A 0% interest credit card is another option that can include perks like a sign-up bonus and rewards. You’ll need good to excellent credit to qualify (690 credit score or higher), and you must pay off the debt in full before the promotional period expires or you'll pay high-interest charges. It’s best to dedicate one credit card for medical expenses to make keeping records for tax deductions or a health savings account easier.
Qualify for assistance. If you're experiencing economic hardship, you may qualify for a hardship plan from your health care provider or financial assistance from a charity organization or government program. Look to these options first before taking out a loan. Other options. If you’re facing hospital bills, a medical bill advocate, or patient advocate, can help spot potential errors and negotiate on your behalf to reduce your total bill. Ask for an itemized bill from your healthcare provider, so you can verify each charge.
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