BEST OF

Best Personal Loans for Excellent Credit in 2025

By
Ronita Choudhuri-Wade
Aug 8, 2025

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

LenderNerdWallet ratingEst. APRLoan amountMin. credit scoreLearn more
Lightstream
LightStream
Get a quoteon LightStream's website

4.5/5

Excellent for excellent credit and fast funding

6.99-25.14%

$5,000-$100,000

660

Get a quoteon LightStream's website
SoFi
SoFi Personal Loan
Get a quoteon SoFi's website

4.5/5

Excellent for excellent credit and high loan amounts

8.99-35.49%

$5,000-$100,000

None

Get a quoteon SoFi's website
Citibank
Citibank
Get a quoteon Citibank's website

4.5/5

Excellent for excellent credit and no fees

7.99-19.49%

$2,000-$30,000

720

Get a quoteon Citibank's website

Best for

excellent credit and fast funding

Lightstream
Get a quoteon LightStream's website
Lightstream

LightStream

4.5

NerdWallet rating
Est. APR

6.99-25.14%

Loan amount

$5,000-$100,000

Min. credit score

660

Get a quoteon LightStream's website
View details Close details
Min. credit score660
Key factsLightStream is a solid option for good- and excellent-credit borrowers, with no fees and a promise to beat competitors’ rates.
Pros
  • Competitive APRs.
  • Rate discounts available.
  • No fees.
  • Large loans available with long repayment terms.
  • ·Same-day funding.
Cons
  • Limited ability to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • High minimum loan amount.
  • No direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
  • No mobile app to manage loan.
Qualifications
  • Minimum credit score: 660.
  • Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 55%.
  • Must provide a Social Security number.
  • Must have a valid email address and U.S. bank account.
Available Term Lengths2 to 7 years
Fees
  • Origination fee: None.
  • Late fee: None.
DisclaimerRates quoted are with AutoPay. Your loan terms are not guaranteed and may vary based on loan purpose, length of loan, loan amount, credit history and payment method (AutoPay or Invoice). AutoPay discount is only available when selected prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. To obtain a loan, you must complete an application on LightStream.com which may affect your credit score. You may be required to verify income, identity and other stated application information. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 7.99% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $202.72. Some additional conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2024 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.
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Best for

excellent credit and high loan amounts

SoFi
Get a quoteon SoFi's website
SoFi

SoFi Personal Loan

4.5

NerdWallet rating
Est. APR

8.99-35.49%

Loan amount

$5,000-$100,000

Min. credit score

None

Get a quoteon SoFi's website
View details Close details
Min. credit scoreNone
Key factsSoFi offers large online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.
Pros
  • Multiple rate discounts.
  • Large loans available.
  • Has a joint loan option.
  • Hardship assistance or program for borrowers in need.
Cons
  • No option to choose initial payment date.
  • High minimum loan amount.
Qualifications
  • Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent or non-permanent resident, including DACA recipients and asylum seekers.
  • Must be employed, have sufficient income from another source, or have an offer of employment to start within the next 90 days.
Available Term Lengths2 to 7 years
Fees
  • Origination fee: 0% to 7%.
  • Late fee: None.
DisclaimerFixed rates from 8.99% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflects the 0.25% autopay discount and a 0.25% direct deposit discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 04/24/25 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction on your Personal Loan (your “Loan”), you must set up Direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A., or enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee, all within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled Direct Deposit to an eligible Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion, or during periods in which SoFi successfully receives payment of the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off Direct Deposit to your Checking and Savings account or in which you have not paid for the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. You are not required to enroll in Direct Deposit or to pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee to receive a Loan.
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Best for

excellent credit and no fees

Citibank
Get a quoteon Citibank's website
Citibank

Citibank

4.5

NerdWallet rating
Est. APR

7.99-19.49%

Loan amount

$2,000-$30,000

Min. credit score

720

Get a quoteon Citibank's website
View details Close details
Min. credit score720
Key factsCitibank personal loans come with no fees and multiple rate discounts, but you may find more flexible options elsewhere if you have strong credit.
Pros
  • Multiple rate discounts.
  • No fees.
  • Same- or next-day funding.
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
Cons
  • Does not offer large loans.
  • No co-signed, joint or secured loan option.
  • No option to choose or change your payment date.
Qualifications
  • Must be at least 18 (or the age of majority in AL, MS or NE).
Available Term Lengths1 to 5 years
Fees
  • No fees.
DisclaimerTerms, conditions, and fees for accounts, products, programs and services are subject to change at any time. You must be at least 18 years of age (21 years of age in Puerto Rico). Co-applicants are not permitted. Existing Citi deposit and credit card customers who have been a Citi customer for less than 12 months are not eligible for a Citi® Personal Loan. If you apply online, you must agree to receive the loan note and all other account disclosures provided with your loan origination in an electronic format and provide your signature electronically. Rates as of 7-30-2025. Your APR may be as low as 7.99% or as high as 19.49% for the term of your loan. The lowest rate quoted assumes excellent credit and a loan term of 24 or 36 months. Your APR will depend on a variety of factors including your creditworthiness, term of loan, and existing relationship with Citi. Citi offers personal loans with a period of repayment between 12 and 60-month terms. For example, if you borrow $10,000 for 36 months at 15.99% APR, to repay your loan you will have to make 36 monthly payments of approximately $351.52. There is a 0.5% APR discount if you enroll in automatic payments at loan origination. Additionally, existing Citigold and Citi Priority customers will receive a 0.25% discount to the APR. If you are in default, your APR may increase by 2.00%. Rates subject to change without notice. To check for offers you may qualify for, Citi conducts a soft credit inquiry. If you are presented with an offer and choose to proceed with the application process, Citi will conduct a hard credit inquiry which may have an impact on your credit score. Citi® Personal Loan proceeds cannot be used to pay for post-secondary education expenses or for business purposes. Credit cards issued by Citibank, N.A. or its affiliates, as well as Checking Plus and Ready Credit accounts, are not eligible for debt consolidation, and Citibank will not issue payoff checks for these accounts. If you are unsure of the issuer on the account, please visit https://www.citi.com/affiliatesproducts for a list of Citi products and affiliates. If you are approved for a personal loan with Citi, you can get your funds the same day with a Citi deposit account, or up to 2 business days for a non-Citi account when using direct deposit. Or, you can select to receive a check by mail in approximately 5 business days. Personal loans are made available by Citibank, N.A., Equal Housing lender
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What is an excellent-credit loan?

Excellent-credit personal loans are offered to borrowers with top-tier credit scores, typically in the mid- to high 700s. Most personal loans are unsecured, which means you don’t have to put up any collateral, such as your car or house, to get the loan.

Borrowers with strong credit scores may have access to the lowest rates and largest amounts these lenders offer. If you have excellent credit, you may get your pick of many different lenders, so compare multiple lenders to find the right loan for you.

» MORE: Compare personal loans

Excellent-credit personal loan rates

As with most credit products, the annual percentage rate you receive on a personal loan depends a lot on your credit score.

Borrowers with excellent credit tend to get the lowest rates on personal loans, meaning they'll pay less interest over the life of the loan.

But your score isn’t the only factor affecting your APR: Your income, existing debts, requested loan amount and loan purpose can also affect your rate.

The interest rate factors into your monthly loan payment, as does the term length — a longer loan term means lower monthly payments but more interest, while a shorter term means higher monthly payments but less cost overall.

Use our personal loan calculator to see estimated rates, total interest costs and monthly payments for a personal loan.

Here is what interest rates on personal loans look like, on average:

Borrower credit rating

Score range

Estimated APR

Excellent

720-850.

11.81%.

Good

690-719.

14.48%.

Fair

630-689.

17.93%.

Bad

300-629.

21.65%.

Source: Average rates are based on aggregate, anonymized offer data from users who pre-qualified through NerdWallet from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. 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%.

Where to get excellent-credit personal loans

Excellent-credit borrowers can get personal loans from online lenders, banks and credit unions.

Excellent-credit personal loans from online lenders

Online lenders offer a streamlined application process and fast funding. Many online lenders have mobile apps so you can manage your loan right from your phone.

» MORE: Best online loans

Excellent-credit personal loans from banks

Banks that offer personal loans tend to cater to borrowers with excellent credit, and most offer lower rates and no fees compared to other lenders. If you have an existing account with the bank, you could also benefit from an easier application process and discounted rates. The downside is some banks require you to visit a branch to complete the loan application process.

» MORE: Top banks offering personal loans

Excellent-credit personal loans from credit unions

Federal credit unions cap interest rates at 18%, so excellent-credit borrowers are likely to receive low rates from these lenders — especially if you're already a member. Credit unions may also offer smaller loans than banks.

» MORE: Top credit unions for personal loans

Will a personal loan hurt my excellent credit score?

Most lenders perform a soft credit inquiry when you pre-qualify, followed by a hard check during the formal application process. That hard check will temporarily knock a few points off your credit score.

You can quickly rebuild any negative impact by choosing a lender that reports your repayment activity to all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and never missing a monthly payment.

A personal loan also diversifies your debt. According to FICO, credit mix contributes 10% toward the calculation of your total credit score.

» MORE: How personal loans affect credit scores

How to choose the best personal loan for excellent credit

Having excellent credit is an advantage, but it can make choosing between multiple loan offers more difficult. Check the overall cost of the loan and monthly payments against your budget, and carefully weigh the different features offered by each lender.

Here are several considerations to keep in mind:

  • Cost. The loan's cost is often its most important feature. The loan with the lowest APR is the least expensive, but a loan with a slightly higher APR and longer repayment term may have lower monthly payments. Look for a loan that has affordable monthly payments without inflating interest costs too much. 

  • Loan term. Terms on personal loans typically range from two to seven years. Some lenders offer limited repayment term options, while others offer pre-qualified borrowers several terms to choose from. A longer term means you’ll have lower monthly payments but pay more in interest over the life of the loan.

  • Loan amount. Having excellent credit may qualify you for the largest available loan amounts, which can be up to $100,000. Still, it's best to request only the amount of money you need and can afford to repay. 

  • Funding time. Most lenders will fund a personal loan within a week of approval. If you need money fast, consider a lender that offers same- or next-day funding.

  • Loan features. Some lenders will send loan proceeds directly to your creditors if you’re consolidating debt, allow flexible payment schedules or offer rate discounts for setting up automatic payments.

  • Perks. Take advantage of resources offered by lenders such as free credit score monitoring, financial planning or hardship assistance plans.

» MORE: 7 features to look for in a personal loan

Pre-qualify to get started

Pre-qualifying for a personal loan allows you to see personalized terms, including the loan’s interest rate and monthly payments, before committing to the loan. You can pre-qualify with multiple lenders on NerdWallet to compare offers and find the lowest rate.

Alternatives for excellent-credit borrowers

Having excellent credit means you may qualify for many credit options. Here are a few others you might consider.

Zero-interest credit card: 0% interest credit cards let you borrow at no cost as long as you pay off your balance within the card’s 0% interest introductory period — typically 15 to 21 months. This kind of card is a good choice for a small- to medium-sized expense, like an engagement ring or laptop, that you can pay off by the end of the promotional period.

Rewards credit card: Credit cards that offer rewards like travel points or cash back can be beneficial for future expenses. Pay off the card’s balance each month to avoid paying interest. You can use a rewards card to pay for travel and reap the benefits on future trips.

Personal line of credit: A personal line of credit functions like a mix between a credit card and a personal loan. It’s a good option for expenses with unpredictable timelines and costs, such as large home improvement projects.

Home equity financing: Homeowners with excellent credit and equity in their homes may qualify for a home equity loan or home equity line of credit. These financing options usually have lower rates and longer repayment terms than personal loans or personal lines of credit. The risk, however, is potentially losing your home if you fail to repay the debt.

Last updated on August 8, 2025

Methodology

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Personal Loans for Excellent Credit in 2025

Frequently asked questions

  • Start by comparing loans from multiple lenders. With excellent credit, you'll likely have options, and pre-qualifying allows you to compare rates, terms and loan features to choose the best personal loan for you.

  • Interest rates for excellent-credit loans typically start around 7%, with an average APR around 12%. The rate you receive depends on your credit score as well as your income and debt.

  • There could be multiple reasons why you can't get a personal loan, even if you have excellent credit. Your income may be too low for the amount you want to borrow, or your debt-to-income ratio may be too high. Having irregular income can impact your ability to get a personal loan, too.