OneMain Financial Personal Loans: 2021 Review

OneMain’s are expensive compared with other online loans; however, they have some consumer-friendly features that make them an option for borrowers who may struggle to qualify elsewhere.

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Secured and joint loan options: OneMain lets borrowers use a vehicle to secure a loan or add a co-applicant to an application. Either option can help improve a borrower's chance of qualifying and getting a lower rate than they would on their own. With a secured loan, the lender will appraise the vehicle and require it to be insured.

Choose and change your payment date: A borrower can pick their payment date when they sign a loan agreement, as long as it’s within 45 days of the day they accept the offer. After that, they can change the payment date twice during the life of the loan.

Fast funding: The lender is one of few that says it can fund a loan the same day a borrower submits an application. With other lenders, the time from application to funding can be one or two days.

Branch access: OneMain operates branches in each of the 44 states where it offers personal loans. Though a borrower can get a loan without visiting a branch, those who are more comfortable interacting with a loan officer in person can do so at a OneMain branch.

Seven-day cancellation policy: Borrowers have seven days to change their mind and cancel the loan without having to make payments. Few lenders offer this feature.

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No autopay discount: Unlike many other lenders, OneMain doesn’t offer a rate discount for setting up automatic payments. The discount is usually up to 0.5 percentage points and encourages borrowers to use autopay to ensure on-time payment.

Origination fee: OneMain loans come with origination fees, which isn’t uncommon for online lenders. In some states, the charge is a flat fee of $25 to $500; in other states, the fee is 1% to 10% of the loan amount. These fees can be high compared with other lenders’ origination fees.

Credit insurance: OneMain may offer optional credit insurance with secured or unsecured loans. This insurance adds to the loan costs and may not be necessary if borrowers already have life insurance, so it's worthwhile to learn about the before buying it.

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OneMain doesn’t disclose many of its hard requirements, but says it focuses on applicants’ ability to meet their monthly financial obligations — including mortgage or rent payments and other debt payments — and still afford the loan.

The lender doesn’t have a minimum credit score requirement because it doesn’t rely on a credit score to help determine whether someone qualifies. Instead, it uses its own underwriting system to review applicants’ credit information as well as .

Three of the most important factors on a loan application are ability to repay, credit stability and whether the loan is secured with collateral, according to a spokeswoman.

OneMain doesn't underwrite applicants who don’t have a credit bureau file, and says it’s difficult for borrowers to be approved if their credit history is very thin.

Here are OneMain borrower and loan averages:

Loan example: A five-year, $10,000 loan with an APR of 28.7% would have a monthly payment of $316. A borrower would pay $8,960 in total interest on that loan.

NerdWallet recommends comparing loans to find the best rate for you. Pre-qualifying may get you personalized rates from multiple lenders that partner with us, including OneMain. Pre-qualifying will not impact your credit.