What’s the average personal loan interest rate?

Personal loans have become more popular in the last decade due to consumers looking to consolidate debt and find lower interest rates than credit cards. The average personal loan interest rate is 10.73 percent as of September 14, 2022. However, the rate you receive could be higher or lower, depending on your unique financial circumstances.

Personal loan rates vary based on creditworthiness, the lender and the borrower’s financial stability.

Average personal loan interest rates by credit score

Consumers with good or excellent credit may find average loan interest rates as low as 10.71 percent, whereas those with “average” or “poor” credit will pay a considerably higher average rate. Based on Bankrate research, the following chart outlines the average interest consumers pay by credit score.

However, some borrowers will get much lower interest rates because these are averages.

Average loan rates by lender type

While local banks and credit unions with brick-and-mortar stores promise competitive personal loan products, online lenders often offer loans with lower starting interest rates for consumers with excellent credit. Consumers who want to find an affordable loan product to suit their needs should compare their bank or credit union’s offerings with any online lenders they may be familiar with.

Rates are accurate as of September 14, 2022. Check with the lender for any updated details.

Average personal loan rates by online lender

Average personal loan rates by banks

Average personal loan rates by credit union

Other factors that affect your personal loan rate

While your credit score plays a significant role in the average personal loan interest rate you can qualify for, lenders consider other details to gauge your creditworthiness. These include:

• Your income is used to determine how much you can borrow.
• Your debt-to-income ratio helps lenders determine how much debt you already have compared to your income.
• Your employment status helps lenders feel confident about your ability to repay your loan.
• Your loan term can impact your rate: short-term personal loans tend to have higher interest rates than long-term personal loans.

Some lenders set minimum standards for their loans, such as a minimum income amount or a minimum credit score. You may also be unable to get approved for a personal loan if you have a recent bankruptcy on your credit report or an open collections case. Before you apply for a personal loan, it can help to look over your lender’s FAQ pages to see if you will be able to qualify.

The documentation you can expect to provide when you apply for a personal loan includes photo identification, employer and income verification, like pay stubs and bank statements, and proof of address.

What is considered a good interest rate on a personal loan?

A good interest rate on a personal loan can be different for everyone. Generally speaking, a good rate is below the average personal loan rate, which currently sits at 10.7 percent.

How to get a good personal loan rate

If your goal is qualifying for a good personal loan rate, or at least the best loan rate you can hope to qualify for based on your credit score, income and other factors, there are plenty of steps you can take right now. Here is a rundown of everything you should do to secure a loan you can afford:

Work on improving your credit score

When you apply for a personal loan, a lender reviews your credit score to determine how risky of a borrower you might be. In general, the higher your credit score is, the better your chances of receiving the lowest rate possible.

The most important step to improving your credit score is to pay all of your bills early or on time — payment history accounts for 35 percent of your FICO score. You can also pay down debt to lower your credit utilization ratio, which accounts for 30 percent of your FICO score.

In addition, removing inaccurate information from your Experian, Equifax or TransUnion credit reports could improve your score. To monitor all three reports for errors, visit AnnualCreditReport.com. If you catch any mistakes, dispute them with the respective credit bureaus.

Shop around and compare lenders

Getting a good personal loan rate also involves shopping around. Different lenders offer different rates to applicants based on their unique underwriting guidelines. This means that applying for a personal loan with a lender that offers the lowest rate won’t ensure you get the lowest rate available.

To increase your odds of finding the lowest rate, prequalify with as many lenders as possible. Prequalifying allows you to get an estimate of the interest rate you could receive when you submit a formal application, and it often has no impact on your credit score.

Check for fees

Remember that your loan’s interest rate isn’t the only personal loan expense to be aware of. You should also check for other fees like origination fees, which can reflect on as much as six percent of your loan amount. To do this, look at a lender’s annual percentage rate — a measurement that includes interest plus fees. Some lenders will give you an estimated APR when you prequalify.

The bottom line

Average personal loan interest rates can vary depending on your credit score and other factors, but you do have some control. Make sure to keep your credit score in the best shape possible and work on paying off debt to lower your debt-to-income ratio. By taking care of your financial health and shopping around to compare typical loan interest rates, you’ll have a personal loan that suits your budget and goals within reach.