Best Debt Consolidation Loans in Stockton of 2024

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Edited byAliha Strange
Edited byAliha Strange

Updated: December 28, 2023

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WHAT WE’RE GEEKING OUT ON

Best Debt Consolidation Loan Lenders in Stockton, CA

MoneyGeek scored debt consolidation loan providers in Stockton using more than 30 data points. We assessed loan amounts, APR ranges, funding times, credit requirements, fees and other factors to determine the best in the city.

Our research shows that LightStream is Stockton's best debt consolidation lender overall. However, our recommendations change depending on the borrower. Upgrade stands out as the best debt consolidation loan provider for borrowers with good credit, whereas Upstart is our choice for folks with poor credit.

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Best Overall Debt Consolidation Loan in Stockton, CA: LightStream


  • LightStream
    • 7.49% to 25.49%APR Range
    • $5,000 to $100,000Loan Amount Range
    • 24 to 144 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Same day funding possibleTime to Receive Funds

    MoneyGeek’s analysis shows that LightStream is Stockton’s best debt consolidation loan company. LightStream is Truist’s online lending arm and has provided personal loans since 2012.

    LightStream offers flexible debt consolidation loans that range from $5,000 to $100,000. This is convenient if you’re repaying several credit card and other debts, giving you enough funding and several years of repayment.

    This company boasts its online loan application process, which can fund loans within the same day. In addition, it doesn’t charge origination and prepayment fees and has a 0.5% autopay discount.

    Nonetheless, your credit score needs to be good to excellent to be approved for a LightStream loan. You’ll also have to undergo a hard credit check to determine your rates, affecting your credit score.

    Pros

    • Lacks origination and prepayment fees
    • Same-day funding
    • Loan amount of up to $100,000
    • Features a 0.5% autopay discount
    • Offers to beat competitor rates by 0.1%

    Cons

    • Borrowers need a good-to-excellent credit score
    • Conducts hard credit checks
    LightStream

Runner-Up for Best Debt Consolidation Loan in Stockton, CA: SoFi


  • SoFi
    • 8.99% to 29.99%APR Range
    • $5,000 to $100,000Loan Amount Range
    • 12 to 60 monthsRepayment Terms
    • 2 DaysTime to Receive Funds

    Social Finance (SoFi) is MoneyGeek’s pick as Stockton's runner-up debt consolidation lender. It’s a digital financial services platform that has financed over $50 billion in loans for over four million clients since it was formed in 2011.

    SoFi offers personal loans up to $100,000 for debt repayment. Repayment terms are flexible, and SoFi allows you to choose the term you’re most comfortable with.

    Although you need a credit score of at least 680 to qualify for a SoFi loan, the company only conducts a soft credit check to see if you are eligible. It lets borrowers view the interest rates in just a minute and provide funding within the day of application.

    With SoFi, you won’t need to worry about origination, prepayment and late payment fees. You also get an autopay discount and unemployment protection.

    Pros

    • Doesn’t charge origination, prepayment and late payment fees
    • Conducts soft credit check to establish rates
    • Features a 0.25% autopay discount
    • Offers unemployment protection

    Cons

    • Good-to-excellent credit required
    SoFi

Best Debt Consolidation Loan for Bad Credit in Stockton, CA: Upstart


  • Upstart
    • 6.4% to 35.99%APR Range
    • $1,000 to $50,000Loan Amount Range
    • 3 or 5 yearsRepayment Terms
    • 1 business dayTime to Receive Funds

    MoneyGeek determined Upstart is the best debt consolidation lender in Stockton for borrowers with bad credit.

    Established in 2012, Upstart was one of the first to use AI to evaluate loan applications. It assesses borrowers using non-conventional factors, allowing applicants to obtain a loan despite having a FICO score below 580.

    With Upstart, you can get up to $50,000 to consolidate your debts and repay them in 36 to 60 months, even with poor credit. In addition, the company only requires a soft credit pull to check rates, which lets you shop around without affecting your credit score.

    However, Upstart’s loans feature origination fees. In most cases, this company can issue approvals instantly and fund loans the next business day. It also doesn’t charge fees for early payment.

    Pros

    • Conducts soft inquiries to check rates
    • Flexible credit assessment
    • Uses non-conventional factors to evaluate applications
    • Doesn’t charge a prepayment fee
    • Funds loans in one business day

    Cons

    • Loans have origination fees
    • High maximum APR
    • Maximum loan amount is $50,000
    Upstart

Best Debt Consolidation Loan for Good Credit in Stockton, CA: Upgrade


  • Upgrade
    • 8.49% to 35.99%APR Range
    • $1,000 to $50,000Loan Amount Range
    • 24 to 84 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Within a dayTime to Receive Funds

    Upgrade is a relatively new financial services company. It was established in 2016 but has already funded over $19 billion in loans and credit cards to millions of clients all over the U.S.

    Upgrade is MoneyGeek’s pick as Stockton’s best debt consolidation lender for individuals with good credit. With this company, you can borrow anywhere from $1,000 to $50,000.

    That flexible offer is helpful if you’re dealing with multiple debts and have limited income. Extending your repayment term lets you lower your monthly payments, making them more manageable.

    Upgrade also offers to repay creditors directly, which is useful if you have obligations to several companies. In addition, it doesn’t charge early payment fees and does soft credit pulls to check rates.

    However, keep in mind that Upgrade’s loans come with origination fees and penalties for late payment.

    Pros

    • Offers direct payment to creditors
    • Offers an autopay discount
    • Conducts soft credit checks to view rates
    • No prepayment fees

    Cons

    • Applicable origination fees
    • Features late payment penalties
    • Up to $50,000 loan amount
    Upgrade

How to Choose the Best Debt Consolidation Loan in Stockton, CA, for You

On average, the credit card debt in California is $5,635, whereas personal loans in the state are $16,790. With that, debt consolidation loans have become a popular way to settle liabilities. It allows you to have one loan payment and access to fixed and potentially lower interest rates.

If you’re considering a debt consolidation loan in Stockton, MoneyGeek outlined five steps to help you decide the best lender for your needs and situation.

1

Ask Yourself the Important Questions

Before applying for a debt consolidation loan in Stockton, it’s a good idea to ask yourself these important questions:

  • How much funding do you need? Calculate all of your existing financial obligations to determine your desired loan amount. Getting insufficient funding defeats the purpose of consolidating your debts into one.
  • What’s your credit score? Since lenders have minimum credit requirements, knowing your credit score is beneficial. You can avoid wasting time with companies that won’t approve you based on this qualification.
  • Can you afford the monthly payments? Debt consolidation loans are repaid in monthly installments. Check your monthly cash flow and determine if you are financially prepared to take a loan.
  • Do you have existing debts? Lenders look at your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio when assessing your application. If you’re applying for a personal loan, it’s advisable to have a DTI that’s 36% or lower.
  • Is your debt manageable through other means? Determine if getting a debt consolidation loan is necessary for you. In some cases, transferring your debt to a 0% APR credit card may make more financial sense.
2

Do Your Research

A debt consolidation loan is a serious commitment. You’ll have to repay it with interest and for several years, which can be two to four years on average.

Although a debt consolidation loan can help eliminate your existing debts, you would want to avoid a situation where you’ll have a new loan that you can’t repay.

Researching to find the best debt consolidation lenders is a good idea. Shop around and compare offers to see which companies offer the lowest rates. Watch out for fees you can avoid, such as origination and prepayment fees.

Although we ranked Stockton’s best debt consolidation loan companies, our findings cannot be the right fit for every individual. In the end, only you can determine the best lender for your needs and profile.

3

Wait

It’s advisable that you wait for a day or two before committing to a personal loan company.

If you’re getting a debt consolidation loan, you’ll repay the amount with interest. The average APR of personal loans in California is 10.21%. Make sure it’s a company you want to work with for several years.

That said, you must be sure that your chosen loan provider offers the best available loan.

Letting time pass allows for a more objective evaluation of the given situation. This lets you see problems you may have missed during your initial assessment.

In addition, consider whether getting a debt consolidation loan is the best step to address your debts. Is it worth the time and effort? Sometimes, transferring your debt to a 0% APR credit card is better.

4

Read the Fine Print

If you’ve already made a short list of lenders, we recommend reading each company’s fine print. You may find important details that escaped you during your initial research.

Check the lender’s policies about origination, early payment and late payment fees. Scrutinize its APR range and repayment term. It’s also recommended that you read the terms and conditions for any promotional offers.

See if there are restrictions that come with agreeing to the loan. For example, some lenders won’t allow you to use your loan proceeds to repay debts associated with their company.

You can avoid hefty fees by reading the fine print of your preferred loan companies. Not only does this save you money, but it also prevents a bad customer experience.

5

Apply

By this time, you’ve already conducted your research, considered your decision and read the fine print. You can confidently proceed with your application if you’ve already picked your preferred lender.

We recommend that you gather documentation that loan providers usually require during loan evaluation. Most of the time, you’ll need your identification, proof of address and income statements. Depending on the company, you may have to provide additional information to establish your creditworthiness.

Getting a debt consolidation loan in Stockton is easy. Most loan companies have online application processes, allowing you to do the entire transaction at home conveniently. However, you can call or visit a branch in person.

Remember, a debt consolidation loan is a serious and long-term commitment, so go with the process you’re most comfortable with.

What to Do if You Can’t Get a Debt Consolidation Loan in Stockton, CA

Debt consolidation loans in Stockton get rejected for various reasons. If rejected, the reasons usually encompass a borrower’s credit score, income or DTI ratio. If this happens to you, know that it doesn’t mean the end of your debt consolidation journey.

After receiving your notice of disapproval, you can contact the lender to know the reason for the rejection of your application. Ask whether or not modifying your loan amount and term will allow for reconsideration of your application.

Unless it’s an emergency, it’s not advisable to immediately file another application with a new company. Doing this may result in another rejection if you haven’t yet dealt with why the first lender rejected your application.

MoneyGeek recommends that you improve your creditworthiness first before going to another lender. In addition, consider having a co-signer or a co-applicant to improve your chances of being approved.

Lastly, we discourage you from taking out a payday loan. Its high-interest rate and short repayment term will only lead to more debt.

Calculate Your Monthly Payment

You’ll have to settle your debt consolidation loan with interest and monthly installments. To help determine your financial preparedness for a loan, you can use MoneyGeek’s debt consolidation loan calculator.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Debt Consolidation Loans in Stockton, CA

Stockton's best debt consolidation loans will depend on your needs, preferences and credit profile. MoneyGeek answered some commonly asked questions to help you with your decision.

LightStream stands out as the overall best debt consolidation lender in Stockton. Nonetheless, the borrower’s needs and profile determine the best loan company. For instance, Upstart is our pick for people with bad credit and Upgrade is our choice for individuals with good credit.

Upstart offers the lowest possible interest rate in Stockton. Still, your interest rate will depend on your loan terms and credit profile.

Companies may have different restrictions regarding loan usage. However, you’re usually not allowed to use your loan to pay off your liabilities from the same lender from which you’re getting a loan.

In Stockton, debt consolidation loans range from $1,000 to $100,000. The amount you can borrow will vary based on your income, credit score, preferred lender and other factors. On average, personal loan debt in California is $16,790.

Although you can expect that most lenders will process your loan within one to two days, debt consolidation loan providers in Stockton have different processing times.

Yes, you can repay your debt consolidation loan ahead of schedule. However, review the terms associated with your loan, as some companies charge a prepayment fee for early payments.

Methodology

METHODOLOGY

MoneyGeek reviewed more than 30 personal loan lenders using at least 35 individual data points across six key categories: loan affordability, accessibility, consumer friendliness, customer service, flexibility and lender transparency.

Within each ranking category, we considered several individual data points that we feel carry the most weight when choosing a personal loan lender. These factors include APR ranges, available loan amounts, minimum credit scores, minimum income amounts, application fees and disbursement times.

Here at MoneyGeek, we value you, the consumer, so we also factor in each lender’s customer support, business ratings and additional features that could make your experience easier and more accessible — like prequalification, payment options and mobile apps.

After careful consideration and calculation, we make our picks with your best interest in mind. Our personal loan recommendations and expert tips are meant to help you make smart financial decisions when choosing a lender that meets your needs.

sources
Shield Insurance

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the rates mentioned may have changed. We recommend visiting the lender's website for the most up-to-date information available.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, lender or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.