Best Personal Loans in Huntington Beach, CA: Top Lenders & Best Picks for You

Updated: December 28, 2023

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MoneyGeek's Picks for Best Personal Loan Lenders in Huntington Beach, CA

MoneyGeek reviewed personal loan providers in Huntington Beach and studied them based on over 30 data points. We analyzed companies based on APR ranges, loan amounts, credit score requirements, fees, disbursement times and other relevant factors to rank the best in the city.

Our research shows that LightStream offers the overall best personal loans in Huntington Beach. However, we’ve also found that the top company varies depending on the borrower’s needs and profile. For example, Upstart is our pick for borrowers with bad credit, while we recommend Upgrade for debt consolidation.

Best Overall Personal Loan Lender in Huntington Beach: LightStream


  • LightStream

    • 4.49% to 20.49%APR Range
    • 660Minimum Credit Score
    • $5,000 to $100,000Loan Amount Range
    • 24 to 84 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Same DayTime to Receive Funds

    MoneyGeek’s analysis shows that LightStream is the overall best personal loan provider in Huntington Beach.

    The company offers personal loans that range from $5,000 to $100,000, which are payable for up to 84 months. Beyond its flexible offer, LightStream also has one of the lowest interest rates in the city.

    In addition, LightStream doesn’t charge prepayment, late payment or origination fees. This is convenient as it reduces the expenses that come with your loan. The company also offers an autopay discount.

    Unfortunately, you need good-to-excellent credit to qualify for LightStream. This lender lacks a pre-approval process but accepts co-applicants and processes loans within the day of application.

    LightStream was established in 2012 as the online lending platform of SunTrust (now Truist).

    Pros

    • High maximum loan amount
    • No prepayment, late payment or origination fees
    • A+ BBB rating
    • Offers autopay discount

    Cons

    • Good-to-excellent credit requirement
    • No pre-approval
    • Minimum loan amount of $5,000
    • No co-signers
    • Hard credit inquiry
    LightStream

Best Personal Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Huntington Beach: Upstart


  • Upstart

    • 3.22% to 35.99%APR Range
    • 300Minimum Credit Score
    • $1,000 to $50,000Loan Amount Range
    • 36 to 60 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Next DayTime to Receive Funds

    If you have bad credit, MoneyGeek recommends Upstart as the best personal loan provider in Huntington Beach.

    Upstart uses artificial intelligence and factors beyond FICO scores to evaluate applicants. Thus, unlike other lenders, this company accepts borrowers with low credit scores. Additionally, since it only conducts soft credit pulls, applicants can apply to this lender without hurting their credit.

    Although Upstart’s maximum loan amount is rather limited at $50,000, it offers a low minimum loan amount of $1,000. This works best if you’re only looking to finance small purchases. Moreover, its loans are payable from 36 to 60 months and can be funded the next day.

    Upstart doesn’t charge prepayment fees. However, its loans feature potentially high interest rates and origination fees.

    Established in 2012, Upstart is a fintech company that has originated over $30.5 billion in loans.

    Pros

    • Borrowers with bad credit can apply
    • A+ BBB rating
    • Performs soft credit inquiry
    • No prepayment fees

    Cons

    • Has origination fees
    • Charges late fees
    • No co-signers
    • Low maximum loan amount
    • Income requirements
    Upstart

Best Personal Loan Lender for Good Credit in Huntington Beach: SoFi


  • SoFi

    • 5.74% to 20.28%APR Range
    • 680Minimum Credit Score
    • $5,000 to $100,000Loan Amount Range
    • 12 to 60 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Two DaysTime to Receive Funds

    Generally, having good credit will give you access to more credit providers. SoFi stands out as the best personal loan lender in Huntington Beach if you have good credit.

    SoFi offers personal loans that range from $5,000 to $100,000. This offer is perfect if you need to borrow a substantial amount of money and are looking for low monthly installments.

    You won’t have to deal with origination, prepayment and late payment fees with SoFi. In addition, you can get a discount if you set up autopay. The company even offers payment relief in case you become unemployed.

    SoFi requires good-to-excellent credit. Nonetheless, it can determine rates through a soft credit check.

    The company has been around since 2011 and has funded over $50 billion in loans for more than 4 million members.

    Pros

    • No origination, prepayment and late payment fees
    • Determines rates through soft credit pulls
    • Has unemployment protection
    • Gives discounts for autopay

    Cons

    • Good-to-excellent credit required
    • High minimum loan amount
    • No co-signers
    • Income requirements
    • Won’t accept people with new or no credit
    SoFi

Best Personal Loan Lender for Debt Consolidation in Huntington Beach: Upgrade


  • Upgrade

    • 5.94% to 35.47%APR Range
    • 560Minimum Credit Score
    • $1,000 to $50,000Loan Amount Range
    • 36 to 60 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Same DayTime to Receive Funds

    MoneyGeek’s research shows that Upgrade’s personal loans are the best in Huntington Beach if you’re consolidating your debt.

    Upgrade lets you borrow anywhere from $1,000 to $50,000. This offer is perfect if you’re looking to repay relatively small loans and have small monthly installments.

    In addition, Upgrade can provide your rates through a soft credit check. It can also process loans immediately.

    You won’t have to pay prepayment fees if you repay your Upgrade loan early. However, these loans come with an origination fee.

    Since its inception in 2017, Upgrade has provided over $19 billion in credit to millions of families in the United States.

    Pros

    • Flexible repayment terms
    • Performs soft credit checks
    • Quick funding
    • No prepayment fee
    • Minimum loan amount of $1,000

    Cons

    • Charges origination fees
    • High interest rate
    • Charges late payment penalties
    • No co-signers
    • Employment requirements
    Upgrade

Best Personal Loan Lender for Home Improvement in Huntington Beach: Best Egg


  • Best Egg

    • 4.99% to 35.99%APR Range
    • 700Minimum Credit Score
    • $2,000 to $50,000Loan Amount Range
    • 36 to 60 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Next DayTime to Receive Funds

    MoneyGeek’s study shows that Best Egg is the best personal loan provider in Huntington Beach for home improvement projects.

    Best Egg offers personal loans that range from $2,000 to $50,000, payable from 36 to 60 months. Although its loan offer is favorable for folks looking to borrow small amounts, it comes with potentially high interest rates.

    You don’t have to worry about prepayment fees with your Best Egg loan, and you can expect it to be funded the next day. Additionally, you can still apply with this company despite having bad credit, as it considers factors beyond your credit score. However, it charges origination fees.

    Best Egg was founded in 2014 and has since processed over one million loans across the country. Cross River Bank and Blue Ridge Bank underwrite loans for this company.

    Pros

    • A+ BBB rating
    • No prepayment fees
    • Autopay discount
    • Conducts soft credit pulls
    • Low minimum loan amount

    Cons

    • Potentially high APR
    • Has origination fees
    • Charges late fees
    • Low maximum loan amount
    • High credit score requirement
    Best Egg

Where to Start: How to Choose the Best Personal Loan Lender in Huntington Beach for You

Personal loans are a popular way to deal with both planned and unplanned expenses. In California, the average personal loan debt is $16,790.

It’s a good idea to consider a number of factors before you proceed with your personal loan application in Huntington Beach. Whether you’ll use the loan for debt consolidation, home improvement, emergency bills or large purchases, MoneyGeek recommends that you follow these steps to ensure you’ll make the best financial decision.

1
Ask Yourself the Important Questions

Before starting your loan application, ask yourself these important questions so you can better understand your financial situation.

  • How much funding do I need? Personal loans are repaid with interest. Thus, borrowing excessive amounts will result in unnecessary costs.
  • What is my credit score? Loan providers typically have credit requirements. By knowing your credit score, you’ll be able to identify which companies you can get a loan from.
  • Can I afford the monthly payment? It’s a good idea to go over your finances to know if you can afford your potential loan payments.
  • How much debt do I already have? Loan companies will check your debt-to-income ratio when assessing your application. If you have high debt, you may encounter difficulties getting a loan.
2
Do Your Research

Getting a personal loan means having a long-term financial commitment. As a result, you want to make sure that you’re making a well-informed decision and know everything you can about your options.

Some of the key information you should look for are APR ranges, fees, loan amounts, discounts, repayment terms, funding times and restrictions. It’s also recommended that you check the lender’s credit evaluation process so that you know if you’ll need to undergo a hard credit check just to get a quote from the company.

MoneyGeek ranked the best personal loan providers in Huntington Beach. However, our recommendations may not fit your unique needs and profile. We recommend that you do your own research and shop around to find the best lenders for you.

3
Wait

It’s a good idea to wait for a day or two before you make up your mind. You may benefit from a fresh perspective and a better understanding of your situation if you do this.

Personal loans are serious financial commitments that are repaid with interest for four to seven years. For your present and future financial health, it’s crucial that you ensure you’re getting the best available terms and lowest rates for you.

Likewise, it’s also important to consider the reason why you’re getting a loan. Although emergencies are unavoidable, think about whether your leisurely expense or purchase can wait until you’ve saved up the required amount.

4
Read the Fine Print

After researching your options and waiting to make a decision, you may have shortlisted your preferred lenders. Before you commit to anything, it’s recommended that you read the company’s fine print and study policies in detail.

Look out for details you may have missed during your initial research and scrutinize the fees that come with the loan. Although most personal loan providers in Huntington Beach don’t charge prepayment fees, some lenders do. You should also watch out for origination fees.

Remember, you may have to deal with the personal loan company for up to seven years. By reading the fine print and understanding the company’s offer, you can avoid unnecessary expenses and a stressful customer experience.

5
Apply

Since you’ve already studied your options and read the details, you may now feel confident proceeding with one company. You can now apply for a personal loan.

Start by gathering the documents that loan companies typically ask for. This includes your identification cards, proof of address, pay stubs and other income statements. Lenders may ask for more documents depending on your profile.

It’s easy to get a personal loan in Huntington Beach. Most companies have online applications, which allow you to get a loan right from the comfort of your home. This is convenient if you don’t have the time to visit a branch personally.

However, you’re also free to apply over the phone or in person if that’s what you’re comfortable with. It’s important to make sure that you’re using the method you’re most comfortable with so that you can freely transact with the loan company.

What to Do if You Can’t Get a Personal Loan in Huntington Beach

It’s not uncommon for personal loan applications to get denied. Lenders usually reject applicants due to low credit scores, insufficient incomes and incomplete documents. Don’t be discouraged if this happens to you. Instead, evaluate the situation so that you know how to respond moving forward.

You can connect with the lender and ask for the exact reason it declined your loan application. This is important so that you can identify and address the issues you may have in your profile.

You may need to improve your credit score so you can get better chances the next time you apply. This could involve paying off your existing debts or finding a higher-paying job. Having a lower debt-to-income ratio makes you a less risky borrower.

It’s possible for you to contact another lender and start the application from scratch. However, we don’t recommend you do this until you’ve resolved the first lender’s issues.

Lastly, no matter how desperate you are, you’ll be better off avoiding payday loans. You’ll only end up deep in debt due to their high interest rates and short repayment terms. Payday loans are never a good option to address your financial problems.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Huntington Beach

The best personal loan companies in Huntington Beach vary depending on your needs and profile. To help you find the right provider, we answered some commonly asked questions about the topic so you can make an informed decision.

What is the best personal loan lender in Huntington Beach?
Which lender in Huntington Beach has the lowest interest rate?
Can I use a personal loan for vacations in Huntington Beach?
Can I use a personal loan for home improvement in Huntington Beach?
What can I not use my personal loan for in Huntington Beach?
How much can I borrow in Huntington Beach?
How long does it take to get a personal loan in Huntington Beach?
Can I pay off my loan early in Huntington Beach?

Our Personal Loan Methodology

We studied more than 30 personal loan companies using over 35 data points that cover six key categories, including loan affordability, lender transparency, credit accessibility, customer service, flexibility and consumer friendliness.

For each ranking criterion, we evaluated individual data points that, per our analysis, are the most important for folks choosing a personal loan lender. These factors include APR ranges, loan amounts, credit score requirements, minimum income amount, disbursement times and application and miscellaneous fees.

Here at MoneyGeek, we value you, the consumer, so we also consider each lender’s performance in terms of customer support, business ratings and the availability of features that can make your experience easier and more accessible. Our team even goes through a lender’s prequalification process, payment options and mobile apps.

After a thorough evaluation and calculation, our recommendations are made with your best interest in mind. Our personal loan picks and expert tips are meant to help you make the best decision when choosing a personal lender.

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.