Top Lenders & Best Picks for You
Best Personal Loans in Oakland, CA
Updated: December 28, 2023
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- The Best Overall Personal Loan Lender in Oakland
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Oakland
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Good Credit in Oakland
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Debt Consolidation in Oakland
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Home Improvements in Oakland
- How to Choose the Right Personal Loan for You
- Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Oakland
MoneyGeek's Picks for Best Personal Loan Lenders in Oakland, CA
MoneyGeek evaluated several personal loan lenders in Oakland based on more than 30 data points, including loan affordability and accessibility, APR ranges and terms, disbursement time, origination and late fees, minimum credit score and income requirements, customer service quality and Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings.
Based on our evaluation, we found that Truist is the best lender for personal loans in Oakland. SoFi is the best lender in the city if you have good credit, while Upstart is the best if you have bad credit. Upgrade and Best Egg also offer the best personal loans for debt consolidation and home improvement, respectively. Although these are our top choices, the best lender for you will ultimately depend on your specific needs.
Best Personal Loan Lender Overall in Oakland: Truist
Best Personal Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Oakland: Upstart
Best Personal Loan Lender for Good Credit in Oakland: SoFi
Best Personal Loan Lender for Debt Consolidation in Oakland: Upgrade
Best Personal Loan Lender for Home Improvement in Oakland: Best Egg
How to Choose the Best Personal Loan Lender in Oakland for You
According to MoneyGeek’s research, the average personal loan debt in California is $16,796. However, your loan limit and eligibility will depend on your chosen lender, credit score, income and DTI ratio.
To find the best personal loans in Oakland for you, MoneyGeek recommends taking the following steps:
Ask Yourself the Important Questions
Before selecting a lender and completing an application for a personal loan, you should assess your current financial situation and capacity to repay the loan. At a bare minimum, you should ask yourself the following questions:
- How much funds do I require?
- What is the current status of my credit?
- What's my budget for the loan payment each month?
- Do I have any outstanding debts?
Do Your Research
Before you apply for a loan, you should compare lenders’ rates, fees and terms to see which one best fits your needs. A personal loan is a long-term financial commitment, but choosing the best lender for your needs will ultimately save you time and money. MoneyGeek's recommendations are a good place to start, there’s no substitute for your own research.
Wait
It's common to get perplexed while comparing the many features, options, rates and fees offered by various lenders. It may be best to delay applying for a few days, so that you can think about if a loan is the best option for you.
Read the Fine Print
Before taking out a loan, make sure to read the fine print in your agreement for extra costs like late fees, origination fees and penalties. If you have any questions, you should reach out to your chosen lender.
Apply
The last step is to send in your application. The lender will ask you to provide personal information like identification details, home address and source of income before they would consider their loan application. Even if applying online is convenient, you may consider applying in-person if you have any questions.
What to Do if You Can’t Get a Personal Loan in Oakland
Your loan application may be rejected for a number of reasons, including an insufficient credit score or income. If this happens, you shouldn’t panic — these are factors that can be improved over time.
If your loan application is denied, you should contact the lender to find out why it wasn’t approved. That way, you can modify your application before you reapply with the lender or apply with a different lender.
We strongly advise against taking out a payday loan. These loans feature high interest rates and short repayment periods, which could further hurt your credit score.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Oakland
The best lender for you will depend on a number of factors, such as the purpose of the loan, the funds you need and your financial profile. To help you make the best financial decision, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about personal loans in Oakland.
In Oakland, California, Truist is the best personal loan lender. However, for borrowers with good credit, SoFi is the best lender, while Upstart is the best for those with poor credit. Upgrade and Best Egg are the best lenders for debt consolidation and home improvement, respectively.
Of the lender’s evaluated, Upstart offers the lowest interest rates starting at 3.22%.
Most lenders in Oakland will allow you to use a personal loan for a vacation, but some companies have restrictions on fund usage. As such, you should ask your chosen lender if your loan can be used for vacations.
Most personal loans in Oakland can be utilized for home improvement. However, you should ask the lender if its loans are subject to any restrictions.
Some lenders won't let you use their loans to refinance mortgages or other loans, pay tuition, buy a business, make investments or stocks or finance illegal and gambling activities.
The maximum amount available through a personal loan in Oakland varies per lender. Depending on the lender, you may be able to acquire a loan for $1,000 or up to $100,000.
Personal loan disbursement times in Oakland may vary depending on the lender. However, most lenders disburse their loans between one and seven days.
You can pay off your loan early in Oakland, but certain lenders may charge you a prepayment fee. For further information, we recommend that you contact the lender or read your loan's fine print.
Our Personal Loan Methodology
We reviewed more than 30 personal loan lenders using 35+ individual data points across six key categories: loan affordability, accessibility, consumer friendliness, customer service, flexibility and lender transparency.
Within each ranking criteria 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 amount, minimum credit score, minimum income amount, application fees and disbursement time.
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, our picks were determined with your best interest in mind. Our personal loan recommendations and expert tips are meant to help you make the best decision when choosing a lender that meets your needs.
sources
- Best Egg. "About Best Egg." Accessed June 16, 2022.
- Best Egg. "Home Improvement." Accessed June 16, 2022.
- Best Egg. "Applying for a Personal Loan." Accessed June 16, 2022.
- Best Egg. "Frequently Asked Questions." Accessed June 16, 2022.
- SoFi. "Personal Loans." Accessed June 16, 2022.
- Truist. "Personal Loans." Accessed June 16, 2022.
- Upgrade. "Consolidate Your Debt." Accessed June 16, 2022.
- Upgrade. "Are there any fees?." Accessed June 16, 2022.
- Upstart. "Am I eligible to apply for a loan?." Accessed June 16, 2022.
- Wikipedia. "Truist Financial." Accessed June 16, 2022.
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
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