MoneyGeek's Picks for Best Personal Loan Lenders in San Jose, CA

MoneyGeek analyzed the lenders offering personal loans in San Jose based on more than 30 data points, including minimum credit score and income, fees, loan disbursement time, APR ranges and other essential factors. We also evaluated the accessibility and affordability of each lender’s loans.

Our analysis shows that Lightstream is the best personal loan lender in San Jose. For borrowers with good and bad credit scores, SoFi and Upstart are the best lenders, respectively. Those seeking a loan for debt consolidation and home improvement will benefit the most from Upgrade and Best Egg.

Best Overall Personal Loan Lender in San Jose: 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

    LightStream

Best Personal Loan Lender for Bad Credit in San Jose: 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

    Upstart

Best Personal Loan Lender for Good Credit in San Jose: 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

    SoFi

Best Personal Loan Lender for Debt Consolidation in San Jose: 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

    Upgrade

Best Personal Loan Lender for Home Improvement in San Jose: 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

    Best Egg

How to Choose the Best Personal Loan Lender in San Jose for You

In California, the average personal loan debt is $16,790. A personal loan can be a great option for many borrowers, as it can help you fund emergency expenses and consolidate high-interest debt. However, before applying for a loan, it’s important to consider various factors like your income, credit score and previous debt to ensure that you can take on an additional financial obligation.

MoneyGeek identified the following steps you should take to apply for a loan:

1

Ask Yourself the Important Questions

MoneyGeek recommends evaluating your financial situation to determine if a personal loan is the best option for you. You should ask yourself the following questions before applying for an application:

  1. How much funding do I need?
  2. What is my credit score?
  3. Can I afford the monthly payment?
  4. How much debt do I already have?
2

Do Your Research

Before choosing a lender, you should research and explore other lending companies to compare rates and loan terms. Since a personal loan is a long-term financial commitment, it’s important to shop around and compare rates. Although MoneyGeek identified the best personal loans in San Jose, they may not be the best for your specific needs.

3

Wait

After you’ve researched different providers and selected the one that best fits your needs, you should still wait a few days before applying for a loan. During this time, you can reflect on your financial needs to ensure that a personal loan is right for you.

4

Read the Fine Print

The fine print of the loan agreement will include the lender's prepayment, late payment, origination and any additional fees. Understanding the types of fees a lender charges is essential to save money in the long term.

5

Apply

Once you have read the fine print and understand the lender’s fees, you can apply for a loan. At this stage, the lender might ask you for personal information like identification, address verification and income details. This information will help the lender assess if you’re eligible for a loan. While an online application is typically more convenient, you can also contact the lender to see if they allow in-person applications.

What to Do if You Can’t Get a Personal Loan in San Jose

Your personal loan may be rejected for a number of reasons. A low credit score, insufficient income, unstable employment or an incomplete application may cause your application to be denied.

If this happens to you, MoneyGeek recommends that you ask the lender specifically why they denied your loan application. That way, you can improve your application before reapplying with the lender or applying with a different lender. For instance, if the lender refuses a loan due to bad credit history, you can take out a credit-building loan or get a secured credit card to improve your credit score.

Some borrowers may want to opt for a payday loan. However, MoneyGeek strongly advises against this, as it has significantly higher interest rates than other loans and most borrowers struggle to repay such loans on time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in San Jose

Your credit score, income, debt-to-income ratio and other important factors play a significant role in receiving better rates for a personal loan in San Jose. MoneyGeek researched the following frequently asked questions to help you understand how personal loans work in the city.

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 are 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

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.