Best Personal Loans in Tallahassee, FL: Top Lenders & Best Picks for You

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Edited bySarah Mattie
Edited bySarah Mattie

Updated: February 14, 2024

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MoneyGeek's Picks for Best Personal Loan Lenders in Tallahassee, FL

MoneyGeek rated personal loan providers in Tallahassee based on over 30 data points. We checked lenders' APRs, loan amounts, fees, funding times, credit score requirements and more.

Our analysis shows Truist is the best personal loan lender in Tallahassee. However, the best overall doesn't mean the best for every situation.

The top provider changes according to the borrower’s financial profile and preferences. For example, we found SoFi is the best for borrowers with good credit, and Upgrade is our pick for debt consolidation.

Best Overall Personal Loan Lender in Tallahassee: Truist

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Best Personal Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Tallahassee: Upstart

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Best Personal Loan Lender for Good Credit in Tallahassee: SoFi

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Best Personal Loan Lender for Debt Consolidation in Tallahassee: Upgrade

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Best Personal Loan Lender for Home Improvement in Tallahassee: Best Egg

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

Personal loans often — though not always — feature fixed interest rates and repayment terms. Plus, lenders frequently release your money quickly.

You can use personal loans for many expenses, like special occasions, trips, purchases or emergencies. But lenders may place restrictions, particularly on using them for education.

Nonetheless, you should consider some important factors before you get a personal loan. MoneyGeek broke down five key steps to help you make a well-informed decision.

1

Ask Yourself the Important Questions

Start your personal loan application journey by better understanding your situation. We suggest you ask yourself these important questions:

  • How much funding do I need? You’ll be repaying your personal loan with interest. Avoid unnecessary interest payments by only borrowing the amount you need.
  • What's my credit score? To save time and energy, know your credit score to identify companies where you’re eligible to apply.
  • Can I afford the monthly payment? List your monthly expenses and check if you can afford your potential monthly payments.
  • How much debt do I already have? If you have existing debt, you’re a riskier borrower. Calculate your debt-to-income ratio and see if you meet the recommended 36% threshold.
2

Do Your Research

Personal loans are serious and long-term financial commitments repaid with interest. For your financial well-being, research your options to make an informed decision.

Look at APR ranges, discounts, repayment terms and fees, which affect loan expenses. Checking the lender's application process and restrictions is also advisable.

MoneyGeek listed the best personal loan lenders in Tallahassee for various categories. But our rankings are based on generalizations. To find the best providers for your needs, compare offers from several lenders.

3

Wait

Even if you believe you have the perfect lender, take some time before moving forward. This step gives you a fresh perspective of the situation, allowing you to make a better decision.

Because of the potential costs of the loan, you should be sure you've chosen the company with the best offer for your profile.

Really consider why you’re getting a loan. Is this absolutely necessary?

For example, if you're borrowing money to fund leisure expenses or purchases, think about putting it off until you've saved the money you need.

Or, if you're consolidating smaller debts, transferring your balance to a 0% APR credit card may be a better alternative.

4

Read the Fine Print

Revisit your preferred lenders’ offers and fine print. Look for information that may have escaped you when you first researched the companies.

Double-check the loan's fees. Most personal loan lenders in Tallahassee don’t charge prepayment fees, but some do. Likewise, verify if your preferred lender charges origination fees.

Take the time to read the fine print to help you avoid unnecessary costs and a poor customer experience. Do this before you finalize your decision.

5

Apply

You can now apply with the company if you’re confident with your decision.

Gather the documents loan providers typically ask for. This may include identification cards, proof of address, Social Security number and paystubs.

Getting a personal loan in Tallahassee could be a quick process. Most lenders have online application processes, so all you need to do is head to their website. But you may still call or visit a bank’s branch if you prefer.

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

Even if you’ve followed the process to the letter, you can still receive a loan rejection letter. If that happens to you, don’t be disheartened. It’s not necessarily the end of your personal loan journey.

Loan companies often deny applications due to insufficient incomes and low credit scores. Nonetheless, we suggest contacting your lender and asking why they declined your application. This is important so you know how to fix any problems before looking for a new loan.

Although you may find a new loan provider, we recommend fixing issues before applying. If you don’t, the first lender’s issue may still pop up and cause another rejection. It doesn't help that a hard check, run by the lender after you officially apply, dings credit scores.

Instead, work toward improving your creditworthiness. For example, you could build your credit history and pay your existing debts. Doing these things will help improve your chances the next time you apply.

Lastly, avoid payday loans. They often do more harm than good with their high interest rates and short repayment terms.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Tallahassee

Tallahassee's best personal loan companies vary depending on your needs and profile. To help you find the right provider for your needs, we responded to some questions about the topic.

MoneyGeek’s analysis shows Truist is the best personal loan provider in Tallahassee. Nonetheless, the best lender for you may change based on your needs and financial profile.

Our research shows Upstart’s APR is the lowest in Tallahassee, but your APR may climb with the same company, depending on your profile.

Yes, you can usually use your personal loan in Tallahassee to pay for vacations.

Yes, you can use your personal loan in Tallahassee to finance a home renovation project. We recommend Best Egg as the best lender for this purpose.

Loan providers in Tallahassee may have different loan restrictions. Most don't let people use personal loans for postsecondary education. Many don't allow investments. And, of course, none approve of illegal activities.

Loan ranges change from one company to another. In Tallahassee, the lowest available amount is $1,000, and the highest is $100,000. But no company offers these two extremes.

Most personal loan companies in Tallahassee have repayment terms ranging from 24 to 60 months. But a few companies extend their repayment terms to 84 months.

Yes, you can generally pay off your personal loan in Tallahassee early. Most companies in the city don’t charge prepayment fees if you pay ahead of schedule.

Our Personal Loan Methodology

We studied more than 30 personal loan companies using over 35 data points. Data falls into six categories: affordability, consumer friendliness, credit accessibility, customer service, flexibility and lender transparency.

For each, we evaluated important data for folks choosing a personal loan lender. These include APRs, loan amounts, credit requirements, income requirements, disbursement times and fees.

Here at MoneyGeek, we love to help you out. So, we go beyond the basics. We also looked at customer support, business ratings and features. Our team also goes through prequalification processes, payment options and mobile apps.

We make our recommendations with your best interest in mind. That said, you should use our ideas as a starting point. Your research uses your situation, while ours is general. So, do some homework to make sure you find the best Tallahassee personal loan lender for you.

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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.