Top Lenders & Best Picks for You

Best Personal Loans in Atlanta, GA

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Updated: December 28, 2023

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WHAT WE’RE GEEKING OUT ON

MoneyGeek’s Pick for Best Lender in Atlanta, GA: Truist

In circumstances where extra cash is required, a personal loan in Atlanta may be the answer. To help you find the best one, MoneyGeek looked at more than 30 lenders, considering a range of aspects such as loan sizes, payback terms and interest rates.

MoneyGeek also recognized the convenience these lenders could offer you, such as whether they provide a customer-friendly application process, online application options and smartphone apps to help you manage your transactions. Factors that could influence your approval, such as minimum credit score, proof of income and employment verification, have also been considered.

Best Overall Personal Loan Lender in Atlanta: Truist


  • Truist
    • 8.14% to 18.99%APR Range
    • NoneMinimum Credit Score
    • $3,500 to $50,000Loan Amount Range
    • 6 to 60 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Next DayTime to Receive Funds

    After SunTrust Bank and BB&T Corp. merged in 2019, Truist Bank became the seventh-largest commercial bank in the United States. Truist customers can get consumer banking services, mortgages, home equity products, credit cards, investment goods and many forms of loans.

    Truist provides personal loans with quick funding. However, they lack pre-qualification and an autopay discount, common among other lenders. With payback durations ranging from 6 to 60 months, you can borrow anything from $3,500 to $50,000. If you get a loan from Truist, you won't have to worry about processing costs because they don't charge origination fees.

    You don't have to be a current Truist customer to borrow money. Residents with good credit seeking the best personal loans in Atlanta should find Truist’s offer appealing.

    Pros

    • No minimum credit score requirement
    • Auto-payment discount of 0.5%
    • No origination or late payment fees
    • No prepayment penalties
    • No minimum income requirement

    Cons

    • Conducts hard credit inquiry
    • Has fund usage restrictions
    • No cosigners allowed
    • APR range: 8.14%–18.99%
    • Minimum/maximum loan amount: $3,500–$50,000
    • Minimum credit requirements: None
    • Repayment terms: 6–60 months
    • Time to receive funds: Next day
    Truist

Best Personal Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Atlanta: 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 was one of the first startups to employ artificial intelligence to help people get loans at a low cost. Upstart accepts borrowers with bad credit, as it only requires a score of at least 300. Depending on your situation, you might even be able to get a loan from Upstart if you don't have a credit history. That’s why Upstart is the leading personal loan lender in Atlanta for borrowers with bad credit.

    Upstart guarantees that 99% of its borrowers will have access to their funds the next business day. With payback lengths ranging from 36–60 months, you can borrow anything from $1,000–$50,000. Personal loans from Upstart also carry no restrictions on usage, so you can spend the money any way you’d like.

    Pros

    • Low minimum credit score requirement
    • Low minimum income requirement
    • Conducts soft credit inquiry
    • Funding in 1–2 days
    • No prepayment penalty

    Cons

    • Debt-to-income limit of 45%
    • Up to 8% origination fee
    • Up to 35.99% interest rate
    • Charges late fees
    • APR range: 3.50%-35.99%
    • Minimum/maximum loan amount: $1,000-$50,000
    • Minimum credit requirements: 300
    • Repayment terms: 36-60 months
    • Time to receive funds: 1-2 days
    Upstart

Best Personal Loan Lender for Good Credit in Atlanta: 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 (Social Finance, Inc.) is a fintech startup created in 2011. It started as a student loan refinancing company but has since expanded to include mortgages, personal loans and cryptocurrency trading.

    Getting a personal loan in Atlanta through SoFi can be a fantastic experience for applicants with strong credit scores. It offers a convenient, straightforward application procedure and competitive rates, with an all-online approach and rate quotes available without a hard credit pull.

    SoFi offers loans with low interest rates and no fees, but a credit score of at least 680 is required. If you need a large loan, you can sign up for a SoFi loan and borrow anywhere between $5,000 and $100,000. However, we will also note that SoFi requires a minimum gross income of $50,000.

    Pros

    • Up to $100,000 loans available
    • 0.3% autopayment discount rate
    • Conducts soft credit checks
    • No origination fees
    • No prepayment penalty

    Cons

    • Minimum gross income requirement of $50,000
    • Takes up to seven days to release funds
    • High credit score requirement
    • Debt-to-income limit of 43%
    • APR range: 4.99%-19.53%
    • Minimum/maximum loan amount: $5,000-$100,000
    • Minimum credit requirements: 680
    • Repayment terms: 24-84 months
    • Time to receive funds: 0-7 days
    SoFi

Best Personal Loan Lender for Debt Consolidation in Atlanta: 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 was created by a group of fintech executives in 2017. It specializes in unsecured personal loans, but it also provides secured personal and vehicle loans, credit cards and rewards checking accounts.

    Upgrade was MoneyGeek's top choice for the best personal loans for debt consolidation in Atlanta, in part because it pays creditors directly. A minimum credit score of 560 is required, so even those with fair credit may be eligible for personal loans from the lender. We also appreciate how Upgrade has no minimum income requirement.

    However, Upgrade does have some downsides as well. For instance, its interest rates and origination fees can both get very high, and it has quite a few restrictions on how you can use your loan as well.

    Pros

    • Pays creditors directly for debt consolidation
    • 1% autopayment discount rate
    • No prepayment penalty
    • No minimum income requirement
    • Reasonable minimum credit score requirement

    Cons

    • $50,000 loan limit
    • Up to 35.97% interest rate
    • Up to 8% origination fees
    • Has late fees
    • Many restrictions on fund usage
    • APR range: 5.94%-35.97%
    • Minimum/maximum loan amount: $1,000-$50,000
    • Minimum credit requirements: 560
    • Repayment terms: 24-84 months
    • Time to receive funds: 1-4 days
    Upgrade

Best Personal Loan Lender for Home Improvement in Atlanta: 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

    Delaware-based lender Best Egg offers personal loans at moderate rates available for applicants with a regular annual income and a strong credit history. You can apply online for a personal loan in Atlanta through Best Egg, and once approved, you can receive financing in as little as one business day.

    MoneyGeek named Best Egg the best personal loan lender for home improvement in Atlanta. You can borrow anywhere from $2,000–$50,000 and use the money as you please. However, Best Egg isn't the best choice for every borrower. If your credit score is less than 700, you will not be authorized for a loan. Furthermore, the lender has a $50,000 minimum income requirement.

    Finally, Best Egg has some potentially high interest rates, reaching nearly 36% for some borrowers, and it also charges origination fees.

    Pros

    • No restrictions on fund usage
    • No prepayment penalty
    • 0.5% autopayment discount
    • Conducts soft credit pull
    • Loans funded in 1–3 days

    Cons

    • High credit score requirement
    • $50,000 minimum gross income requirement
    • Origination fees up to 6%
    • Interest rates up to 35.99%
    • Charges late fees
    • APR range: 5.99%-35.99%
    • Minimum/maximum loan amount: $2,000-$50,000
    • Minimum credit requirements: 700
    • Repayment terms: 36-60 months
    • Time to receive funds: 1-3 days
    Best Egg

How to Choose the Best Personal Loan Lender in Atlanta For You

Georgia has an average personal loan debt of $17,869. Before you apply for a personal loan in Atlanta, think carefully about how you'll use it and compare interest rates, loan amounts, loan periods and any fees that might be involved.

MoneyGeek's research gives you a rundown of the important things you need to think about before applying for a personal loan in Atlanta.

1
Ask Yourself the Important Questions

Before determining which lenders' qualification requirements you meet, you must first consider whether a personal loan is good for you. To find the best personal loan in Atlanta, you should ask yourself the following questions:

  1. How much cash do I need? First, determine how much money you require and find a lender that can provide this amount.
  2. What is my credit score? Your credit score affects whether or not you are eligible for loans and the interest rates you will pay.
  3. Is it realistic for me to afford the monthly payment? You'll pay late fees and your credit score will suffer if you can't make payments. Always consider the long term.
  4. Do I have any outstanding debts? If you're already paying off other obligations, adding another loan to your list might not be the best decision.
2
Do Your Research

Do your homework before applying for a personal loan in Atlanta. You can compare interest rates from different lenders to determine which offers the best deal for your needs. Some lenders place limitations on how you may use your loan, so double-check that you can use the funds for what you intended.

MoneyGeek keeps you informed and recommends the finest lenders for various situations. While your circumstance is unique, our research may be able to assist you in arriving at a well-informed decision.

3
Wait

You'll be dealing with paying your personal loan for 2–4 years. Take a moment to reflect after you've gathered all of the information you need. Do nothing unless you're positive you'll be able to handle all of the responsibilities that come with the loan.

4
Read the Fine Print

Before submitting the application, it's a good idea to read the fine print. You may suffer major financial implications if you neglect to read the fine print. Don't assume you know everything there is to know about the loan. Study it carefully to fully understand each aspect.

5
Apply

After you've completed these steps, you'll move on to the most important aspect of applying for a personal loan in Atlanta. You’ll need to provide some documents and information during the application process. You can also apply for your loan online, but if you prefer to call or visit the lender’s office, you can do so.

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

It can be difficult to accept being turned down for a personal loan. Personal loans in Atlanta are declined for various reasons.

MoneyGeek recommends contacting your lender to find out why you were rejected. The most common reasons for loan denial are poor credit ratings, insufficient income, excessive debt-to-income ratios and incomplete loan application information. Inquire if there is anything you can do to modify the terms of your loan to make the application acceptable, such as decreasing the payback period or lowering the loan amount.

While it usually is more beneficial to focus on improving your profile first, you might look for a loan from another company if you can't persuade the lender. However, you should steer clear of payday loans at all times. Payday loans have extremely high interest rates and quick payback periods, and they can be significantly damaging to your credit standing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Atlanta

Regardless of how you intend to use a personal loan, you should always do your research to ensure that it meets your financial needs. There's a lot of data out there, and sorting through it all can be overwhelming.

As a result, MoneyGeek answers some of the most common questions about personal loans in Atlanta to help you decide which choice is best for you.

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

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 help you make the best decision 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.

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