Best Personal Loans in Fort Wayne, IN: Top Lenders & Best Picks for You

Updated: December 28, 2023

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WHAT WE’RE GEEKING OUT ON

MoneyGeek's Picks for Best Personal Loan Lenders in Fort Wayne, IN

To help you select the best personal loan in Fort Wayne, Indiana, MoneyGeek evaluated lenders based on more than 30 data points, some of which include minimum requirements, loan limits, APRs, fees and disbursement time. We further broke these down to give you our recommendations per category of borrower.

Our analysis revealed the best overall personal loan lender in Fort Wayne for the average borrower. But our guide also outlines our top picks for specific types of borrowers. For instance, we’ve identified the ideal lenders for people with good credit, bad credit, debt consolidation needs and more.

Best Overall Personal Loan Lender in Fort Wayne: 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

    Truist is one of the top 10 commercial banks in the country. It is a financial services company that was formed by the merger of BB&T and SunTrust and operates in 15 states, including Indiana.

    Truist makes it easy to apply for a personal loan by using a fully digital application process with approvals in as fast as 15 minutes. The company’s website also provides a comprehensive list of loan information, FAQs and a loan calculator that can give you a quick estimate of your monthly payments.

    On the downside, this lender imposes restrictions on fund usage, so first check to see if your intended purpose for the loan is allowed before applying. It also doesn’t allow co-signers or people who have yet to establish their credit histories.

    Pros

    • Relatively low APR rates
    • No origination fees
    • No prepayment penalties
    • No late payment fees
    • Autopay discount
    • Joint loans are available

    Cons

    • Won’t pay creditors directly for debt consolidation
    • Restrictions on fund usage
    • Hard credit checks
    • Doesn’t allow co-signers
    • Won’t accept people with new or no credit
    Truist

Best Personal Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Fort Wayne: 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 is MoneyGeek’s choice for the best personal loan for people with bad credit in Fort Wayne. It was established in 2012 by former Google employees to apply modern data science in an effort to expand access to affordable credit across the country.

    Most individuals with poor credit histories tend to be denied any type of loan because they are viewed as high-risk borrowers who are likely to default on their loans. Luckily, Upstart gives these borrowers a chance to get an unsecured personal loan and rebuild their credit in the process.

    That said, loans are capped at $50,000. This lender also charges origination fees of up to 8%.

    Pros

    • Low minimum credit requirement of 300
    • A+ BBB rating
    • No prepayment penalties
    • Conducts soft inquiry for credit checks

    Cons

    • High maximum interest rate
    • Charges origination fees
    • Low maximum loan amount
    • No co-signers
    • Doesn’t accept people with new or no credit
    Upstart

Best Personal Loan Lender for Good Credit in Fort Wayne: 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

    Founded by Stanford business students in 2011, SoFi is the top personal loan for borrowers with good credit in Fort Wayne.

    Depending on your creditworthiness, this lender offers loan amounts ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. This means it can help you finance a wide range of expenses, including vacations, medical expenses and even weddings.

    This lender doesn’t charge origination, prepayment and late fees. It will even modify your monthly payments if you lose your job.

    SoFi’s credit score requirement is 680. This means that most Fort Wayne residents will meet this minimum requirement, given that the average credit score across Indiana is 716.

    But it’s best to look elsewhere if you don’t meet the required credit score, have insufficient income or lack a verifiable employment history.

    Pros

    • No origination, prepayment or late fees
    • Has unemployment protection
    • A+ BBB rating
    • Autopay discount

    Cons

    • Income requirements
    • Doesn’t allow co-signers
    • Lowest APRs require excellent credit scores
    • Doesn’t accept people with new or no credit
    SoFi

Best Personal Loan Lender for Debt Consolidation in Fort Wayne: 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

    Residents of Fort Wayne who want to refinance their existing high-interest debt should consider getting a personal loan from MoneyGeek’s top pick, Upgrade.

    This company is an online lender that started offering personal loans and other credit products in 2016. It is a solid choice for debt consolidation. The lender pays third-party creditors directly, but this may take up to two weeks to clear, so keep that in mind when scheduling your monthly payments.

    Although Upgrade doesn’t allow co-signers on loan applications, it has joint loans, which may boost your chances of getting approved.

    However, be aware that this lender charges origination fees of up to 8% of the loan amount, which are deducted from the loan at disbursement.

    Pros

    • Pays third-party creditors directly
    • Fairly low minimum credit score requirement
    • A+ BBB rating
    • No prepayment fees

    Cons

    • Origination fees
    • Late payment fees
    • Doesn’t allow people with new or no credit
    • Co-signers aren’t allowed
    • Low maximum loan amount
    Upgrade

Best Personal Loan Lender for Home Improvement in Fort Wayne: 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 is an online lending company that is MoneyGeek’s choice for the best personal loan lender for home improvement in Fort Wayne.

    Borrowers shouldn’t worry about harming their credit scores by checking their rates. This is because Best Egg only does a soft credit inquiry that isn’t reported to credit agencies. It also only takes minutes to view your rates online.

    Some key advantages of Best Egg’s personal loans are the autopay discount, zero prepayment fees and interest rates that could be low depending on your creditworthiness.

    However, Best Egg charges origination fees, which might end up as a substantial sum. Loans are also capped at $50,000, which might not be enough if you’re planning a large home improvement project.

    Pros

    • No prepayment penalty
    • Soft credit inquiry
    • A+ BBB rating
    • Autopay discount

    Cons

    • High minimum credit score requirement of 700
    • Low maximum loan amount
    • No co-signers
    • Charges origination fees
    • Late fees
    Best Egg

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

Personal loans are a great option if you need immediate access to extra cash. Across Indiana, the average personal loan debt is $13,636 with an interest rate of 9.29%.

It’s important to evaluate your credit score, current debts and more before applying for a personal loan. MoneyGeek’s guide reveals the essential steps to take when choosing and applying for the best personal loan in Fort Wayne.

1
Ask Yourself the Important Questions

Kickstart your search for the best personal loan by examining whether getting a personal loan is the right move for you given your need and financial situation. Be clear about your purpose for getting the loan and determine a ballpark figure of how much money you’ll need for it. In addition, check if you meet the lenders’ qualifications and if you’re in a position to make the monthly payments despite your current financial obligations.

Answering the following questions honestly will help you decide if you’re ready to make the long-term commitment of having a personal loan:

  • How much money do you need?
  • Does your credit score meet the minimum requirement?
  • Is your income enough to cover the monthly payments?
  • Do you have existing debt?
2
Do Your Research

Don’t apply for the first personal loan that you find. Make sure you get the best rates and terms by comparing the offerings of multiple lenders.

Check the factors that may affect your financial well-being, such as whether or not a lender performs a hard credit check. There are also lenders that impose restrictions on the usage of loan funds, so it’s best to inquire first if your intended purpose for the loan is allowed by the lender.

MoneyGeek has simplified the process for you in creating this comprehensive guide, but you should still do your homework, especially if you have specific needs that are beyond the scope of this guide. It’s important to do your research because a personal loan is a long-term commitment.

3
Wait

Although the promise of quick access to much-needed funds can be difficult to resist, we recommend that you take a breather for a day or two before deciding whether you should commit to the long-term responsibility of a personal loan. Oftentimes, we make financial blunders by making impulsive decisions. However, having this short pause will allow you to look at your situation, needs and options more rationally. It also keeps you from making spur-of-the-moment miscalculations and missteps.

If, after this period, you’re still feeling positive about your decision to secure a personal loan and from which lender, you may proceed.

4
Read the Fine Print

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of going over the fine print and making sure that you comprehend everything that it says. There are fees and penalties, such as origination fees, prepayment penalties and late payment fees, that you need to be aware of, especially since these can create a huge hole in your finances over time. If you’re not careful, you might find yourself needing another personal loan to pay for these seemingly small fees.

We know that people are inclined to skip reading the fine print, but we strongly encourage you to take the time to do this. Your finances will thank you for it.

5
Apply

Now that you’ve completed your homework and have chosen the personal loan lender that best matches your needs, it is time for you to send in your application. Make sure to prepare the required documents. Most lenders have basic requirements that include your proof of identification, address and income or employment history. You may also be asked for the exact purpose of the loan, your preferred loan amount and your preferred loan term.

Most personal loan applications nowadays can be completed entirely online. But there are still lenders who have physical offices that you can visit or call, especially if you want answers to questions.

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

Although it may feel like it, it isn’t the end of the world if you fail to secure the personal loan that you’ve been needing. Not all applications get accepted. Some are denied due to insufficient income, low credit scores or a high debt-to-income ratio. The bottom line is that lenders will always check your creditworthiness to measure your ability to pay back the loan. Any evidence of financial hardship will be interpreted as a red flag, thereby classifying you as a high-risk borrower.

MoneyGeek recommends that you contact your lender to find out the exact reason why they rejected your application. It might not change their decision, but knowing what made them decline your loan will help you focus on what needs improvement so that your next application has a greater chance of getting approved either by the same lender or a different one.

We also advise you to steer clear of payday loans and other similar predatory financial schemes, even if you’re seriously cash-strapped. These loans come with hefty interest rates that can quickly put you into a debt spiral.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Fort Wayne

The best personal loan lender will depend on factors that are unique to you, such as your personal needs, credit standing and income. MoneyGeek helps you select the option that’s right for you by providing answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about personal loans in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

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

Our Personal Loan Methodology

METHODOLOGY

Following a scientific methodology, MoneyGeek reviewed more than 30 personal loan lenders across six key categories, including loan affordability, accessibility, consumer friendliness, customer service, flexibility and lender transparency.

For each category, we carefully considered over 35 individual data points that we’ve identified as carrying 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.

Keeping your best interest in mind, we’ve also included in our analysis 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. We intend that this presents a clear picture of the overall customer experience when applying for a personal loan.

MoneyGeek’s goal is to provide you with resources and tools that will guide you in making the best financial decisions. We hope that you’ll make full use of our personal loan recommendations and expert tips 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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