Best Low-Income Loans in California: Top Lenders and Rates for 2024
Updated: December 28, 2023
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- Best Overall Low-Income Loan Lender in California
- Runner-Up for Best Overall Low-Income Loan Lender in California
- Best Low-Income Loan Lender for Bad Credit in California
- Best Low-Income Loan Lender for Good Credit in California
- How to Choose the Right Personal Loan for You
- What to Do if You Can’t Get a Low-Income Loan in California
- Calculate Your Monthly Payment
- Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in California
Best Low-Income Loan Lenders in California
When evaluating the best low-income loan lenders in California, MoneyGeek analyzed over 30 distinct data points to compare different lenders in California. Some of these factors included interest rates, loan amounts, repayment periods and disbursement periods, in addition to the borrower’s credit information and eligibility.
According to our research, Upgrade and LendingClub are the best lenders in California for having flexible loan amounts, competitive interest rates, manageable repayment periods and fast disbursement. Upstart might be a good option for those with poor credit, whereas Prosper is the best option for those with excellent credit.
Best Overall Low-Income Loan in California: Upgrade
Runner-Up for Best Low-Income Loan in California: LendingClub
Best Low-Income Loan for Bad Credit in California: Upstart
Best Low-Income Loan for Good Credit in California: Prosper
How to Choose the Best Low-Income Loan in California for You
The average California loan debt is $16,790 with an interest rate of around 10.21%. Borrowers who earn less than a certain income limit may find it more difficult to qualify for a personal loan than those with sufficient income.
Taking into consideration things like funding needs and credit scores, MoneyGeek walks you through the steps that every borrower should take before deciding on a personal loan.
Ask Yourself the Important Questions
Before applying for a low-income loan in California, it may be useful to ask yourself the following questions:
- How much funding do you need? Borrowing more than you can realistically afford can lead to further debt. It’s important to know exactly how much you need for funding.
- What’s your credit score? To determine a borrower’s eligibility for a loan, lenders require a specific credit score. You can still get a personal loan if you have bad credit or if you are just starting to build your credit. However, take note that borrowers with higher credit scores are more likely to receive the best APR offers.
- Can you afford the monthly payments? Knowing the monthly payments required on your personal loan gives you an idea of whether you can afford to take out a personal loan.
- Do you have existing debts? Adding more debt can stretch your monthly budget too thin.
- Is your debt manageable through other means? Although a personal loan is usually the best solution during a financial emergency, you might consider other means, such as a credit card or a personal line of credit, depending on your needs.
Do Your Research
MoneyGeek offers a variety of resources to help you find the best low-income loan in California. While we recommend lenders in the best interests of borrowers, it may not be the best company for you if you have other requirements that are not typical of the average borrower.
Since a personal loan can be a two- to four-year commitment on average, it’s important to evaluate your personal needs and do your own research to determine which lender is ideal for you.
Wait
Don't feel obligated to immediately move forward in terms of applying for a loan. After you've done your research and found a low-income lender in California that you believe fits your needs, it's best to wait a day or two before making a decision. This can give you time to see if there are other options that might be a better choice for your funding needs.
Read the Fine Print
Aside from monthly payments, personal loans have origination fees, late fees, prepayment penalties and other fees, all of which can be found in the fine print. Before signing any agreement, make sure you understand all of the possible charges on your personal loan. While this may seem like a tedious process, it can save you money in the long run.
Apply
After you've given it some thought and reviewed the fine print, you can begin gathering financial documents to present to your lender as you finalize your application. Generally, lenders will need to be able to verify things like your address, income and identification during the application process. While it might be easier to apply for a personal loan online, visiting a lender in person can ensure you complete your application accurately and get any questions you have along the way answered. However, this will not be an option if you apply with an online-only lender.
What to Do if You Can’t Get a Low-Income Loan in California
Personal loan lenders in California may reject applications for a variety of reasons, such as having a low income or poor credit score. If your application is rejected for these reasons, there are a couple of steps that you can take.
If you submit an online loan application and are rejected, you might be able to modify your loan application. This may include borrowing a smaller amount or selecting a longer repayment period to make your application more realistic to your financial profile. You may also try adding a co-borrower (if the lender allows you to do so), which increases the odds of your application getting accepted.
In most cases, your lender may have a credit score requirement that you did not meet, leading to a denial. You could work on improving this score for a couple of months and try again once your score improves. Knowing the reason why your application is denied also improves your chances of approval with other lenders. However, don’t apply with other lenders until you’ve fixed the original reason for your application rejection.
MoneyGeek advises borrowers to avoid payday loans, which can result in higher interest rates and an unreasonable repayment period.
Calculate Your Monthly Payment
Calculating your monthly payments can help you determine if you can afford to repay a personal loan. Before submitting an application, you should obtain an estimated amount for monthly payments. You can use MoneyGeek’s personal loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments.
FAQs About Low-Income Loans in California
The best low-income loan lender in California is determined by your unique financial needs. We answered some frequently asked questions about personal loans in California to help you understand your options.
The best provider of low-income loans in California is Upgrade, followed by LendingClub. While Prosper offers the lowest interest rates for borrowers with good credit scores, Upstart has less strict credit score requirements that help borrowers with poor credit scores qualify.
Among the top lenders for low-income borrowers in California, the lowest minimum APR is from Upstart. The lowest maximum APR is from Upgrade.
Fund restrictions differ among lenders, but using the personal loan fund for investments, education or engaging in any illegal activity is generally prohibited.
Personal loans in California for debt consolidation vary based on the lender. Typically, loan amounts can be between $1,000 and $100,000.
It depends on the lender. Some will release funds as early as the same day, while others may take longer.
Yes. Borrowers have the option of repaying their loan in full before the specified payback time. However, some lenders might charge you a prepayment fee. Ask your lender about these fees before you commit to a loan.
Methodology
Over 30 personal loan lenders were reviewed by MoneyGeek using 35 individual data points in six categories, including loan affordability, accessibility, consumer friendliness, customer service, flexibility and lender transparency.
We took into account the individual factors within every category that we believe are the most important when selecting a personal loan lender. These include APR ranges, available loan amount, minimum credit score, minimum income amount, application fees and disbursement time.
MoneyGeek values you, the reader, so we reviewed each lender's customer support, business ratings and additional features to determine what would enhance your experience and make it more accessible. We also evaluated prequalification, payment alternatives and mobile apps.
Our personal loan suggestions and expert tips are published after extensive deliberation and calculation with your best interests in mind, aiming to assist you in selecting a lender that best suits your needs and enable you to make wise financial decisions.
sources
- LendingClub. "LendingClub Personal Loans." Accessed October 27, 2022.
- Prosper. "Prosper Personal Loans." Accessed October 27, 2022.
- Statista. "State and Local Government Debt in California FY 1999-2026." Accessed October 27, 2022.
- Upgrade. "Upgrade Personal Loans." Accessed October 27, 2022.
- Upstart. "Upstart Personal Loans." Accessed October 27, 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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