Best Low-Income Loans in Montana: Top Lenders and Rates for 2024
Updated: December 28, 2023
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- Best Overall Low-Income Loan Lender in Montana
- Runner-Up for Best Overall Low-Income Loan Lender in Montana
- Best Low-Income Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Montana
- Best Low-Income Loan Lender for Good Credit in Montana
- How to Choose the Right Personal Loan for You
- What to Do if You Can’t Get a Low-Income Loan in Montana
- Calculate Your Monthly Payment
- Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Montana
Best Low-Income Loan Lenders in Montana
Residents in Montana have an average personal loan debt of $15,921, implying that it’s relatively common to take out a loan in the state. While the use of personal loans appears ubiquitous in Montana, it can be difficult to find the best lender for your needs.
MoneyGeek evaluated over 30 personal loan lenders for more than 35 data points, including repayment terms, APR ranges, disbursement periods and overall lender requirements. Our research indicates that Upgrade offers the best overall low-income loan in Montana. However, the best provider for you will vary based on your needs and financial profile. For instance, Upstart offers the best low-income loan for borrowers with poor credit, while Prosper is the best for those with good credit.
Best Overall Low-Income Loan in Montana: Upgrade
Runner-Up for Best Low-Income Loan in Montana: LendingClub
Best Low-Income Loan for Bad Credit in Montana: Upstart
Best Low-Income Loan for Good Credit in Montana: Prosper
How to Choose the Best Low-Income Loan in Montana for You
If you’re among the Montana residents that have an average personal loan debt of $15,921, you can use a low-income loan to consolidate your debt. Those who have existing debt and aren’t planning to use their low-income loan to consolidate it may consider alternative funding options that don’t accrue interest.
Prior to applying for a low-income loan in Montana, we recommend taking the following steps to ensure you make a well-informed decision:
Ask Yourself the Important Questions
Answering the following questions prior to researching lenders can help you save time and money:
- How much funding do you need? Accurately approximating your funding needs will help you avoid overborrowing and paying more in interest. It can also help you narrow down your list of potential lenders, as all lenders offer different minimum and maximum loan amounts.
- What’s your credit score? While low-income loan lenders in Montana may not feature income requirements, your credit score will be considered when assessing your loan eligibility. Lower credit scores typically translate to higher interest rates and shorter repayment periods, so if you don’t need funds urgently, you may benefit from improving your credit score before applying for a loan.
- Can you afford the monthly installments? Ensure that you can make the monthly payment on your selected loan amount. Some lenders charge fees for late or missed payments, which can add up over the life of your loan.
- Do you have existing debts? Consider repaying your existing debt before applying for a low-income loan. This will prevent your DTI ratio from increasing.
- Is your debt manageable through other means? Consider other funding alternatives, such as borrowing from friends and family or getting a credit card with 0% interest.
Do Your Research
To find the best lender for you, it’s important to compare lenders for their repayment terms, fees and rates, as well as eligibility requirements for credit scores and DTI ratios. MoneyGeek’s recommendations can help you direct your search, but they aren’t a substitute for your own research — only you know your specific funding needs, financial situation and preferences.
Wait
After comparing loan options from different lenders, take some time to review your decision. Scan through the details of each offer to ensure it aligns with your financial goals. Repaying a low-income loan requires a significant time commitment that can take between two and seven years to repay, so it’s important that you’re confident in your decision.
Read the Fine Print
Before submitting an application with your chosen lender, it’s essential to read the fine print of your loan agreement. This document details any applicable fees that may apply to your loan, including those for loan origination, repayment and late payments. If you don’t understand any of the terms in your agreement, you should contact your lender for clarification.
Apply
To save time, compile the necessary details and documents in advance. Most lenders typically ask for proof of identity and financial information, such as income and existing debt. You may be allowed to complete the application process in person at a physical location, while others are online-only lenders that only permit online application.
What to Do if You Can’t Get a Low-Income Loan in Montana
If your application for a low-income loan in Montana is denied, don’t panic. Lenders frequently deny loan applicants due to issues with their credit score, DTI ratio or application details. When you’re rejected for a loan, you should first contact the lender to find out why it was denied. Sometimes, simply modifying the terms of your loan agreement, like the repayment period or loan amount, can lead to your application being approved.
It may not be such a quick fix if your application was denied due to a low credit score. While you could apply with a different lender that has a lower minimum credit score requirement, you run the risk of being rejected again, further negatively impacting your credit. To avoid another dip in your credit from a lender’s hard credit check, consider improving your credit score before reapplying for a low-income loan.
We strongly advise against taking out payday loans. These loans feature high interest rates and short repayment terms that end up costing borrowers more money in the long term. Unlike most personal loans, timely repayment of your payday loan won’t improve your credit score.
Calculate Your Monthly Payment
Knowing your approximate monthly payment amount can help you plan your finances accordingly. Prior to applying with a lender, you can use MoneyGeek’s personal loan calculator to estimate your monthly installments.
FAQs About Low-Income Loans in Montana
Though you can obtain a low-income loan relatively quickly, it can take a long time to repay — between two and seven years. Because of this, it’s important to find the best low-income loan lender in Montana for your needs. MoneyGeek answered borrowers’ most frequently asked questions to help you learn more.
Upgrade offers the best low-income loan in Montana. The best for you, however, may vary depending on your specific needs. For instance, Upstart offers the best loan for borrowers with poor credit, while Prosper is the best for those with good credit.
Upstart has the lowest starting APR. However, only those with excellent credit scores are likely to receive the lender’s lowest advertised rate.
Some lenders have restrictions on funding investments, illegal activities and postsecondary education. For instance Prosper, Upgrade and LendingClub may restrict the usage of funds.
The amount of debt you can consolidate varies among lenders, but in general, you can consolidate as much as $50,000 through a low-income loan.
Loan disbursement time varies by lender. Most will disburse your funds within one to two days of your application being approved.
You may pay off your loan early in Montana, but some lenders may charge a fee for prepayment.
Methodology
MoneyGeek reviewed over 30 personal loan lenders for more than 35 data points across six primary categories. These categories include accessibility, affordability, customer service, user satisfaction, lender transparency and flexibility.
To rank lenders, we weighted certain data points more heavily in our scoring system, as these points typically have the greatest impact on a borrower’s choice of lender. These include lenders’ loan amount ranges, disbursement times, eligibility requirements and repayment terms.
Because you, the consumer, are our top priority, we also took into account lender features and tools that improve the overall user experience, like mobile application availability, payment options and customer satisfaction ratings.
Our recommendations were made with your best interests in mind. At MoneyGeek, we strive to provide up-to-date information and expert tips to help consumers make well-informed financial decisions.
sources
- Upgrade. "Are There Any Fees?." Accessed October 24, 2022.
- LendingClub. "Personal Loans | Get a Loan Online with LendingClub." Accessed October 24, 2022.
- LendingClub. "About Us." Accessed October 25, 2022.
- Upstart. "What Fees Am I Charged?." Accessed October 25, 2022.
- Prosper. "Personal Loans." Accessed October 25, 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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