Best Personal Loans in Akron, OH: Top Lenders & Best Picks for You
Updated: December 28, 2023
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- The Best Overall Personal Loan Lender in Akron
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Akron
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Good Credit in Akron
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Debt Consolidation in Akron
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Home Improvements in Akron
- How to Choose the Right Personal Loan Lender for You
- Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Akron
MoneyGeek's Picks for Best Personal Loan Lenders in Akron, OH
MoneyGeek evaluated 30 lenders for over 35 key features, like customer service ratings, APRs, loan amounts, repayment terms, discount opportunities and more, to find the best personal loan lender in Akron.
Based on our review, Truist offers the best personal loan in Akron for the average borrower. However, the best lender will vary depending on a borrower’s financial history and needs. For instance, we also found that Upstart and SoFi are the best lenders for those with bad and good credit, respectively, while Upgrade and Best Egg are our top choices for debt consolidation and home improvement personal loans.
Best Overall Personal Loan Lender in Akron: Truist
Best Personal Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Akron: Upstart
Best Personal Loan Lender for Good Credit in Akron: SoFi
Best Personal Loan Lender for Debt Consolidation in Akron: Upgrade
Best Personal Loan Lender for Home Improvement in Akron: Best Egg
Where to Start: How to Choose the Best Personal Loan Lender in Akron for You
Personal loans are frequently used in Akron to pay for both planned and unforeseen expenses. In Ohio, the average personal loan debt is $24,808.
Before you apply for a loan, MoneyGeek encourages you to consider if it’s the best option for you. To make a well-informed decision, we recommend taking the following steps:
Ask Yourself the Important Questions
Prior to applying for a personal loan, it’s important to consider if it’s the best option for you. Reviewing your current finances and reflecting on your intended use of the loan can help you decide if a personal loan will set you up for financial success or financial failure. At a minimum, you should ask yourself the following questions:
- How much funding do I need? It’s important to only take out the amount of money you need to avoid paying more in interest or having to take out a second loan. This will also help you narrow down your choice of lenders, as some lenders may not offer your desired loan amount.
- What is my credit score? Your credit score impacts your loan eligibility and the rates available to you. Having a higher credit score will make you eligible with more lenders and allow you to qualify for a lower interest rate.
- Can I afford the monthly payment? Check your finances to see if you can make your loan payments and still afford to pay for living expenses.
- How much debt do I already have? Your debt-to-income ratio will be evaluated by lenders. If you are currently repaying a debt, determine if your ratio — your total monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income — meets the lender’s requirements.
Do Your Research
Before you apply for a loan, you should have compared lenders for their terms, rates, fees and eligibility requirements. That way, you can only apply with the lender or lenders that best fit your needs. MoneyGeek's guide is a great starting point, but you should still complete your own research to find a lender that best aligns with your unique financial situation.
Wait
After you’ve chosen your lender, you should wait a day or two before applying. You can use this time to complete an in-depth analysis of your lender or find an alternative funding solution.
Ask yourself if you actually need a personal loan before applying for it. Would setting money aside rather than getting a loan be preferable for your financial future? Is there a family member or friend you can ask to borrow money from instead? Taking a step back to contemplate your decision might give you the space to find a new solution or assure you that taking out a personal loan is the best move for your finances.
Read the Fine Print
It’s essential to read the fine print of your loan agreement to identify any fees, like those for early repayment, loan origination or late payment. These hidden fees can add up over the life of your loan. If you have any questions on the terms of your loan agreement, you should contact your lender for clarification.
Apply
When you're prepared to submit your personal loan application, make sure you have all the required documentation on hand. Typically, this includes documentation to verify proof of income, identification and address.
Some lenders' applications can be completed entirely online, while others have physical offices you can contact or visit. Though an online application may be more convenient, we recommend applying over the phone or in person if you have questions or are confused about the online application process.
What to Do if You Can’t Get a Personal Loan in Akron
If your loan application is turned down, don't give up. In Akron, lenders may reject personal loan applications for a variety of reasons, including poor credit, insufficient income or a high debt-to-income ratio.
We advise that you contact the lender and ask why your application was denied. Inquire if changing the amount or repayment terms of the loan could help your application be approved. You can also find out if adding a co-signer will improve your chances of getting accepted.
It's not a good idea to instantly apply for a personal loan at another organization, even though you can. Before approaching a different lender, it’s preferable to enhance your profile and address the concerns raised by the previous lender. By doing this, you may have a better chance of getting a loan the next time you apply.
Even if you require emergency funding, we strongly advise against risky financial arrangements, such as payday loans with high interest rates and short repayment periods. These unfavorable terms might easily trap you in a debt cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Akron
The ideal personal loan provider for you will be based on your unique circumstances and financial requirements. To help you learn more about personal loans in Akron, MoneyGeek has provided answers to some frequently asked questions.
According to MoneyGeek's analysis, Truist is the best overall personal loan provider in Akron. Nevertheless, the ideal choice for you will vary based on your unique circumstances. For instance, if your credit is bad, you might have a better chance of getting your loan approved from Upstart.
In Akron, Truist has the lowest potential interest rate. However, a number of factors, like your credit rating, income and loan terms, affect your interest rate.
Generally, you are permitted to use your loan funds for personal expenses like trips. Some businesses, nevertheless, have restrictions on how you can use your loan.
Yes, you can use personal loans in Akron to finance home improvement projects. However, some lenders have restrictions on the usage of funds.
Lenders often have restrictions on how you can use your funds. For instance, Upgrade prohibits you from using your loan to fund postsecondary education, investments and gambling, whereas Truist forbids you from refinancing a current loan, buying bonds and stocks or using your loan to start a business.
In Akron, you can borrow between $1,000 and $100,000, depending on the lender and your credit profile.
It can take anywhere from one day to up to a week to receive funds after your personal loan is approved.
Yes, you have the option to repay your personal loan early, but be aware that certain lenders impose a prepayment fee. We advise that you ask your lender about any prepayment penalties prior to applying for a personal loan.
Our Personal Loan Methodology
MoneyGeek evaluated 30 personal loan providers for 35+ distinct data points in six critical areas, namely accessibility, loan affordability, customer service, consumer friendliness, flexibility and lender transparency.
We evaluated lenders for factors that we believe are the most important when selecting a personal loan lender within each category of the ranking criteria. These factors included, but weren’t limited to, APR ranges, loan amounts, minimum credit score requirements, minimum income requirements, application costs and fund disbursement times.
At MoneyGeek, you, the consumer, are our top priority, so we also took into account each lender’s customer service, business ratings and any extra features, like prequalification, payment alternatives and mobile apps, that improve consumer experience.
Our selections are made with your best interests in mind after considerable deliberation and analysis. We hope that our personal loan suggestions and advice from industry professionals will enable you to select a lender that best suits your needs.
sources
- Best Egg. "Personal Loans." Accessed November 10, 2022.
- SoFi. "Personal Loans." Accessed November 10, 2022.
- Truist. "Personal Loans." Accessed November 10, 2022.
- Upgrade. "Personal Loans up to $50,000." Accessed November 10, 2022.
- Upstart. "A Personal Loan for Your Personal Needs." Accessed November 10, 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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