Best Personal Loans in Salt Lake City, UT: Top Lenders & Best Picks for You
Updated: December 28, 2023
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- The Best Overall Personal Loan Lender in Salt Lake City
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Salt Lake City
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Good Credit in Salt Lake City
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Debt Consolidation in Salt Lake City
- The Best Personal Loan Lender for Home Improvements in Salt Lake City
- How to Choose the Right Personal Loan Lender for You
- Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Salt Lake City
MoneyGeek's Picks for Best Personal Loan Lenders in Salt Lake City, UT
MoneyGeek analyzed 30 lenders for criteria related to six major categories: affordability, accessibility, transparency, consumer friendliness and customer service. Within these six categories, we looked at over 35 key features, including repayment terms, APRs, loan amounts, eligibility requirements and more. We also chose the best lenders based on different consumer profiles and needs.
We found that LightStream offers the best personal loan in Salt Lake City. We also identified the best lenders for borrowers with bad and good credit, as well as those seeking to use their personal loan for home improvement or debt consolidation.
Best Overall Personal Loan Lender in Salt Lake City: LightStream
Best Personal Loan Lender for Bad Credit in Salt Lake City: Upstart
Best Personal Loan Lender for Good Credit in Salt Lake City: SoFi
Best Personal Loan Lender for Debt Consolidation in Salt Lake City: Upgrade
Best Personal Loan Lender for Home Improvement in Salt Lake City: Best Egg
Where to Start: How to Choose the Best Personal Loan Lender in Salt Lake City for You
Personal loans in Salt Lake City can help you finance different projects and activities, such as home improvements, weddings and debt consolidation. Though your loan terms will vary based on your funding needs and financial profile, borrowers in Utah have an average personal loan debt of $15,188 with an interest rate of 9.10%.
To ensure that a personal loan is the best decision for you, MoneyGeek recommends taking the following steps before you apply:
Ask Yourself the Important Questions
Prior to applying for a personal loan, it’s important that you reflect on the following questions:
- How much funding do I need? The amount of money you need will help you narrow down your lender options, as loan amounts vary by lender. This will also help you avoid over- or under-borrowing money, which would increase the amount you pay in interest or cause you to have to take out another loan.
- What is my credit score? Your loan eligibility and rates depend highly on your credit score. Those with higher credit scores will be eligible for loans with more lenders and will typically receive better loan terms. If you don’t need funds urgently, you can save money by taking the time to improve your credit score first before you apply for a personal loan.
- Can I afford the monthly payment? While making a higher monthly payment will reduce the amount you pay in interest, it’s important to still be able to pay for your living expenses. Choose a monthly payment amount that fits within your lifestyle.
- How much debt do I already have? If you already have existing debt, you may want to consider another funding option besides a personal loan
Do Your Research
Researching different lenders can help you find the best one for your needs. This will help you explore your options, compare rates and weigh their pros and cons. In doing this, you can find which one checks most or all of your boxes. MoneyGeek’s guide is a great place to start, but our lender selections are based on general borrower profiles, rather than your unique situation.
Wait
Before finalizing your decision, it’s important to wait a few days to ensure that it’s the right lender for you. A personal loan is a long-term commitment that takes between two and four years to repay. As such, it’s important that you’re confident in your choice of lender.
Taking a few days to reflect on your decision may affirm your choice, or cause you to reconsider. Regardless, we recommend waiting a few days before you apply to avoid making a hasty decision.
Read the Fine Print
Prior to applying with a lender, it’s important to read the fine print of your loan agreement to identify any fees for late payment, loan origination or prepayment. These fees may initially seem small, but they can add up over the life of your loan, especially if you didn’t factor them into your budget. If you have any questions about the terms included in your agreement, you can reach out to your lender for clarification.
Apply
Once you’re confident in your decision, it’s time to apply. Applications can be completed online, over the phone or in person, depending on your lender and your comfort level. Online applications offer a faster and more convenient alternative to in-person or over the phone applications. If you think you’ll feel more at ease with personal applications, you can visit your lender’s office.
Lenders may require documents that provide proof of identification, address, employment and income. Preparing these documents beforehand can make the application process faster.
What to Do if You Can’t Get a Personal Loan in Salt Lake City
If your application for a personal loan is rejected, don’t worry. There are a few things you can do to modify your application and get a loan.
Lenders may reject your application for numerous reasons, including a poor credit score, insufficient income, lack of employment history and inconsistencies in your application. If your application is rejected, you should contact your lender to find out why it was denied. You may be able to modify the terms of your loan, like the loan amount or repayment term, to have it approved.
If your application was denied due to a poor credit score, you can either apply with a different lender that has less strict credit requirements or work to improve your credit score. We recommend the latter to avoid a potential rejection by a second lender and a drop in your credit score from the lender’s hard credit check.
Though payday loans may be more accessible than personal loans, MoneyGeek strongly recommends against them, as these loans feature high interest rates and short repayment terms that can prevent you from paying off your loan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Loans in Salt Lake City
The best personal loan lender in Salt Lake City will vary based on your specific needs and borrower profile. To help you find the best personal loan lender, MoneyGeek answered the most commonly asked questions about personal loans in Salt Lake City.
LightStream is the best personal loan lender in Salt Lake City for the average borrower. Upstart is the best lender for borrowers with bad credit, while SoFi is the best lender for borrowers with good credit. Upgrade has the best debt consolidation loans, and Best Egg is our top pick for home improvement loans.
Upstart has the lowest interest rate in Salt Lake City. Keep in mind that your rate is determined by your creditworthiness, so only those with excellent credit will likely qualify for this rate.
Yes, you can use a personal loan for vacations in Salt Lake City, but it’s important to ask your lender prior to applying if they have any restrictions on the usage of funds.
Yes, you can use a personal loan to fund your home improvement projects in Salt Lake City. MoneyGeek recommends Best Egg for home improvement loans in Salt Lake City.
Lenders have different restrictions for the use of loan funds. Some don’t allow loans to be used for secondary education, business, investments, gambling or illegal activities. Prior to applying with a lender, it’s best to review the terms of your loan agreement or contact them directly for any specific restrictions.
Depending on your lender and borrower profile, you can borrow anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000 in Salt Lake City.
Fund disbursement time varies by lender, but you can typically expect to receive your funds in one to seven business days.
Yes, you can pay off your loan early in Salt lake City, but lenders may charge prepayment fees. Before applying for a loan, it’s best to take note of any fees, like those for prepayment, that come with your personal loan.
Our Personal Loan Methodology
We collected information from 30 personal loan lenders and assessed more than 35 distinct data points in six primary categories: loan affordability, accessibility, consumer friendliness, customer service, flexibility and lender transparency.
In each category, we analyzed several factors that may have the most impact on your decision when choosing a lender. Some of these factors include APR ranges, loan amounts, minimum credit score requirements, minimum income amount, application fees and disbursement time.
Here at MoneyGeek, we value you, the consumer. Because of this, we take into account prequalification, payment options, mobile apps and other factors that can make your experience easier and more accessible.
Because MoneyGeek has your best interests in mind, our recommendations are made only after careful, deliberate consideration and calculation. Our personal loan recommendations and professional advice are designed to help you make the best decision when choosing a lender that best meets your needs.
sources
- Best Egg. "Frequently Asked Questions." Accessed November 11, 2022.
- Best Egg. "Personal Loans." Accessed November 11, 2022.
- LightStream. "Frequently Asked Questions." Accessed November 8, 2022.
- LightStream. "Loans for Practically Anything." Accessed November 8, 2022.
- SoFi. "Frequently Asked Questions." Accessed November 11, 2022.
- SoFi. "Personal Loans." Accessed November 11, 2022.
- Upgrade. "How Can We Help You?." Accessed November 11, 2022.
- Upgrade. "Personal Loans." Accessed November 11, 2022.
- Upstart Support. "Applying For a Loan." Accessed November 8, 2022.
- Upstart Support. "Borrower Eligibility." Accessed November 8, 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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