Surprise bills can pop up at any time and deplete your budget. For example, your car may break down and need immediate repairs. According to the Kelley Blue Book, consumers now spend an average of $548.32 fixing their cars!1
But how can you ensure that you choose the right personal loan for your financial situation? Learn how Best Egg loans work and about alternative loan options you can consider.
Finding the Right Personal Loan
A personal loan is an unsecured installment loan that provides quick upfront cash that borrowers can repay over a few months or years. Unlike other installment loans, personal loans can be used for almost any personal expense.
Borrowers tend to use personal loans for the following expenses:
- High-cost medical services
- School expenses for their children
- Car repairs
- Home repairs
- Debt consolidation
How Credit Affects Personal Loans
Many people struggle to qualify for personal loans due to a bad or fair credit score. But exactly how does credit affect borrowing?
Credit scores are generally split into 5 categories (poor, fair, good, very good, and excellent). Your score range automatically lets lenders know how much of a financial risk you pose. Take a look at the different FICO score ranges below.
| Credit Score Range | Category | What It Means to Lenders |
| 800 – 850 | Excellent | Borrowers in this range are considered to be at very low risk of defaulting on loans. They usually qualify for the lowest interest rates and best loan terms. |
| 740 – 799 | Very Good | These borrowers are also viewed as low-risk. They are likely to receive lower interest rates and have a high chance of approval for credit. |
| 670 – 739 | Good | This range is considered the average credit score. Borrowers here are viewed as acceptable risks, and they typically qualify for the majority of credit products, though not always at the lowest rates. |
| 580 – 669 | Fair | Borrowers in this range are seen as subprime and may have trouble getting credit. If they are approved, they will likely pay higher interest rates. |
| 300 – 579 | Poor | This is considered a poor score. Borrowers in this range are often seen as high-risk and might not qualify for traditional credit. If they do, the terms are usually less favorable, with high interest rates. |
As you can see, your loan terms are affected by your credit score. However, it is still possible to get approval for unsecured personal loans, such as loans like Maxlend. Many online lenders offer flexible bad credit loans. All you have to do is inquire with multiple personal loan lenders and make comparisons to find the best loan offer for your financial situation.
Should I Consider Secured Personal Loans?
Secured loans require some form of collateral from the borrower. For example, title loans require the borrower to secure funding using their car title. And while most personal loan offers are unsecured, some lenders offer secured options.
Secured loans could help someone with a bad credit score get better loan terms because it reduces the financial risk for the lender. In case a borrower cannot repay the loan balance, the lender can seize the asset and recoup their loss. This is precisely why secured loans are so risky.
Remember that you do not have to risk using collateral to get a personal loan with bad credit. It’s entirely possible to find a lender that offers a flexible minimum credit score requirement and affordable loan terms.
What Fees Do Personal Loans Have?
Like other types of installment loans, personal loans come with some fees. The cost and exact fees you will have to pay vary by lender. When you are looking for an online lender, it’s in your best interest to ask about fees before applying to avoid unexpected expenses.
Application Fees
An application fee is an up-front charge for submitting a loan application with a lender. Typically, these fees are non-refundable. Most online lenders do not charge application fees, but the lenders that do are usually transparent about them.
Origination Fees
An origination fee is usually a percentage of the loan amount. Origination fees are used to cover the cost of processing a loan application and other administrative services. Personal loan origination fees typically range from 1% to 6%, but some lenders may charge up to 10%.2
Interest Fees
Interest is the cost of borrowing money from a lender. Financial institutions make money by charging interest on loan amounts. The higher the interest rate, the more a loan will cost.
Prepayment Fees
A prepayment penalty fee is a charge for paying the personal loan off early. Most lenders do not charge these fees. Make sure you ask a lender about prepayment penalties before making early payments.
Loans Similar To Best Egg: What You Need To Know
Best Egg is a fintech lending and credit operator that offers personal loans, credit cards, and free credit reports.
Originally called Marlette Funding, the company renamed itself Best Egg in 2023 to match the name of its online product brand. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank.
Best Egg was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Wilmington, DE. The Chief Executive Officer of the company is Paul Ricci. The President of Best Egg is Bobby Ritterbeck, and the President of Credit Card is Jason Swift.
How Do They Work?
Best Egg various personal loans for different financial needs. These are some of the personal loan products that Best Egg offers:
- Debt consolidation
- Credit card refinancing
- Home improvements
- Moving expenses
- Major expenses
- Baby and adoption
- Special occasions
- Vacation loans
- Secured personal loan
- Vehicle equity loan
Best Egg offers loans from $2,000 to $50,000. However, the loan amount you can get depends on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, and other factors. Your residential state may also affect the loan amount you can get. Certain states have specific minimum loan amounts. For example, the minimum loan amount for Massachusetts residents is $6,500; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001.
Best Egg products are not available if you live in:
- Iowa
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- The District of Columbia
- U.S. Territories
What Can I Expect if I Get One?
The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of a Best Egg personal loan ranges from 8.99% to 35.99%. The APR includes the origination fee, which is 0.99% to 8.99% of the total loan amount. However, the origination fee will be at least 4.99% if the loan term is 4 years or longer.
The loan terms for Best Egg personal loans will vary based on the borrower’s credit score and financial background. When an applicant is approved, they will receive a personalized term, loan amount, and APR.
What Are the Personal Loan Requirements?
In order to be eligible for a personal loan product from Best Egg, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen currently living in the U.S. or a permanent resident currently living in the U.S.
- Be of legal age to accept a loan in the state in which they reside
- Have a verifiable personal checking account with a routing number
- Have a valid email
- Have a physical address, which does not include PO Boxes
How Will the Application Process Work?
To apply for a Best Egg personal loan, a consumer must first determine which loan product is best for their financial situation. Once an interested borrower knows which personal loan would work best for them, they can submit personal information through the application form online.
If the applicant is eligible for a personal loan, they will receive offers within a few minutes. Borrowers could expect to have their money deposited in their bank account within 1 to 3 business days. Best Egg customers can then manage their accounts and make payments about 1 to 2 days after funds are deposited.
CreditNinja: How Does It Compare?
CreditNinja is a lender that offers online personal loans with same day decisions.* CreditNinja aims to help consumers tackle unexpected expenses quickly and easily.
CreditNinja has helped over 275,000 customers since our start in 2018. We aim to be the solution when someone struggles to qualify for traditional loans. If you are looking for the best personal loans, consider applying with CreditNinja.
How Does CreditNinja Stand Out?
CreditNinja offers several advantageous benefits for borrowers. We provide much more than just financial relief. We make sure to offer perks that make the loan process much more manageable for our customers.
- Easy Online Process — Our online application process is easy and simple to complete. Interested borrowers can apply at any time through our website or mobile app.
- Quick Funding — We offer quick funding so borrowers can get emergency cash as soon as the next business day.* You do not have to wait extended periods to get financial relief.
- Flexible Repayment Lengths — We offer short and extended repayment lengths. Borrowers can pay off their installment loans within a few months or years.
- Flexible Loan Amounts — We offer small and large installment loans to help consumers with all kinds of financial emergencies. You can repair a car, pay for your child’s school expenses, pay medical debt, and much more!
- No Need for Excellent Credit — Many online lenders have strict minimum credit score requirements. But our minimum credit score prerequisite is flexible because we look at more than just your credit! We consider your income, debt payment obligations, credit history, and other factors.
Who Should Pick CreditNinja?
CreditNinja may be a good option for someone who struggles to get traditional loans and needs fast cash. We know that emergencies can be unexpected and stressful. But with a speedy personal loan, you could get your life back on track.
Your life is busy, and you may not have time to travel to a brick-and-mortar store and wait in line. That’s why we offer a completely online process. You can apply when it’s convenient for you. If you are approved for funding, you can e-sign your personal loan agreement and have your money deposited directly into your bank account.
How Does the Loan Process Work?
The CreditNinja loan process requires only 3 easy steps. If you’re interested in applying for one of our unsecured loans, take a look at our streamlined loan process:
- Apply Online — Complete our quick and simple online application form. All you need to do is provide basic personal information.
- Find Out if You Qualify — If you are approved, you will receive a loan offer with your personalized loan amount, interest rate, and terms.
- Get Your Money — E-sign your loan agreement and complete the bank verification process to get your money sent to your bank account via direct deposit!
Frequently Asked Questions About Loans Similar To Best Egg
The interest rates for the best personal loans can vary widely based on your FICO score and other factors. It’s always a good idea to shop around and compare lenders and loan offers.
Most personal loan providers, especially online ones, can process your application quickly, often within a few business days. However, it’s important to inquire with multiple lenders to avoid getting stuck with a less-than-ideal loan contract.
It’s important to check with your lender before making any early loan payments. The best personal loans come without prepayment penalty fees, which allows you to pay off your loan early without extra charges.
Many lenders offer debt consolidation loans even for those with fair credit scores. It’s always worth checking your options before settling for no credit check loans or bad credit loans.
A credit union often has more flexible minimum credit score requirements for personal loans. Each credit union is different, so it’s best to inquire directly. But keep in mind that you must meet strict qualification requirements and pay a membership fee to work with credit unions.
A debt consolidation loan can initially dip your score a bit. However, consistently making on-time payments can positively impact your credit over time.
Personal loans can be used for a variety of purposes, not just debt consolidation. Borrowers could use their personal loan money for home renovations, medical expenses, or even a dream vacation. But many financial experts recommend against using loans for non-emergencies.
The Bottom Line on Personal Loans From CreditNinja
There are many loan options available that are similar to Best Egg. However, the best personal loans are the ones that meet your financial needs without breaking the bank. It’s critical to research multiple lenders and make comparisons to find the best offer for your lifestyle and budget.
CreditNinja aims to be a financial resource that provides accurate and up-to-date information. Check out our Dojo to learn what an upside down loan is, how to stop fighting about money with your spouse, and much more!
*Applications approved before 10:30 a.m. CT Monday-Friday are generally funded the same business day. Applications approved after this time are generally funded the next business day. Some applications may require additional verification, in which case the loan, if approved, will be funded the business day after such additional verification is completed.
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