Personal loan rates by credit score
Updated .
A credit-score band alone cannot predict your personal-loan APR. A responding lender determines availability and pricing; compare the disclosed APR, fees, and total cost in any offer you receive.
At a glance
A personal-loan rate is set by the lender after reviewing your application. Compare the disclosed APR, fees, amount received, monthly payment, and total of payments for the same loan amount and term. A lower payment over a longer term can cost more overall.
Rate guidance reviewed for current borrower pricing decisions
This page separates a published bank interest-rate benchmark from lender-specific APR quotes and explains fee math and next-step comparison choices before a marketplace rate check.
Personal loan rates by FICO credit profile
FICO publishes the score categories below, but it does not assign a personal-loan APR to each category. We have not verified network-wide APR ranges by score band, so this table shows what to examine in a real lender quote instead of inventing a rate for your score.
| Credit profile | APR to compare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exceptional (800-850) | Lender-specific quote | Still compare APR, fees, and term before accepting. |
| Very good (740-799) | Lender-specific quote | Review total repayment, not only the headline rate. |
| Good (670-739) | Lender-specific quote | Income and debt can change the terms available. |
| Fair (580-669) | Lender-specific quote | Check affordability and alternatives if the quote is expensive. |
| Poor (below 580) | Availability varies | A score alone does not determine the lender response. |
A sourced national benchmark, not a lender offer
The Federal Reserve G.19 release dated September 8, 2026 reports an 11.86% average interest rate for 24-month personal loans at commercial banks in Q2 2026. This is not an APR, a Credit N Lending partner-network average, or a prediction of the rate any applicant will receive. Compare your lender's actual APR and total repayment instead.
Score categories: FICO's published score ranges. A lender may use a different scoring model or additional underwriting criteria.
What matters most when you compare rates
A score band does not establish your APR. Compare available lender quotes for the same amount and repayment term.
APR is the cleaner comparison because it reflects origination fees and required charges rather than headline interest alone.
The best quote is not always the very lowest APR if the term and payment do not fit your cash flow safely.
Longer terms reduce the monthly payment but usually increase the lifetime dollars paid in interest.
Interest rate vs. APR, in dollars
The interest rate is the cost of borrowing the principal. APR includes interest plus certain lender charges, such as an applicable origination fee. Compare APR with APR for similar loan amounts and terms, then check the total of payments and the cash you actually receive.
What actually moves your rate
Credit history can influence pricing, but income, existing debt, requested amount, term, state, and lender criteria can matter too. A longer term may lower the monthly payment while increasing total interest if other terms are comparable.
Why quotes vary between lenders
Lenders use different eligibility and pricing rules, so the same borrower may receive different terms or no offer. A marketplace response does not guarantee multiple side-by-side quotes; compare any available lender disclosure with other options before deciding.
Fixed vs. variable rates
Many personal loans have a fixed rate and payment, but the lender agreement controls. Check whether the rate or payment can change. HELOC terms also vary; many have variable rates and use the home as collateral.
How to tell a good offer from a bad one
Compare APR first, then compare total cost over the full term. A lower payment stretched over many more months can cost thousands more overall.
Estimate a payment
Illustration only, not an offer or APR estimate. Assumes a fixed interest rate and no fees. Actual lender APR, payment, and terms may differ.
The national bank interest-rate average is not a marketplace APR or lender offer. Actual pricing depends on the lender's review, loan amount, term, fees, and state. Credit N Lending is not a lender.
Open the rate-support page that fits the next question
Use these pages when you want clearer FAQ, marketplace, research, or comparison guidance before you move into a live rate check.
Borrower FAQ
Open the FAQ for timelines, documents, soft-pull questions, and what happens after you move from rate research into a live application.
Personal loan cost index
Use sourced scenarios and payment math to understand how amount, term, APR, and fees affect borrowing cost.
Best personal loans
Use this guide when you want to compare offer terms rather than rely on a score-band average.
Low-interest personal loans
Helpful when the rate question is really about qualifying for a lower APR and fee structure instead of comparing averages alone.
Compare borrowing options
Use side-by-side decision guides when the next question is whether a personal loan beats a card, HELOC, or another structure.
How Credit N Lending works
Understand the marketplace role, what lenders decide directly, and how final approval differs from a soft-pull rate check.
Move from benchmark to lender terms
Use the national benchmark for context, then move into the calculator, comparison guide, editorial explainer, or soft-inquiry marketplace form that fits the next decision.
Ready to check a potential rate?
Start one soft-inquiry marketplace form at no cost. A partner match, lender offer, or approval is not guaranteed, and a funding lender may later make a hard inquiry.
Can the same personal-loan APR produce different total costs?
Yes. Repayment length changes how long interest accrues. The illustration below holds principal and rate constant: $5,000 at a fixed 15% annual interest rate, equivalent to 15% APR under the stated zero-fee assumptions. Only the term changes.
The longer term lowers the scheduled payment but raises total repayment in this model. Use your actual disclosure to compare the amount received, APR, fees and complete payment schedule. These scenarios are not market averages, partner quotes, credit-score pricing or approval thresholds.
| Term | Monthly payment | Interest | Total repaid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 months | $242.43 | $818.40 | $5,818.40 |
| 48 months | $139.15 | $1,679.38 | $6,679.38 |
- Model a payment and repayment term
- Explore term-cost scenarios and assumptions
- Understand what a lower-rate offer requires
Source: CFPB: compare lender fees and loan disclosures. Illustrations and shopping checklists are Credit N Lending explanations, not lender offers.
Is the loan with the lowest monthly payment always cheapest?
No. A longer repayment term can lower the monthly payment while increasing total interest and total repayment, even at the same rate. Compare the same cash need and review APR, fees, term and total of payments rather than choosing on payment alone.
Rates, answered
- What is the average personal loan interest rate?
- The Federal Reserve reported 11.86% for 24-month personal loans at commercial banks in Q2 2026. That is a bank interest-rate benchmark, not a marketplace APR, a rate for every loan term, or a prediction of your quote.
- What is a good personal loan rate in 2026?
- A good rate depends on the APR, fees, repayment term, and your alternatives. Compare actual lender disclosures for the same amount and term; a credit-score band or national average cannot establish your best available rate.
- What credit score do I need to qualify?
- There is no single marketplace-wide score cutoff. A lender considers the full application, including credit history, income, existing debt, loan amount, and state.
- Are personal loan rates fixed or variable?
- Many personal loans have fixed rates, but the lender agreement controls. Confirm whether the APR and monthly payment can change before accepting any offer.
- What is the difference between interest rate and APR?
- APR reflects interest plus certain lender charges, including applicable origination fees. Compare APR with APR for loans of similar amount and term, then check the total of payments and cash proceeds.
- Why do quotes vary between lenders?
- Lenders apply different pricing and eligibility criteria. Credit history, income, debt, amount, term, state, and fees can all affect the final quote.
- Can I pay off my loan early?
- Check the lender agreement for prepayment terms and any fee. Do not assume that every lender or product has the same rule.