Upstart is a unique online lender that was founded by former Google executives in 2012. As the first lending platform to use artificial intelligence to automate the lending process, the company goes the extra mile to offer loans to a wider range of consumers. Since their inception, Upstart has originated $3.2 billion in loans, 60% of which have been automated.
Where most lenders focus on your FICO score when approving you for a personal loan, Upstart uses their advanced technology to look beyond your credit score to quantify risk. Based on their calculations, Upstart believes lenders who use a more intuitive credit model may be able to approve twice as many borrowers without increasing defaults.
What does this mean for you? On the consumer side, Upstart has been able to offer high-quality personal loans with low rates and fair terms to borrowers with less than perfect credit. Upstart also features mostly five-star reviews from users on TrustPilot, and many of their applicants get their loans funded as soon as the next business day.
Upstart Personal Loans: Key Takeaways
- Upstart personal loans are available in amounts between $1,000 and $50,000.
- Repay your loan over three or five years.
- Fixed interest rates are offered between 7.54% and 35.99%.
- Checking your rate on Upstart will not affect your credit score.
- These loans come with no prepayment penalty, but you may have to pay an origination fee of up to 8% of your loan amount.
- You’ll need a minimum credit score of 620 and minimum annual income of $12,000 to qualify.
Upstart Personal Loans Review
There are many reasons to consider a personal loan from Upstart, but it all starts with the dynamic way this lender approves consumers for their loan products. Upstart looks at more than just your FICO score to approve you for a loan, including non-conventional variables such as the number of hard inquiries on your credit report, whether you have a college degree, and your earning potential.
The fact that Upstart looks at a broader number of factors when approving you for a loan can make the process easier if you have only “okay” credit, or any score close to the 620 minimum this company requires. However, it’s important to know that Upstart does require you to have no bankruptcies or delinquent loans. You may also need to submit additional information to qualify if your credit isn’t great, including SAT scores, information on your area of study, or detailed employment information.
We like the fact Upstart lets you borrow up to $50,000 for debt consolidation, a wedding, a home remodeling project, or nearly any other reason. Since many lenders only offer personal loans in amounts up to $35,000 or less, this can be a huge benefit if your borrowing needs are high.
Upstart also offers flexible repayment terms with the option to repay your loan over three years or five years. Upstart loans also come with no prepayment penalties and no hidden fees.
Where Upstart Comes Up Short
Our main gripe with Upstart is the fact they may charge an origination fee of up to 8% of your loan amount. This fee amount can represent huge costs for the borrower. Plus, paying up to 8% of your loan amount in an origination fee is pretty much unprecedented in the personal loan space. Many of the best personal loans don’t charge an origination fee at all, and even the lenders who do tend to limit them to 5% or 6% of your loan amount.
Another downside of Upstart is the fact their minimum interest rate starts at 7.54%. That’s considerably higher than some other personal loan companies that offer interest rates as low as 5.99% for borrowers with excellent credit.
Here’s an example of how your personal loan might look if you borrowed money at one of Upstart’s highest interest rates:
With this example loan, you’re expected to pay an origination fee of over 5% plus an APR of 29.75%. Over the lifetime of this loan in its present form, you would wind up paying $17,484.45 in interest if you wrapped the origination fee in your loan amount — almost as much as the loan itself.
Finally, Upstart personal loans are not available in West Virginia or Iowa. If you live in one of those states, you’ll need to shop for a personal loan with a different lender.
Who Upstart Personal Loans are Best For
- Consumers with decent or good credit who can qualify for a loan with the best rates and a low origination fee.
- Anyone who cannot qualify for a personal loan with no fees.
- People who need to borrow up to $50,000 for any reason and pay it off in up to five years.
How We Rate Upstart
At The Simple Dollar, we aim to provide a general overview of a lender’s products and services through a standard rating process. After a thorough research and discovery period, here’s how Upstart stacks up:
| Upstart Loans at a Glance | ||
Overall Rating   |
Affordability (interest rates, fees, and terms) | |
| Availability (credit requirements, geographic reach) | |
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| Ease of Use | |
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| Transparency | |
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How to Apply for a Personal Loan from Upstart
Before you apply for an Upstart personal loan, it’s helpful to know their minimum qualification requirements. To receive a loan, you’ll need to:
- Have a permanent street address in the U.S. (unless you’re active duty military)
- Live in a state other than West Virginia or Iowa
- Be at least 18 years old in most states or at last 19 in Alabama and Nebraska
- Have a valid email account, name, date of birth, and Social Security number
- Have verifiable employment or a full-time job offer that starts in six months or less
- Have a valid U.S. bank account
- Have a credit score of 620
Applying for a personal loan from Upstart is easy thanks to their convenient online portal. It all starts with getting “pre-qualified for a loan” through their interface, which you can do after submitting information such as your name, income, employment details, address, phone number, and email address.
Once you’re pre-qualified, you can decide whether you like the loan terms you were offered. If you do, you can move forward by completing the application with your Social Security number.
If you’re approved for a personal loan, you may receive instant notification verifying your new loan details. You may also have your loan funded with an automatic deposit in your bank account as soon as the next business day.
Should You Get a Personal Loan from Upstart?
If your credit isn’t perfect or you have a thin credit profile, applying for a loan through Upstart can make a lot of sense. This lender will consider more than your credit score when assessing you for approval, which can help you get the money you need even if your credit needs some help.
However, Upstart may not offer the lowest rates or best loan terms available. If you want to end up with the most affordable personal loan available to you based on your creditworthiness, it’s crucial to shop around and compare loan rates, terms, and fees. The right loan is out there waiting for you, but you’ll need to do some legwork to find it.
Related Articles:
- Best Personal Loans
- When Does It Make Sense to Refinance or Consolidate Your Student Loans
- Best Debt Consolidation Loan Companies
The post Upstart Personal Loans Review appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
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