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Earnest personal loans review
Earnest no longer offers personal loans.
Personal loan services now through Fiona
As of May 2020, Earnest has partnered with the personal loan marketplace, Fiona. It no longer offers direct personal loans, and won’t be for the foreseeable future.
If you have a question about an existing personal loan with Earnest, you can contact its customer service by calling 888-601-2801 or by going to its website and selecting Help.
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$100,000
Max. Loan Amount
2.49% to 17.24%
APR
680
Min. credit score
Details
| Min. Loan Amount | $1,000 |
|---|---|
| Loan Amount | $100,000 |
| APR | 2.49% to 17.24% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. credit score | 680 |
| Loan term | 3 to 5 years |
| Turnaround Time | 1 to 2 business days |
Review by
Aliyyah Camp
aliyyah.camp@finder.comAliyyah Camp is a SEO content strategist and former publisher at Finder, specializing in consumer and business lending. Her writing and analysis has been featured in CentSai, the Dough Roller and the Chicago Tribune. She holds a BA in communication from the University of Pennsylvania.
Expert review
Earnest personal loans are ideal for borrowers with good to excellent credit and a steady job. It offers loans as high as $75,000 with competitive rates for an online lender. You also won’t be on the hook for an origination fee or any late fees.
But you can’t apply with a cosigner, which means you’ll have trouble qualifying if you have less-than-perfect credit. And it isn’t a good option if you’re looking to get funds fast — it can take five to 10 business days to hear back about a decision.
Not sold on Earnest? Compare your other options below.
First, am I eligible?
Before you apply with Earnest, make sure you meet the minimum requirements:
- 680+ credit score
- Proof of consistent income
- US citizen or 10-year permanent resident
- 18+ years old
- Live in any state except Delaware, Kentucky or Nevada
Increasing bank account balances and a minimal history of late, overdraft or nonsufficient funds fees can also help improve your chances of approval.
Pros
Cons
- Good to excellent credit required
- Cosigners aren’t accepted
- Can’t borrow less than $5,000
- Can take 5 to 10 business days to get a decision
Compare other personal loan providers
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How do I apply?
To get started with Earnest’s simple online application, follow these steps:
- Click Go to Site to be redirected to Earnest’s personal loan page.
- Click Get My Rate to begin your application.
- Enter information about yourself, including your Social Security number and annual income.
- Read Earnest’s disclosures and click See My Rate! to submit your application.
What information do I need to apply?
Earnest only requires two basic pieces of information when you apply:
- Social Security number
- Annual income
What happens after I apply?
You may need to set up an account or submit additional information to complete your application. And remember that when you submit your application, Earnest does a hard credit pull.
It can take five to 10 business days for Earnest to process your application and get back to you with a decision. If you’re approved and accept the offer, you could be funded in as little as one to two business days.
How do repayments work with Earnest?
Earnest allows you to set up autopay to take the hassle out of payments. And to make a bigger dent in your loan balance, you can even change your autopay schedule for payments every two weeks, rather than monthly.
There are no fees, including non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees or late fees, but you should still inform Earnest if you’ll be late on a payment. It may be able to work with you to find an alternate payment option to avoid negative marks on your credit report.
See how Earnest stacks up to the competition with our guide to personal loans.
Frequently asked questions
Earnest personal loans is not currently available on Finder
Have you considered Upstart personal loans?
This service looks beyond your credit score to get you a competitive-rate personal loan.
- Work and education get you better rates
- Hardship program
- Accepts fair credit
Ask an expert
4 Comments
October 12, 2018
Hello ! Can I get a loan of 5,000 dollar and to pay it back in 1 year?
October 12, 2018
Hi Lorein,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
You may be eligible for a 5000$ loan and pay it back in minimum 3 years loan term up to 5 years with Earnest. Unfortunately, 1 year is not an option but you can still discuss with them if it’s possible. Before you apply with Earnest, make sure you meet the minimum requirements.
1. You must be at least 18 years old.
2. You must be an American citizen; permanent resident of the US; have a TN, E, O or H1B Visa; or have an F1 Visa and a 17- or 24–month STEM OPT/EAD.
3. You must not reside in Alabama, Delaware, Kentucky, Nevada or Rhode Island.
The website also specifies guidelines that range from increasing bank account balances to not getting regularly dinged for late, overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees. To apply for a loan with them, please go to their website.
Please send me a message if you need anything else. :)
Cheers,
Joel
July 3, 2018
I have bad credit but make decent money and need a loan. is this a possibility?
July 4, 2018
Hi Ricky,
Thanks for leaving a question on Finder.
For an Earnest Personal loan, you will need a credit score of at least 660 to be eligible. You may consider getting a bad credit personal loan.
Cheers,
Joel