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Guide to Lenders personal loan connection service review
It may have a barebones website — but you could find a lender with low starting rates.
finder.com’s rating: 4.25 / 5.0
★★★★★
- Best for finding a lender with a low starting rate.
- Pick something else if you want to avoid multiple marketing calls.
Details
| Min. Loan Amount | $100 |
|---|---|
| Max. Loan Amount | $40,000 |
| APR | Starting from 4.99% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. Credit Score | Not stated |
First, am I eligible?
Guide to Lenders’ partners each have their own eligibility requirements. Since there are options for all credit types, you don’t need to have strong credit to get connected. However, you’ll likely need to meet the following criteria with any lender:
- Be employed
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident
- Be the age of majority
Pros
- All credit types welcome
- Can apply with a coapplicant
- Small loans of just $100 available
Cons
- May receive multiple marketing calls
- Limited website
- No customer service line
Compare other personal loan options
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Guide to Lenders reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer reviews | 1.9 out of 5 stars, based on 12 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot Score | 4.3 out of 5 stars, based on 38 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 12 October 2020 |
The majority of reviewers were happy with how quick and seamless their experience was with Guide to Lenders. However, several customers complained of being flooded with emails and messages — common for connection services, especially those owned by marketing companies.
One customer also mentioned they were asked to make payments with an iTunes gift card on another forum. A handful also warned it was a scam without elaborating.
How do I get started?
You can prequalify with multiple lenders by filling out Guide to Lenders’ online form. Follow these steps to get started:
- Go to Guide to Lenders’ website and click Personal loan.
- Select how you’d like to spend your funds and click See my rates.
- Complete the form with information about yourself, where you live and your employment.
- Click See your offers now.
What information do I need to fill out its online form?
When filling out Guide to Lenders’ online form, you’ll need to provide:
- Credit score range
- Employment status
- Pre-tax income for you and your coapplicant, if applicable
- Social Security number
What happens after I fill out its online form?
If you find an offer you like, follow the directions to complete the lender’s application on its website. Since Guide to Lenders mainly works with online lenders, you may be able to get your funds as soon as the next business day after approval.
How do repayments work with Guide to Lenders?
Since Guide to Lenders is a connection service, it doesn’t have anything to do with the process after you decide to apply for a loan. Your lender should give you instructions on how and when to repay your loan with your loan contract. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to customer service as soon as possible.
You can compare other connection services or learn more about how personal loans work by visiting our guides.
Frequently asked questions
Personal loan ratings
★★★★★ Excellent
★★★★★ Good
★★★★★ Average
★★★★★ Subpar
★★★★★ Poor
We analyze top personal loan providers and rate them one to five stars based on factors that are most important to you. These factors include: rates and fees, customer reviews, loan amounts, loan processing and borrower experience.
Read the full methodology of how we rate personal loan providers.
Review by
Anna Serio
anna.serio@finder.comAnna Serio is a trusted lending expert and certified Commercial Loan Officer who's published more than 1,000 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. A former editor of a newspaper in Beirut, Anna writes about personal, student, business and car loans. Today, digital publications like Business Insider, CNBC and the Simple Dollar feature her professional commentary, and she earned an Expert Contributor in Finance badge from review site Best Company in 2020.
Expert review
Guide to Lenders could be helpful if you’re not sure what types of rates and terms you might qualify for. As a connection service, it allows you to compare offers from multiple lenders by filling out just one online form.
But its barebones website and lack of a customer service line might not be so helpful if you need help filling out the online form.
Rather apply with a lender directly? Compare your other personal loan options below.