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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.
No reviews yet. Write a review

$40,000

Max. Loan Amount

Starting at 4.99%

APR

Not stated

Min. credit score

Details

Min. Loan Amount$100
Loan Amount$40,000
APRStarting at 4.99%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. credit scoreNot stated
Loan termNo data available

Review by


Anna Serio is a lead editor at Finder, specializing in consumer and business financing. A trusted lending expert and former certified commercial loan officer, Anna's written and edited more than 1,000 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. Her expertise and analysis on personal, student, business and car loans has been featured in publications like Business Insider, CNBC and Nasdaq, and has appeared on NBC and KADN. Anna holds an MA in Middle Eastern studies from the American University of Beirut and a BA in Creative Writing from Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, CUNY.

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.

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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Name Product Filter Values APR Min. credit score Loan amount
Best Egg personal loans
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Best Egg personal loans
8.99% to 35.99%
640
$2,000 to $50,000
Fast and easy personal loan application process. See options first without affecting your credit score.
Upstart personal loans
Finder Rating: 4.15 / 5: ★★★★★
Upstart personal loans
5.20% to 35.99%
300
$1,000 to $50,000
This service looks beyond your credit score to get you a competitive-rate personal loan.
SoFi personal loans
Finder Rating: 4.45 / 5: ★★★★★
SoFi personal loans
8.99% to 25.81%
680
$5,000 to $100,000
A highly-rated lender with competitive rates, high loan amounts and no required fees.
First Premier Lending
Not rated yet
First Premier Lending
5.99% to 35.99%
All credit types
$100 to $20,000
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Smart Advances
Finder Rating: 3 / 5: ★★★★★
Smart Advances
5.99% to 35.99%
All credit types
$100 to $20,000
Smart Advances was designed to help you request the loan you need, for any reason.
Credible personal loans
Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★
Credible personal loans
4.60% to 35.99%
Fair to excellent credit
$600 to $100,000
Get personalized prequalified rates in minutes and then choose an offer from a selection of top online lenders.
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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:

  1. Go to Guide to Lenders’ website and click Personal loan.
  2. Select how you’d like to spend your funds and click See my rates.
  3. Complete the form with information about yourself, where you live and your employment.
  4. 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

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