Bankrate Personal Loans Review: All Credit, Multiple Offers (2026)
- Max. Loan Amount
- $100,000
- APR
- 6.49% to 35.99%
- Min. credit score
- No minimum
Our verdict
Compare rates and terms on personal loans for all credit types with this easy-to-use comparison website.
Bankrate is a comparison marketplace that pairs financial advice with the ability to apply for and compare personal loan offers from multiple lenders. You can also explore other loan types, bank accounts, credit cards, investment options and more. And it provides lists of lenders and loan details that you can review before applying — with rates starting as low as 6.49%. But there’s no guarantee that you’ll receive a loan offer after applying. Offers depend on meeting lenders’ credit score and other requirements. Plus, because it’s not a direct lender, your information may be shared, which can lead to a lot of calls, texts and emails.
Best for: Borrowers of all credit types looking to compare multiple loan offers quickly
Pros
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Compare multiple offers with one application
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View loan details and lenders before you apply
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Rates start as low as 6.49%
Cons
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Not a direct lender
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Applying doesn’t guarantee loan offers
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Can lead to excessive solicitation
Is Bankrate legit?
Yes, it’s legit. Bankrate was founded in 1976 as the Bank Rate Monitor, a print publisher for the banking industry, and has evolved over the years into a financial product comparison tool used by over 100 million people a year.
To protect your personal information from unauthorized access, Bankrate uses security measures that comply with federal laws, including computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. That said, it shares some of your information with its partners, which you consent to when applying.
What makes Bankrate shine?
- Compare multiple offers. With one application, you can quickly compare personal loan offers from multiple companies, saving time and effort.
- View lenders before you apply. Bankrate posts lists of its partner lenders, so you can view rates, terms and other loan details before deciding if you want to apply.
- Low starting rates. Many of Bankrate’s lending partners offer very competitive rates for qualified borrowers. For example, LightStream’s rates start at only 6.49% — some of the lowest in the lending industry.
- Legit lending partners. Bankrate has some of the most well-respected personal loan lending partners, including SoFi, Discover, Best Egg and more.
Where Bankrate falls short
- Not a direct lender. Bankrate is a comparison tool and loans marketplace, not a direct lender, which can lead to more offers than you want or need.
- Applying doesn’t guarantee offers. While Bankrate accepts applicants with any credit score, you may not receive a loan offer if you don’t meet lenders’ minimum requirements.
- Potentially high rates. Even if you qualify for a loan offer, rates could reach as high as 36% — worse than a credit card — if your credit score is low.
- Relatively high minimum loan amounts. Most of Bankrate’s partners offer loans that start around $1,000. If you need a smaller loan amount fast, you may want to consider a cash advance app instead.
- Mixed reviews. While Bankrate has many happy customers, it also has its fair share of negative reviews.
Bankrate loan details
| Minimum credit score/credit range | No minimum |
| APR | 6.49% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $1,000 to $100,000 |
| Terms | Varies by lender, typically up to 7 to 10 years |
| Approval turnaround | As soon as same day |
| Availability | All states |
| Fees | Varies by lender, but may include:
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| Other fees | Unknown |
Bankrate contact info
| Phone number | 855-733-0700 |
| Customer service hours | Not listed |
| support@bankrate.com | |
| X, formerly Twitter | @Bankrate |
| @Bankrate |
Calculate your monthly loan payments
Use our loan repayment calculator to compare monthly payments and the total cost of the loan based on different rates and loan terms.
Monthly Repayment Calculator
See how much you'll pay|
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Fill out the form and click on “Calculate” to see your estimated monthly payment.
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Compare more lendersBased on your loan terms
| Principal | $ |
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| Interest | $ |
| Total Cost | $ |
How to qualify for Bankrate
As a comparison marketplace, Bankrate doesn’t have any set eligibility requirements. Anyone can use the service to compare personal loans and other products. But it lists some key lender requirements to expect.
- Credit score of 580+ (but 670 or higher is better)*
- Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 50% or less (ideally, 36% or less)
- Steady source of income
* Some of its lending partners, including Upstart, will go as low as 300 if you meet other eligibility criteria.
How to apply
Applying for a personal loan through Bankrate is easy and just takes a few steps.
- Fill out a quick online form with no impact on your credit.
- Get prequalified and compare loan offers.
- Pick a lender and visit its website to complete the application process, which typically involves a hard credit check.
- Wait for a decision, then review and sign your loan agreement if approved.
Some lenders provide funding as soon as the same day you apply, but it could take a few days to a week, depending on the lender.
How Bankrate compares to other lenders
Compare other products
We currently don't have that product, but here are others to consider:
How we picked theseWhat is the Finder Score?
The Finder Score crunches 6+ types of personal loans across 50+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.
Bankrate personal loans reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | No |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer reviews | 1 out of 5 stars, based on 4 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot Score | 2.7 out of 5 stars, based on 1,316 customer reviews. |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 03 February 2026 |
Bankrate doesn’t have great reviews on either the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or Trustpilot — although BBB has only a handful of reviews to compare. One of the biggest complaints is that consumers who apply tend to get an excessive number of calls, texts or emails when they’re really just looking for a few solid leads. People also complain that the advertised rates don’t match what they were ultimately offered.
But many customers view Bankrate as a trustworthy source of information that matches you with good, legit lenders. Some also compliment the easy process and fast responses. Still, even customers who were happy with the outcome say they received too many solicitation calls and texts.
What do people on Reddit say?
Frequently asked questions
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