Lending Buddies Review: Options for Bad Credit Borrowers (2026)
- Max. Loan Amount
- $5,000
- APR
- Varies by lender
- Min. credit score
Our verdict
A matching service that connects you with lenders, but leaves most of the important details blank.
Lending Buddies is a loan-matching marketplace, not a lender. It collects your information and passes it to its network of lenders, who then contact you with offers. The platform is free to use and claims it can connect you with a loan in minutes. However, Lending Buddies discloses almost no information about APR ranges, fees or loan terms before you apply — and its network may include high-cost tribal lenders. You won't know what you're dealing with until a lender reaches out.
Best for: Borrowers with bad credit who have already been turned down elsewhere and want to cast a wide net, with eyes open to potentially high rates.
Pros
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Free to use — the service charges no fees
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All credit types considered, including bad credit
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Quick form submission, response from lenders within minutes
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Funds can arrive as soon as the next business day
Cons
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APR, fees and loan terms not disclosed upfront
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Network may include high-interest tribal lenders
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No phone number or email listed for customer support
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Not BBB accredited; no independent review profile found
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Submitting your form doesn't guarantee a loan offer
Key takeaways
- Lending Buddies is a loan-referral marketplace, not a lender — it connects you with third-party lenders whose rates, fees and terms you won’t see until after you apply.
- No APR ranges, origination fees or loan terms are disclosed on the website — read any offer you receive in full before accepting, as its network may include tribal lenders that can carry very high APRs.
- Lending Buddies has almost no public footprint — no BBB profile, no Trustpilot page and no publicly listed phone number, email or physical address.
Is Lending Buddies legit?
Lending Buddies is a real loan-referral marketplace for personal loans, not a scam. Its own terms of use state it is not a lender and takes no responsibility for any loan products offered through its network. The site uses HTTPS encryption to protect form submissions.
That said, it has almost no public footprint — no BBB profile, no Trustpilot page and no publicly listed phone, email or physical address. Lending Buddies also discloses it receives compensation from lenders when matches are made, which is standard for matching services but worth knowing. Its network may include tribal lenders, which can charge very high APRs in some cases.
The bottom line: Lending Buddies itself appears legitimate, but it hands you off to third-party lenders whose terms you won’t see until after you apply. Read any loan agreement in full before accepting.
What makes Lending Buddies shine?
- Free to use. Lending Buddies charges borrowers no fees to submit a form or receive lender matches.
- Open to all credit types. The platform markets itself as welcoming borrowers with any credit background, including bad credit personal loans.
- Fast turnaround. After submitting your form, you can receive a response from a lender within minutes. If approved, funds can arrive as soon as the next business day.
- Single form, multiple lenders. One form submission routes your information across Lending Buddies’ network instead of requiring separate applications.
Where Lending Buddies falls short
- No rate transparency before you apply. APR ranges, origination fees, loan terms and any other cost information are not disclosed on the website. You find out only after a lender contacts you.
- Possible high-cost lenders in the network. Lending Buddies’ blog content references tribal lenders and acknowledges they can carry very high interest rates. Read every offer carefully before accepting.
- No customer support channel. No phone number, email address or live chat is listed on the site. If you have a problem, your recourse is with the lender directly.
- Not registered or accredited with the BBB. No BBB profile was found for lendingbuddies.com.
- Your data gets shared. By submitting your form, you consent to your personal information being shared with lenders in its network and potentially with third-party marketing partners.
How Lending Buddies compares to other lenders
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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.
Lending Buddies loan details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum credit score | Not listed on its website |
| APR | Varies by lender |
| Loan amounts | $100–$5,000 |
| Loan terms | Varies by lender |
| Approval/funding turnaround | Response within minutes; funds as soon as next business day |
| State availability | Not listed on its website |
| Origination fee | Varies by lender |
| Prepayment penalty | Varies by lender |
| Late fee | Varies by lender |
Must read: Lending Buddies is a loan marketplace — it does not set or disclose rates, fees or terms.
Lending Buddies contact info
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone | Not listed on its website |
| Customer service hours | Not listed on its website |
| Not listed on its website | |
| X (formerly Twitter) | @LendingBuddies |
| Not listed on its website |
Calculate your monthly loan payments
Use the calculator below to estimate what a personal loan from a Lending Buddies-matched lender could cost you each month. Because Lending Buddies doesn’t disclose rates upfront, try running a few different APR scenarios to understand the range of possible payments.
Loan 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 lendersBased on your loan terms
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| Interest | $ |
| Total Cost | $ |
How do you qualify for a Lending Buddies loan?
Because Lending Buddies is a matching service rather than a lender, eligibility requirements are set by the individual lenders in its network and vary. Based on information available on the Lending Buddies website, general requirements to submit a loan request include:
- Be a US resident
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have an active bank account
- Have a regular source of income
- Provide a valid email address and phone number
Specific credit score minimums, income thresholds and state restrictions are not disclosed on the website. These are determined by each lender you’re matched with.
How to apply for a Lending Buddies loan
- Fill out the online form. The secure form on lendingbuddies.com asks for basic personal and financial information. Lending Buddies says this takes just a few minutes.
- Get matched with a lender. Lending Buddies routes your information to its network and you should receive a response within minutes. Submitting the form does not guarantee a match or an offer.
- Review the lender’s offer. If a lender contacts you, review the full terms — including APR, fees and repayment schedule — carefully before agreeing to anything. These terms are set by the lender, not Lending Buddies.
- Accept and receive funds. If you accept the terms, the lender handles the rest. If approved, funds may be deposited as soon as the next business day.
Lending Buddies reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | No |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | |
| BBB customer reviews | |
| Trustpilot Score | Lending Buddies does not have any Trustpilot reviews. |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 08 June 2026 |
Note: “Lending Buddy” (lendingbuddy.net) is a completely separate NYC-based mortgage company. Reviews for lendingbuddy.net do not apply to lendingbuddies.com.
No independent customer reviews for lendingbuddies.com were found on BBB or Trustpilot at the time of this review. Borrowers typically leave feedback about the lender they end up with rather than the matching platform itself.
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Frequently asked questions
Your reviews
Megan B. Finder
Editor, Loans & Insurance
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