Oportun Review: Decent Max for Bad Credit Personal Loans

Is Oportun legit?

Yes. Oportun is a legitimate lender and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that’s been offering personal loans since 2005. It’s licensed to lend in most states and provides loans both online and through more than 100 in-person locations.

The company is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating, though customer reviews are mixed. Oportun uses bank-level encryption to protect borrower information and reports payments to major credit bureaus, which can help build credit with on-time payments. However, some borrowers have complained about high APRs and origination fees, so it’s wise to read recent reviews and compare your options before applying.

What makes Oportun shine?

• Accessible to underserved borrowers. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Oportun focuses on helping people often overlooked by traditional lenders, including those who prefer to communicate in Spanish.
• Fast, easy prequalification. You can check your rate online in minutes with a soft credit check that won’t affect your score.
• Quick funding. Approved borrowers typically get funds in one to four business days via direct deposit, check or prepaid card, even without a bank account.
• All credit types are welcome. Oportun accepts applicants with limited or no credit history, offering a path to build credit over time.
• In-person support available. You can visit one of hundreds of local branches if you’d rather apply or manage your loan face-to-face.
• Strong reputation. Oportun is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating and praised on Trustpilot for its helpful customer service and simple application process.

Where Oportun falls short

• Low borrowing limits. Loan amounts are cap at around $10,000, which may not be enough for borrowers needing larger financing.
• Origination fee up to 10%. Oportun charges an “administrative” fee that increases your overall borrowing cost, unlike lenders that offer no-fee personal loans.
• High APRs for some borrowers. Rates can reach up to 35.99%, which is higher than what those with good credit might find through banks or top online lenders, though still lower than payday loan rates.
• Limited availability. Oportun loans aren’t offered in all 50 states, so borrowers in some areas may need to look for nationwide options like LightStream or Upstart.

Oportun loan details

Oportun contact information

Calculate your monthly loan payments

If you’d like to know how much a personal loan might cost you, use the calculator below. All you have to do is add in your loan amount and APR plus the repayment term.

How to qualify for Oportun

To apply for a loan from Oportun, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a resident of one of the 41 states Oportun offers loans
• Have both proof of income and proof of address
• Have a Social Security number or tax identification number
• Have a valid government-issued ID
• Be at least 18 years old

How to apply

You can apply for an Oportun personal loan entirely online or visit one of its physical locations (if available in your state). The online process is quick and straightforward:

1. Prequalify online. Start by completing Oportun’s short prequalification form that includes personal and financial information. This step uses a soft credit check, so it won’t affect your credit score.
2. Review your loan offer. If you qualify, you’ll see potential loan amounts, rates and terms. Review the details carefully before deciding whether to move forward.
3. Submit your full application. Once you choose an offer, you’ll need to provide documents such as proof of income, proof of address and a valid government-issued ID.
4. Accept your loan terms and receive funds. After final approval, you can e-sign your agreement and receive your funds, usually by direct deposit in one to four days. In some states, you may also have the option to pick up a check at a local Oportun location.

How Oportun compares to other lenders

5 of 5 results

Updated regularly

Finder Score	Loan amount	Turnaround time	Requirements	bullet point infobox
Promoted Finder score 9.5 Excellent EarnIn	Finder score 9.5 Excellent	Up to $150/day, with a max of $1000 between paydays	1 to 2 business days or within 30 minutes for a fee	At least 18 and a US resident, Valid Social Security number, At least 60 days of banking history, Proof of consistent income, Positive bank balance, Get paid by direct deposit.	Access up to $150 per day, with a max of $1000 between paydays. Subject to EarnIn terms & conditions.	Go to siteMore info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted Finder score 8.7 Great Current	Finder score 8.7 Great	$50 to $750	Up to 3 days or within an hour for a fee	Among other factors, you must receive a monthly total of $500 or more in Eligible Payroll Deposits into your Current Account.	Get up to $750 before payday, once you qualify. Paycheck Advance is an earned wage access service and is not a loan or credit product. Subject to Paycheck Advance Terms and Conditions.	Go to siteMore info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted Finder score 8.2 Great Cleo	Finder score 8.2 Great	Up to $250	3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.	Not stated	Automatically monitor your spending plus access cash advances up to $100 at a time.	Go to siteMore info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 9.4 Excellent OppLoans Installment Loans	Finder score 9.4 Excellent	$500 to $5,000	As soon as the same business day	+18 years old, Receive paychecks through direct deposit, $1,500 minimum monthly income, Live in eligible state	Not available in: CO, CT, GA, IA, MD, MA, NY, SD, VT, WV. Comes with the option to change your due date so you won’t fall behind on repayments.	Go to siteMore info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 9.1 Excellent CreditNinja Installment loan	Finder score 9.1 Excellent	$300 to $5,000	1 to 2 business days	Checking account at least 60 days old, regular income through direct deposit, resident of eligible state, age of majority in your state	Not available in: AK, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, KY, ME, MD, MA, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, VT, VA, WA, WV. Fast online funding up to $5K, but you won't know about rates and terms until after you apply.	Go to siteMore info Compare product selection Compare	loading

loading

Load More

Showing 5 of 5 results

Compare other products

We currently don't have that product, but here are others to consider:

How we picked these

What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 3+ types of short-term loans across 65+ 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.

To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best short-term loans for all credit types, you can see how each short-term loan stacks up against other short-term loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.

Read the full breakdown

Oportun reviews and complaints

Reviews of Oportun are mixed. On Trustpilot, the vast majority of customers (92%) give the company a 5-star rating, but on the Better Business Bureau, the most common rating is a single star. There have been 362 formal complaints lodged against Opportun on the BBB site in the past three years.

On the positive side, customers like how fast and easy it is to get a loan through Oportun. They also compliment the helpful customer service team. However, there are plenty of complaints, especially about the high cost of borrowing and excessive fees. Other issues include trouble accessing their account and making loan payments.