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Lending Club can be a good option for those looking to diversify their investment portfolios, as it offers a platform for investing in a wide range of loans.
With Lending Club, you can choose from various loan grades, each with its own level of risk and potential return, allowing you to tailor your investments to your comfort level.
Loans on Lending Club have a relatively low minimum investment requirement of $1,000, making it accessible to individual investors.
Investors can also set their own investment criteria, such as loan grade and interest rate, to create a diversified portfolio that meets their goals.
Lending Club's platform allows you to easily track and manage your investments, with regular updates on loan performance and payment status.
Rates and Fees
LendingClub charges an origination fee ranging from 3.00% to 8.00% of the loan amount, which will be determined when you apply.
LendingClub does not charge application fees, broker fees, or prepayment penalties, which is a plus for borrowers.
However, if you make a payment more than 15 days late, LendingClub may charge a late fee of 5% of the outstanding payment or $15, whichever is greater.
LendingClub's origination fees are on the higher side, ranging from 3% to 6% of the loan amount.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued LendingClub in 2018 for charging hidden origination fees after promising customers a specific loan amount with "no hidden fees."
Terms and Amounts
LendingClub offers personal loans with amounts between $1,000 and $40,000.
These loans can be used for paying off credit cards, debt consolidation, or tackling emergency expenses.
You can't use a LendingClub Personal Loan for education costs, investments, or funding illegal activities.
The loan terms range from two to five years, which can be a good option for many borrowers.
Some competing lenders offer a wider choice of term options, so it's worth exploring those as well.
LendingClub's loans start at a relatively small amount, which can be useful for covering a variety of personal expenses.
The loan amounts range from $5,000 to $250,000 for businesses, which can give you the flexibility to secure the right amount based on your business needs.
Here are some examples of loan amounts and terms:
Keep in mind that LendingClub offers unsecured personal loans, which means its personal loans don't require collateral like your house or vehicle.
You can use LendingClub loans for various purposes, including debt consolidation, home improvements, medical expenses, and large purchases.
Pros and Cons
LendingClub has some great benefits that make it a good option for some borrowers. For example, debt consolidation loans offer an option for direct payment to creditors, which can save time and hassle. Borrowers with credit scores as low as 600 can qualify for a loan.
One of the most convenient features of LendingClub is the online application process, which allows borrowers to apply quickly and easily. LendingClub also offers a pre-qualification option, which can give borrowers a good idea of whether they'll be approved for a loan. And, with a fixed interest rate and loan terms of 36 or 60 months, borrowers can plan their payments with confidence.
Here are some of the key pros of LendingClub:
- Debt consolidation loans offer direct payment to creditors
- Available to borrowers with credit score as low as 600
- High review rating from users
- Approval as quickly as 24 hours
- No pre-payment fee
- Joint loan (co-borrower) option
- Pre-qualification option
- Payment date change option
- Online application
- Fixed interest rate
- Loan terms of 36 or 60 months
- No hard credit pull to check credit report
However, LendingClub also has some drawbacks to consider. For one thing, it charges a high annual percentage rate (APR), which can add up quickly. And, unlike some other lenders, it doesn't offer a discount for automatic payments.
Some of the cons of LendingClub include:
- Charge a high annual percentage rate (APR)
- No discount for automatic payments
- 3%-6% origination fee
- Personal loan terms of only 36 or 60 months
- Only available online
- Must have a bank account
- Social Security number required
- Late payment fee of 5%, with $15 minimum
- Allows co-borrowers, but not co-signers
- The mobile app doesn’t allow loan management
- Long wait for approval for some applicants
- Only available in U.S. states and Washington, D.C., not U.S. territories
User Experience
Applying for a LendingClub loan is a straightforward process that can be initiated by visiting their website. You can choose the type of loan you want to apply for and specify the loan amount.
To confirm your identity, you'll need to answer a few simple queries, after which you can get an estimate of the rate you'll be charged. This is a crucial step in understanding the terms of your loan.
The lender will then perform a credit check to assess your creditworthiness. This is a standard procedure for most lenders, including LendingClub.
User Experiences
User experiences can vary greatly, but LendingClub customers seem to be happy with its offerings, with a score of 4.64 out of 5 from our Combined Consumer Review metric.
Some customers have reported issues with delayed direct payments to creditors and unresponsive customer representatives, but these complaints are not the norm.
LendingClub's customer satisfaction score is slightly below the industry average, but it's still a notable achievement in the financial services sector.
However, the company has received some impressive customer feedback, which is a testament to its commitment to user experience.
Accessibility
Accessibility is a crucial aspect of user experience. It ensures that all users, regardless of their abilities, can interact with a product or service.
Clear and consistent navigation is essential for accessibility. This can be achieved by using a simple and intuitive menu structure, as seen in the example of the "Minimalist Navigation" design principle.
For instance, the "Minimalist Navigation" design principle recommends using a single navigation bar with clear and concise labels. This helps users with visual impairments to easily understand and navigate the interface.
The use of high contrast colors can also improve accessibility. This is because high contrast colors make it easier for users with visual impairments to distinguish between different elements on the screen.
For example, the "Color Contrast" design principle suggests using a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 between text and background colors. This ensures that users with visual impairments can easily read and understand the content.
Consistent and predictable interactions are also essential for accessibility. This can be achieved by using standard and familiar interactions, such as buttons and forms.
The "Consistent Interactions" design principle recommends using standard and familiar interactions, such as buttons and forms, to ensure that users can easily understand and interact with the interface.
The use of closed captions and transcripts can also improve accessibility. This is because closed captions and transcripts provide users with hearing impairments with an alternative way to consume content.
For example, the "Multimedia" design principle suggests providing closed captions and transcripts for all multimedia content, such as videos and podcasts. This ensures that users with hearing impairments can easily consume and understand the content.
Application and Funding
Application and funding with LendingClub is a straightforward process. You can pre-qualify for a loan in just a few minutes, and if you're approved, you could receive your funds in as little as one day.
The application process itself takes just a few minutes to complete, assuming you have all your financial and income documentation handy. This includes submitting some basic personal information, choosing a loan, and providing additional personal and financial information.
Here's a breakdown of the application process:
- Pre-qualification: You'll submit some basic personal information to pre-qualify for a loan through the LendingClub website.
- Choose a loan: Once you've pre-qualified, you'll see your available loan offers. If you find an option you like, you can select it.
- Apply: You'll then complete a full application, providing additional personal and financial information which will be used to evaluate your loan request.
- Await a decision: LendingClub indicates many applicants receive loan approvals within hours.
- Get funded: If approved, you could receive loan funds in as little as one day.
After loan approval, LendingClub can transfer funds to customers within 1 business day.
How It Works
To get approved for a loan on LendingClub, you'll need to provide credit, employment, and income information on their website. This information is then screened for approval.
Approval can take anywhere from 24 hours to two weeks, depending on whether the application is complete and how long it takes to verify the information. If everything checks out, you'll receive an offer with an APR, origin fee, and loan term.
The better your credit, the lower the APR and origination fee will be. This is because LendingClub conducts a "soft" credit check, which won't affect your credit rating.
If approved, the loan amount, minus the origination fee, is directly deposited into your bank account. The amount you make payments on includes the full loan amount before the origination fee was subtracted.
Monthly payments will automatically come out of your bank account, or you can opt for payment by check or wire transfer.
Applying for
Applying for a personal loan through LendingClub is a relatively quick and straightforward process. You can start by pre-qualifying on the LendingClub website, which only takes a few minutes.
To pre-qualify, you'll need to provide some basic personal information, such as your name, Social Security number, and income history. This will give you an estimated monthly payment and APR range for your loan.
Once you've pre-qualified, you can choose a loan that suits your needs. If you need debt consolidation, the money may go directly to your creditors.
The application process involves submitting your application and waiting for approval. You'll need to attach proof of income, such as a W-2 or tax returns, to your application.
If approved, you can receive your funds in as little as one day. This is a relatively fast funding time compared to what certain competitors offer.
Here's a breakdown of the steps involved in applying for a LendingClub personal loan:
- Pre-qualify on the LendingClub website
- Choose a loan that suits your needs
- Submit your application and wait for approval
- Receive your funds in as little as one day
Note that approval can take from 24 hours to two weeks, depending on whether the application is complete and how long it takes to verify the information.
Alternatives and Comparison
If you're turned down by LendingClub or don't feel the terms offered are a good financial solution, there are other options to get a loan with bad credit. An erroneous mark on your credit report can be corrected and will improve your score.
Upstart is a good alternative, allowing borrowers with credit scores as low as 300 to apply for a personal loan. The loan term is either 36 or 60 months, and borrowers can get as much as $50,000.
Prosper is another online loan option, similar to LendingClub. It doesn't specify a required credit score, but scores under 600 likely won't qualify. It allows up to a 50% debt-to-income ratio, offers loans from $2,000-$50,000, and repayment plans from 2-5 years.
SoFi is a good choice for borrowers with good credit, offering manageable APRs (8.99%-23.43%) with no origination fee. Loan amounts are $5,000-$100,000 and repayment plans range from 3-7 years.
Discover is another alternative that doesn't charge an origination fee, with APRs ranging from 6.99%-24.99%. Loan amounts are $2,500-$40,000 and repayment terms are 36-84 months.
Here's a comparison of LendingClub with other personal loan lenders:
Credit and Requirements
LendingClub's credit requirements are relatively straightforward: applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a Social Security number and verifiable bank account.
To qualify for a loan, you'll need a minimum credit score of 600, although some sources suggest that a 600 score may not be enough to qualify.
You'll also need a credit history of at least 37 months and a debt-to-income ratio of 40% for single applications and 35% for joint applicants.
The higher your credit score, the lower the APR and origination fee will be. For example, the average LendingClub personal loan borrower has a credit score of 711 and pays an APR of 15.95%.
If your credit score is below average, you might still be able to get a loan from LendingClub, but you may want to explore other lender options if your score is below 660.
Business and Funding
Lending Club offers business loans with higher amounts for qualified business owners compared to consumers. Their business financing is made possible in partnership with Accion Opportunity Fund, a non-profit lender.
You can expect flexible terms ranging from 1 to 5 years, allowing you to choose a repayment period that suits your business's financial strategy. This flexibility can make a big difference in managing your business's finances.
To qualify for a Lending Club business loan, your business needs to meet basic eligibility criteria, including 12+ months in business, $50K+ in annual sales, and a US-based company. Meeting these requirements can give you a good chance of getting approved.
Here are the key eligibility criteria:
- 12+ months in business
- $50K+ in annual sales
- US-based company
- 20% or more ownership
- Consumer credit score of 600+
Funds can be transferred to your account within 1 business day after loan approval, making the process quick and convenient.
Business
Lending Club offers business loans with higher amounts for qualified business owners than for consumers.
Their business financing options are offered in partnership with Accion Opportunity Fund, a non-profit lender.
Lending Club's business loan rates start at 8.49%, which is competitive compared to the typical interest rate for small-business bank loans, ranging between 6.42% and 12.41%.
To qualify for a business loan with Lending Club, your business needs to meet basic eligibility criteria, including 12+ months in business, $50K+ in annual sales, and a consumer credit score of 600+.
A lot of business loans require at least 50% ownership for an owner-applicant to qualify, but Lending Club stands out in this area, requiring only 20% or more ownership.
Accion Opportunity Fund reports business payment activity to Experian, Equifax, and Dun & Bradstreet, which can help you build your business credit score.
With Lending Club's business loans, you can choose a repayment period that suits your business's financial strategy, with options ranging from 1 to 5 years.
You can apply online in minutes and get approved quickly, with funds deposited directly into your bank account once approved.
Here are the key eligibility criteria for Lending Club's business loans:
- 12+ months in business
- $50K+ in annual sales
- US-based company
- 20% or more ownership
- Consumer credit score of 600+
Home Improvement
LendingClub offers fixed-rate home improvement loans of up to $40,000 through a relatively straightforward online application.
Home improvement loans are a great way to access credit for renovations and repairs to your home, but they can also be unsecured, which means they're not tied to your home's value.
These loans are based on your credit history, which can affect your eligibility and interest rates.
You can apply for a home improvement loan online and get access to the funds you need to tackle your home projects.
The application process for home improvement loans is relatively straightforward, but it's still a good idea to check your credit history before applying to make sure you're eligible.
Legit?
LendingClub is a legitimate online financial services company, certified by the Better Business Bureau with an "A" rating. It has been in business since 2007.
The company has more than 4.7 million customers and generally good reviews on the BBB website, Trustpilot, and other online sources.
LendingClub has been in the business for over 14 years, which is a testament to its stability and trustworthiness.
The company has a webpage that outlines what to look for to make sure the company you’re dealing with is legitimate and not a scammer.
LendingClub has returned more than $10 million to customers who made hidden fee complaints after a four-year FTC investigation.
The company now puts all fee information on its website, which is a positive step towards transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a LendingClub loan hurt your credit?
Checking your LendingClub loan rate may not affect your credit score, but a hard inquiry could occur when your loan is funded, potentially impacting your credit score
Sources
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/personal-loans/lendingclub-personal-loans-review
- https://www.debt.org/credit/loans/personal/lending-club-review/
- https://money.com/lendingclub-personal-loans-review/
- https://www.businesscreditworkshop.me/articles/lendingclub-review-borrowers-investors/
- https://www.investopedia.com/lendingclub-personal-loans-review-4800191
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