Competition among financial institutions is fierce in Iowa. The state ranks No. 1 in banks and credit unions per capita, so your search for a personal loan lender can be daunting.
Benzinga’s done the work for you. Check out our list of the best personal loans in Iowa to get started.
The Best Personal Loans in Iowa
- Best for Bad Credit: Integra
- Best for Comparing Lenders: Credible
- Best for No Origination Fees: SoFi
- Best for Quick Funding: Figure
- Best for Flexible Terms: Rise
You might conduct much of your financial business online already. Why not add loans to that list? The sheer number of vetted online lenders means you have a high chance of finding a loan that fits your needs.
Start with our list of the best online lenders for personal loans.
Best for Bad Credit: Integra
Integra Credit makes it easy for anyone to get a loan, even if you don’t have the best credit. You can apply online, read about how to better manage your finances, get a quick decision, sign your documents online and get funded in short order.
Your money is sent directly to your bank account, and you can also enjoy a few other features:
- Flexible payment options
- Flexible loan amounts and terms
- Lines of credit are also available
Your rates and terms may vary depending on your credit situation, but this is a welcoming platform that can help families, agricultural workers, farmers, local businesses and more access cash and make the most of their financial futures.
Pros
- You can sign documents online and get customer service if you have questions
- A line of credit might serve you better, and you can seek one out on the platform as opposed to a traditional loan
Cons
- While payment options may be flexible, there’s no way to know if you can get the payment terms you want
Best for Comparing Lenders: Credible
NMLS# DISCLOSURE
Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS# 1681276
Credible. Not available in all states. www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
110 Corcoran Street, 5th Floor, Suite 151 Durham, NC 27701
Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS# 1681276, “Credible.” Not available in all states.
All bonus payments are by gift card. See terms
Prequalified rates are based on the information you provide and a soft credit inquiry. Receiving prequalified rates does not guarantee that the Lender will extend you an offer of credit. You are not yet approved for a loan or a specific rate. All credit decisions, including loan approval, if any, are determined by Lenders, in their sole discretion. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Rates from Lenders may differ from prequalified rates due to factors which may include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in your personal credit circumstances; (ii) additional information in your hard credit pull and/or additional information you provide (or are unable to provide) to the Lender during the underwriting process; and/or (iii) changes in APRs (e.g., an increase in the rate index between the time of prequalification and the time of application or loan closing. (Or, if the loan option is a variable rate loan, then the interest rate index used to set the APR is subject to increases or decreases at any time). Lenders reserve the right to change or withdraw the prequalified rates at any time.
Won’t impact your credit score DISCLOSURE: (May be in the footer, a tooltip, or a popup the user has to click on or scroll to see)
Requesting prequalified rates on Credible is free and doesn’t affect your credit score. However, applying for or closing a loan will involve a hard credit pull that impacts your credit score and closing a loan will result in costs to you.
“We accept advertising compensation from companies that appear on this site, which impacts the location and order in which brands (and/or their products) are presented, and also impacts the score that is assigned to it. Company lists on this page DO NOT imply endorsement. We do not feature all providers on the market.
We receive compensation from the companies below if you click on a link or purchase a product. Amount of compensation may impact the ranking or placement of a particular product. Not all available financial products and offers from all financial institutions have been reviewed by this website. This content is not provided by Credible or any of the Providers on the Credible website. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed here are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Credible.
Prequalified rates are based on the information you provide and a soft credit inquiry. Receiving prequalified rates does not guarantee that the Lender will extend you an offer of credit. You are not yet approved for a loan or a specific rate. All credit decisions, including loan approval, if any, are determined by Lenders, in their sole discretion. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Rates from Lenders may differ from prequalified rates due to factors which may include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in your personal credit circumstances; (ii) additional information in your hard credit pull and/or additional information you provide (or are unable to provide) to the Lender during the underwriting process; and/or (iii) changes in APRs (e.g., an increase in the rate index between the time of prequalification and the time of application or loan closing. (Or, if the loan option is a variable rate loan, then the interest rate index used to set the APR is subject to increases or decreases at any time). Lenders reserve the right to change or withdraw the prequalified rates at any time.
Credible scores points with borrowers for its easy-to-use platform and transparent comparisons to other potential lenders.
It’s a free online service to compare personalized loan offers from multiple vetted lenders.
Credible can connect you with lenders for student loans and mortgages. You can also refinance either type of loan or secure a personal loan.
You’ll find personal loan options from 7.49% to 35.99% APR with terms ranging from 1 to 10 years. Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $200,000.
This means you can use Credible to find a personal loan for larger expenses like home improvements and weddings or smaller costs like car repairs.
Pros
- There are a few loan types to choose from so that you can get into the program that makes sense for your situation
- The lenders on the platform are prequalifying you so that the process happens that much faster
Cons
- You could be offered an extremely high interest rate
Best for No Origination Fees: SoFi
Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 29.99% APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% direct deposit interest rate discount. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 02/06/2024 and are subject to change without notice. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2022 was around $30K. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed and will depend on the term you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and a variety of other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0%-7%, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive.
Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.
Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to potentially receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction for setting up direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A. or eligible cash management account offered by SoFi Securities, LLC (“Direct Deposit Account”), you must have an open Direct Deposit Account within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled payroll direct deposits of at least $1,000/month to a Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off direct deposits to your Direct Deposit Account. You are not required to enroll in direct deposits to receive a Loan.
If you carry a high balance on your credit cards, paying them down gets difficult as interest compounds. You can use a personal loan to consolidate your debt into 1 monthly payment. Personal loans often have a lower interest rate than credit cards, so debt is made more manageable.
SoFi offers personal loans for credit card consolidation, home improvements, relocation assistance, and medical procedures. A personal loan from SoFi has no origination or prepayment fees. The online application process is easy and you can prequalify to see how likely your approval odds are without affecting your credit. You can borrow anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000 with flexible terms and a fixed rate.
You can also apply for a mortgage or home equity loan with SoFi. Investment accounts (including cryptocurrency investing), savings accounts and insurance are also available once you’re a client.
Pros
- This platform makes it easy to manage money, invest and borrow in one place
- Loans from SoFi are free for use for any purpose, making them much more versatile
Cons
- Though you can borrow quite a lot of money, you need to be sure that you have a plan to repay those loans
Best for Quick Funding: Figure
Figure offers personal loans in an all-online format that allows you to get started as quickly as possible. The firm offers competitive rates and quality customer service throughout the process, and they even offer gift cards to customers who refer friends and family to their personal loans department. This is a good place for consumers to look when they and those around them need swift and simple funding.
Plus, Figure also offers:
- Financing up to $50,000
- Multiple fixed-term options
- Low fees
- Quick funding
Consider Figure when you want to take out a personal loan to addressing an emergent situation or an expense that you don’t want to pay out of pocket all at once. There’s less waiting around, and you can even earn a bit of that money back through referrals.
Pros
- Fixed term loans make it easier for you to plan to pay them off
- You can get funds fast enough to deal with an emergent situation
Cons
- Competitors will loan up to double what is available here
Best for Flexible Terms: Rise
With Rise, you can borrow $500 to $5000, enjoy a risk-free guarantee and borrow on your terms. You can also take advantage of credit tracking that will help you improve your financial picture. This can be especially helpful for Iowans in rural areas, those who manage their own businesses, anyone who has been hit by unexpected expenses, etc.
The process is simple because you can:
- Apply online
- Choose your terms and amount
- Sign and get your money
Pros
- The process is extremely quick
- You can borrow a small amount of money if you just need a little cash
Cons
- The maximum loan level is fairly low considering the amount of debt Americans carry today
Personal Loan Considerations
There are a few key considerations if you’re thinking about a personal loan. Guide your decision making with these questions:
- Are the rates offered by the lender lower than a credit card?
- Do you need a lump sum of quick cash or a line of credit you can pay back and use again?
- Can you repay the loan within the given terms?
A personal loan may be your best bet if your answers are yes.
Be aware that some lenders, especially online, do prey on unsuspecting borrowers. Make sure you research a potential lender before you sign off on anything.
Personal Loans vs. Credit Cards
Personal loans and credit cards are both ways to pay for expenses you can’t cover with your regular cash flow. Credit cards tend to be revolving and have variable rates — this is good if you need a consistent line of accessible credit, but variable rates can mean you end up paying more in interest than you expected. Personal loans are a set amount with fixed rates. These are better if you need a 1-time lump sum of cash and want to budget out how much extra borrowing on credit will cost you by the time you pay it back.
A personal loan can cover a large expense or consolidate your debt. Use a credit card if you want a reusable line of credit to use for everyday expenses and purchases.
Find Your Personal Loan
Personal loans can help your credit score, and some offer lower rates than other forms of credit. You can get a loan from a brick-and-mortar institution or use an online lender. Start with our recommended lenders and connections to find the best personal loan for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I can’t repay my personal loan on time?
Make sure you’re clear on the terms of a loan. You may face late payment fees if you pay off a loan late (or early in some cases). You can also face collateral seizure with secured loans or prepayment penalties.
Can I get a personal loan with bad credit?
Yes. It just depends on the lender. Some lenders welcome borrowers with imperfect credit. However, you may face higher rates and more rigid terms.
Are personal loans good for homeowners?
Personal loans can serve homeowners well if they do not want to borrow against their mortgages or access a line or credit.