LendingClub offers peer-to-peer lending, meaning your personal loan is funded by individual investors contributing to your loan amount rather than borrowing money directly from the lender.
There’s no guarantee that your loan will be funded even if you meet the basic qualifications, but you will find out within a few days of applying. Having been in business since 2007, it’s one of the original peer-to-peer loan providers in the United States and also the largest.
Since its inception, LendingClub has originated a total of $50 billion in loans with over 3 million customers. Although the average borrower has good credit scores, it does offer various loan terms based on all types of credit scores.
There’s also a good deal of flexibility in what you use your LendingClub loan funds for. An important point to note is that because of the investor matching process, the application and funding process could take up to a week to complete.
LendingClub Personal Loans
Loans range from $1,000 to $40,000, with loan terms ranging from three to five years. All LendingClub loans feature a fixed interest rate, so you don’t have to worry about your monthly payments fluctuating.
Depending on your credit score, your interest rate can start as low as 6.95% with excellent credit and go up to 35.89%. That’s obviously a huge range, so your actual rate will vary based on your financials and what kind of loan you’re looking for.
In addition to interest, you also have to pay an origination fee that ranges from 1% to 6%. When you calculate interest as an APR, the range goes up to 5.99% and 34.34%, depending on your loan grade and repayment term.
LendingClub recently introduced a balance transfer loan to help borrowers pay off credit card debt. They will send the funds of your personal loan to up to 12 creditors to pay off high-interest credit card balances. Their debt consolidation loans carry the same interest rates and terms as their other personal loans. You can use their loan calculator to see how much you’ll save by paying off your credit cards.
Borrower Profile
Compared to some newer online lenders, LendingClub takes a more traditional approach and largely focuses on borrowers’ credit score and income rather than education or employment. The company’s stated minimum credit score is 600, but the average borrower actually boasts a credit score of 699.
You must have at least three years of credit history, so LendingClub personal loans are not necessarily geared towards young borrowers. Incomes are also relatively high, with the average salary at $76,135.
Not surprisingly, the average borrower’s debt-to-income ratio is low, coming in at just over 18% without including individuals’ mortgages. A LendingClub loan isn’t out of the question if you don’t meet these qualifications, but it is helpful to know what they’re looking for.
LendingClub Application Process
Because LendingClub is a peer-to-peer lender, the loan application is quite different from what you might be used to. You can start by checking your rate offers after submitting some basic information.
They then perform a soft credit check, so there’s no impact on your credit score and the inquiry doesn’t show up on your report.
Based on that information, you’re assigned a loan grade along with your interest rate, origination fee, and APR. You’ll receive a few different loan offers with various interest rates and terms.
You’ll also see the monthly payment associated with each one. However, once you make your selection, that doesn’t mean you’re automatically approved for the personal loan.
Remember, this is peer-to-peer lending in its purest form. Once approved, LendingClub then lists your loan and grade on its website for investors to review.
While they don’t see your personal information, they can see your credit information, your job information, and the reason you’re borrowing the money. Investors then decide whether they want to fund your personal loan.
If your loan hits the 60% funding mark, Lending Club then begins to verify your personal and financial information. The company checks your identity and your financial information, so you’ll likely be requested to upload copies of relevant documents, like pay stubs or bank statements.
LendingClub will then do a hard pull on your credit, which does affect your credit score and becomes listed as an inquiry. It’s not a dramatic impact, but you certainly don’t want several hard pulls performed at one time.
In the meantime, the remainder of your loan has most likely been funded. If not, Lending Club does allow you to receive the funded 60% and reapply for the remainder of the loan amount; but this doesn’t happen often. You’ll usually receive funds within four business days of having your application materials verified.
Once You’re Approved
The cost of your origination fee is folded into your loan amount so make sure you take that into account before deciding on how much you need to borrow.
For example, if you borrow $10,000 with a 4% origination fee, you’ll only actually receive $9,600. Give yourself a buffer to cover the origination fee if you need the full loan amount.
LendingClub doesn’t charge a prepayment penalty, but they do charge a few other fees in certain situations. For example, there is a $15 charge for unsuccessful payments, like if your check bounces.
If you don’t pay within the 15-day grace period, you’ll be charged a late payment fee of 5% of the overdue balance or $15, whichever is greater. Finally, if you decide to pay via check, you’ll be charged a $7 processing fee each time. Your funds should arrive in your bank account in about a week.
Lending Club’s History
Lending Club has been in the online lending business for over ten years and actually started off as a Facebook app. It actually helped pave the way for newer online lenders by registering with the SEC in 2008. Today, it’s a public company offering that not only offers home improvement and debt consolidation loans, but also car loan refinancing, business loans, and mortgage loans as well.
Lending Club Reviews
One of the best ways to research online lenders is by reading third-party reviews. You can discover what actual customers are saying about them before you choose to do business with them.
Lending Club currently has a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of A, which is an indicator of great customer service. They also have very few complaints. You can find more Lending Club reviews at other review sites as well.
Is a personal loan from LendingClub right for you?
Before you apply for a loan with LendingClub, do a quick check-in with yourself to make sure it’s right for you. Getting a personal loan is a big decision. Make sure you’re informed and financially prepared for everything that comes along with taking out a personal loan, whether it’s through LendingClub or any other lender.
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