 TITLE: Step-By-Step Checklist to Getting a Personal Loan CONTENT: Decide Where to Apply for a Personal Loan\n-----------------------------------------\n*   **Shop around**. Every lender considers factors such as your income, credit score and credit history differently. Comparing multiple loan offers will help you get the best loan.\n*   **Start with your current bank.** As an existing customer, you may get better loan terms from your bank than you would elsewhere. You can also research personal loan offers from other banks.\n*   **Research credit unions.** Credit unions may offer more lenient loan terms than traditional bank lenders. However, you need to be a member of the credit union to apply for a loan, which usually involves opening a deposit account.\n*   **Research online lenders.** Online lenders can offer easier applications, faster approvals and more flexible qualification requirements. You can use Experian CreditMatch™ to compare loan offers from several online lenders.  \n    Here are some online lenders and marketplaces to consider:\n    *   Sofi: Loans from $5,000 to $100,000, good credit or better recommended\n    *   Marcus: Loans from $3,500 to $40,000, best for those with good credit\n    *   Payoff: Loans from $5,000 to $35,000, can only be used for credit card consolidation, good credit or better recommended\n    *   Upstart: Loans from $1,000 to $50,000, may not require credit history, fair credit considered\n    *   LendingClub: Loans from $1,000 to $40,000, good for debt consolidation, fair credit considered\n    *   LendingPoint: Loans from $2,000 to $25,000, fair credit considered\n    *   Avant: Loans from $2,000 to $35,000, fair credit considered\n*   **Compare loan terms from different lenders.** Get the following information for each lender:\n    *   Interest rate (APR) range\n    *   Estimated monthly payment amount\n    *   Loan terms available\n    *   Any restrictions on use of money\n    *   Fees and penalties\n    *   Discounts or special offers\n    *   How soon you can receive funds\n    *   Some lenders offer prequalification for personal loans. Once you're prequalified, you'll get more details about loans you qualify for.\n*   **Decide which lenders to apply to.** Based on your research, select several lenders that seem appealing. Applying for a loan can generate a hard inquiry on your credit report. Too many hard inquiries may lower your credit score, but hard inquiries for the same type of credit within a short time are generally considered one hard inquiry. END