Let’s be honest: nobody wakes up excited to borrow money. But when life throws a wedding, medical bill, home repair, or debt-consolidation curveball, you want the cheapest loan possible — not one that feels like you’re paying rent on the money forever.
I’ve spent the last few weeks digging through hundreds of offers, reading the fine print, and talking to real borrowers so you don’t have to. These are the genuinely lowest-interest personal loans available right now (as of late 2025) for people with good to excellent credit. Rates, terms, and perks are all current.
Here are the 10 best options, ranked by how low you can actually go if your credit is strong (720+ FICO).
1. LightStream (Truist)
Starting rate: 5.99%–6.79% APR (with autopay & excellent credit)
Loan amounts: $5,000–$100,000 | Terms: 24–144 months
Why it wins: No fees at all — zero origination, zero prepayment, nothing. Beat any competitor’s rate by 0.10% guarantee. Same-day funding if approved by 2:30 p.m. ET. Hands-down the lowest rate leader right now.
2. SoFi
Starting rate: 6.99%–7.99% APR (with all discounts)
Loan amounts: $5,000–$100,000 | Terms: 24–84 months
Perks: Unemployment protection (pause payments & get job-help), no fees, 0.25% autopay discount, and they’ll let you skip one payment a year after 3 on-time payments. Great if you want a human touch.
3. Reach Financial
Starting rate: 5.99%–8.99% (debt consolidation specialty)
Loan amounts: $3,500–$40,000 | Terms: 24–60 months
Best for paying off credit cards. They send money directly to creditors and often give the absolute lowest rate for consolidation borrowers with 700+ credit.
4. Discover Personal Loans
Starting rate: 6.99% APR fixed
Loan amounts: $2,500–$40,000 | Terms: 36–84 months
No origination fees or closing costs, and Discover still offers a 30-day return guarantee — pay it back within 30 days, no interest charged. Super borrower-friendly.
5. Best Egg
Starting rate: 6.99%–8.99% (720+ score)
Loan amounts: $2,000–$50,000 | Terms: 36–60 months
Fast funding (often next day) and surprisingly low rates for people with good-but-not-perfect credit. Secured option available if you want to drop your rate even lower using a car or fixtures.
6. Upstart
Starting rate: 6.50%–9.99% (uses AI + education/work history)
Loan amounts: $1,000–$50,000 | Terms: 36–60 months
Unique underwriting means people with short credit history or high income growth can still score single-digit rates.
7. LendingClub
Starting rate: 7.90%–10.99% (after discounts)
Loan amounts: $1,000–$40,000 | Terms: 36–60 months
Peer-to-peer roots, but now fully bank-funded. One of the few places left that still offers joint applications to combine incomes and get a lower rate.
8. Happy Money (formerly Payoff)
Starting rate: 7.99%–11.99%
Loan amounts: $5,000–$40,000 | Only for credit-card consolidation
The “feel-good” loan — direct payoff to cards and they monitor your credit health. Rates aren’t the absolute lowest, but the psychological win of wiping out cards is huge.
9. BHG Money (Bankers Healthcare Group)
Starting rate: 7.99%–12.99%
Loan amounts: $20,000–$200,000 | Terms up to 10 years
Best for high earners (doctors, dentists, vets, etc.) who want big loans and long terms to keep monthly payments tiny.
10. PenFed Credit Union
Starting rate: 7.99% APR
Loan amounts: $600–$50,000 | Terms up to 60 months
Anyone can join with a $5 savings deposit. Consistently one of the lowest rates among credit unions, especially if you already bank there.
Quick Comparison Table (Lowest Possible Rates, Excellent Credit)
| Lender | Starting APR | Origination Fee | Max Amount | Same-Day Funding? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LightStream | 5.99% | 0% | $100k | Yes |
| SoFi | 6.99% | 0% | $100k | Sometimes |
| Reach Financial | 5.99% | 1–6% | $40k | Yes |
| Discover | 6.99% | 0% | $40k | Next day |
| Best Egg | 6.99% | 0.99–8.99% | $50k | Next day |
Final Tips Before You Apply
- Check for rate discounts: autopay (0.25–0.50%), direct deposit, or existing customer perks can shave hundreds off interest.
- Prequalify everywhere — soft credit checks only, takes 2 minutes each, and you’ll see your real rate offers.
- The absolute lowest rates (under 7%) almost always go to 740+ credit, stable income, and low debt-to-income (<30%).
- Avoid “no credit check” loans — they’re payday predators in disguise.
Need money fast and cheap? Start with LightStream or SoFi — 9 times out of 10 you’ll walk away with the best deal.
Which one are you leaning toward? Drop a comment and I’ll tell you the latest promo codes or hidden discounts I’ve seen this month. You deserve the lowest rate possible.