CircleBack Lending, once a pioneer in peer-to-peer lending, stopped issuing personal loans in 2016. A website with the same name has emerged, but it might be best to stay away from it.
We’ll explain why, as well as share information about a handful of other top personal loan companies where you can get cash when you need it.
Why you should avoid Circlebacklending.net
As I researched CircleBack Lending, I came across a circlebacklending.net website. The site claims to be a marketplace lender, but there are several red flags.
For starters, the marketing language on the website is confusing. For example, it says:
“Get up for you to $1000 as soon as These days. Acceptance Usually takes Merely Just a few seconds. Rapid Money Tonight.”
When I called the number listed on the site and tried each of the automated menu options, the system told me no loan agents were available and that I should visit another website to get a personal loan. I sent an email to the contact email address listed on the website and got an automated response stating that the email address didn’t exist.
These are all red flags, which could be a sign that the website might be a scam. So make sure to take the time to examine the website to spot a potential personal loan scam.
If you’re looking for a personal loan, you could find one from many legitimate personal loan companies.
4 personal loan companies to consider
If you need a personal loan and prefer applying for one online, you’ll find a wide selection of lenders. To help you narrow it down, we’ve put together a list of five of the top personal loan companies, along with their interest rates and features.
Lender | APRs (fixed) | Best for |
---|---|---|
Earnest | See Earnest for details. | Looking beyond your credit score |
SoFi | 5.99% – 19.16% | Loans of up to $100,000 |
Upgrade | 6.94% – 35.97% | Loans as low as $1,000 |
FreedomPlus | 7.99% – 29.99% | Excellent credit |
1. Earnest: Best for looking beyond your credit score
Your credit score often is one of the biggest factors that lenders consider when deciding whether to approve your application. But Earnest considers other factors to focus more on your full financial picture. Specifically, it looks at your:
- Savings patterns
- 401(k) balance and investments
- Employment history
- Growth potential
Here are some other details to know:
- Loans of $5,000 to $75,000
- Repayment terms of 36 to 60 months
- No origination, prepayment, or extra payment fees
- Funds available within one to two business days after signing
2. SoFi: Best for loans of up to $100,000
If you need to borrow a lot of money to start a business, finance a huge home renovation, or for some other reason, SoFi offers personal loans between $5,000 and $100,000. Here’s what else you’ll get with a SoFi personal loan:
- Repayment terms of 24 to 84 months
- Fixed APRs of 5.99% to 19.16%
- No fees
- Funds available within a few days
- Special SoFi community benefits, including unemployment protection, rate discounts on future loans, career coaching, and more.
3. Upgrade: Best for loans as low as $1,000
Many personal loan companies have a minimum loan amount of $5,000, which can force you to borrow more than you need. If you need far less than that, Upgrade offers a minimum loan of $1,000, but it can go as high as $35,000. Other terms and features include:
- Repayment terms of 36 or 60 months
- APR of 6.94% to 35.97%
- Origination fee of 2.90% - 8.00% of the loan amount
- Funds available within four business days
4. FreedomPlus: Best for excellent credit
It’s not always easy to know whether you qualify for a personal loan company’s best interest rates. But FreedomPlus is transparent about what it takes to get one of the lowest rates on the market.
For starters, you’ll need to have excellent credit for a loan of $15,000 with a 24-month repayment period. Plus, you’ll need to qualify for two out of these three requirements:
- Adding a cosigner who has sufficient income
- Using at least 50% of the loan proceeds to pay off existing debt
- Showing proof that you have at least $40,000 in retirement savings
Other FreedomPlus highlights include:
- Loans of $7,500 to $40,000
- Repayment terms of 24 to 60 months
- APR of 7.99% to 29.99%
- Origination fee of 1.99% - 4.99%
- Funds available within 48 hours
Choosing the right personal loan
Regardless of your reason for applying for a personal loan, it’s important to know how to get the best offer for your needs. Rather than picking one lender based on what we’ve shared here, get a rate quote from some or all of the companies to compare what they can offer you.
Then consider the other factors, such as fees, funding time, repayment options, and other special features. Also, use our personal loan calculator to make sure the monthly payments are affordable. If you’re having a hard time getting an offer because of a low credit score, consider other personal loan options for bad credit.
As you do your due diligence, you’ll be more likely to find a loan that works for your budget and your financial goals.
Interested in a personal loan?
LendingTree allows you to compare rates from multiple lenders by filling out one easy form. How Student Loan Hero Gets PaidHow Student Loan Hero Gets Paid
Student Loan Hero is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). Student Loan Hero does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
Student Loan Hero Advertiser Disclosure
Student Loan Hero is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products.
How Student Loan Hero Gets Paid
Student Loan Hero is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). Student Loan Hero does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
Student Loan Hero Advertiser Disclosure
Student Loan Hero is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products.
Lender | RATES (APR) | loan amount | |
---|---|---|---|
5.99% – 19.16%1 | $5,000 to $100,000 | ||
8.27% – 35.99% | $1,000 to $50,000 | ||
6.94% – 35.97%* | $1,000 to $35,000 | ||
99.00% – 199.00%2 | $500 to $4,000 | ||
5.99% – 24.99%3 | $5,000 to $40,000 | ||
7.99% – 29.99%4 | $7,500 to $40,000 | ||
compare rates on Lendingtree now | |||
1 Includes AutoPay discount. Important Disclosures for SoFi. SoFi Disclosures
Opploans DisclosuresDirect Deposit required for payroll. Opploans currently operates in these states: . *Approval may take longer if additional verification documents are requested. Not all loan requests are approved. Approval and loan terms vary based on credit determination and state law. Applications processed and approved before 7:30 p.m. ET Monday-Friday are typically funded the next business day.
Payoff Disclosures
FreedomPlus Disclosures
Upgrade Bank DisclosuresPersonal loans made through Upgrade feature APRs of 6.94%-35.97%. All personal loans have a 2.9% to 8% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay and paying off a portion of existing debt directly. For example, if you receive a $10,000 loan with a 36-month term and a 17.98% APR (which includes a 14.32% yearly interest rate and a 5% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,500 in your account and would have a required monthly payment of $343.33. Over the life of the loan, your payments would total $12,359.97. The APR on your loan may be higher or lower and your loan offers may not have multiple term lengths available. Actual rate depends on credit score, credit usage history, loan term, and other factors. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. There is no fee or penalty for repaying a loan early. Accept your loan offer and your funds will be sent to your bank or designated account within one (1) business day of clearing necessary verifications. Availability of the funds is dependent on how quickly your bank processes the transaction. From the time of approval, funds should be available within four (4) business days. Funds sent directly to pay off your creditors may take up to 2 weeks to clear, depending on the creditor. Personal loans issued by Upgrade’s lending partners. Information on Upgrade’s lending partners can be found at https://www.upgrade.com/lending-partners/. |