Best Personal Loans for Veterans

Quick Look: Best Personal Loans for Veterans

• Best for Comparing Lenders: Credible
• Best for Low Fees: OppLoans
• Best for Bad Credit: Integra
• Best for Flexible Terms: Rise
• Best for Comparing Lenders: Lending Club

People join the armed services for reasons that vary and are often complex and multi-faceted. Your service can secure a better financial future as you contribute to a noble cause. 

But despite best laid plans, many veterans find themselves in need of a financial leg-up. Check out our list of the best personal loans for veterans to get cash in your pocket now.

Best Personal Loans for Veterans

Returning from service can present financial hardship for many veterans. It can be difficult to go from a controlled, high-stress environment to finding your own work. Some flourish here, and some falter. And if you were physically injured or suffer from negative mental consequences from your time in the armed services, working and staying afloat can become understandably difficult. Medical bills and debt may pile up faster than you can manage.

For these reasons, many lenders offer veteran-specific loans or loans that have characteristics that make them a perfect match for a veteran. You may also benefit from your veteran status with veteran-only perks like better rates or less rigid credit standards.

Credible

Credible is another loan aggregator that brings together all the best deals so that you can choose the best loan for your business. The platform puts you in touch with:

• A massive range of loan values, terms and rates
• A customer service team that can help you make wise choices
• A large segment of lenders who can help your business

Remember, when you work with a company like Credible, you need to make sure you understand how much the lender you choose can charge in your state. Yes, you can reach back out Credible for help, but you will ultimately pay the lender and deal with their terms. If you ever want to refinance a business loan, you can come back to Credible to find another create option.

OppLoans

OppLoans by OppFi offers veterans online loans with quick applications, fast decisions and faster funding. You can choose from a range of small loan amounts, get personalized service and manage your loan online with no issue.

There are also loans for those with bad credit and some that involve no credit check at all. As a veteran, your finances could be in a state of flux or peril, and you deserve some peace of mind. The platform also offers:

• Quite a bit of information related to financial education
• No origination or prepayment fees
• Fixed rates
• No hidden fees

If you want to apply, you can visit the website right away, or you can contact the firm for assistance if you’re not yet ready to apply.

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 veterans access cash and make the most of their financial futures.

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 veterans because it is hard to manage your money when you’re moving frequently, deployed, etc.

The process is simple because you can:

• Apply online
• Choose your terms and amount
• Sign and get your money

LendingClub

LendingClub is a unique lending platform that allows you to check your eligibility without impacting your credit, complete the process entirely online and get funded in around 24 hours. You will see a range of loan offers that will help you choose the best program for the situation, and you can proceed with the loan as needed.

LendingClub also makes it clear that you may want to apply with a cosigner to improve your chances of being approved. With this type of customer support and information, it’s much easier to make the most of your finances after a bankruptcy, especially because it can be more difficult than ever to get obtain loans from traditional banks.

Types of Personal Loans for Veterans

A personal loan is really a 1-size-fits-all financial solution. Maybe you didn’t have the chance to build your credit during your military career and want to work on it with low-risk installment loans. BadCreditLoans.com lends small chunks of cash up to $10,000 to borrowers with imperfect credit with their personal loan. 

Or maybe you just need a cash infusion to jumpstart your life as a retired serviceperson. A personal loan can help you finance a car or pay for improvements on a fixer-upper home.

There are several kinds of personal loans you can take out depending on your unique financial situation and credit history. Common differences between personal loans are secured vs. unsecured and fixed-rate vs. variable-rate loans. There’s something for almost every situation.

If you’re unsure of what type of loan is best for you, a loan comparison service like Credible can help you shop lenders without risk to your credit score. It can connect you with personal loans that can be used for anything from starting your own business post-service to career advancement.

Secured Loans

A secured loan is backed by some type of collateral like your bank account balance or a vehicle. You may be asked to secure your loan with collateral if you’re requesting a higher loan amount. 

If something on your credit report gives a lender pause when considering your request, you may also be asked to secure the loan. Adding collateral means the lender faces less risk associated with the repayment of the loan.

Unsecured Loans

An unsecured loan is exactly like it sounds. Your creditworthiness is the only thing securing the loan for the lender. 

Unsecured loans are typically smaller or offered to those with stellar credit. Many of us don’t outright own assets that can be used to secure a loan or keep enough money in savings to use as backing for a line of credit. Unsecured loans can make ends meet for those of us who fall into these categories. 

Be careful — just because your loan isn’t secured doesn’t mean it’s a less serious obligation. Even missing 1 payment can mess up your credit score, so be sure you can meet the repayment terms before signing on.

Fixed vs Variable Rate Loans

Many lenders offer both fixed and variable rate loans. You’ll mostly want to look for fixed-rate loans. These provide a solid view of how much the loan will cost you overall. These rates may be higher or come with larger monthly payment plans. 

This reduces risk to the lender and ensures the lending business is profitable. Your rate will stay the same, even if interest rates fall overall.

However, as with unsecured loans, you may be offered a variable rate loan in certain instances. While your rate may be lower initially or allow you to make lower monthly payments, it may end up costing you more than it's worth.

Personal Loan Requirements and Criteria

Although these criteria vary by lender, most personal loans approval decisions depend on the following:

• Your FICO credit score
• Debt-to-income ratio
• Deliquicies or negative remarks on your credit report
• Credit utilization (your credit balance vs. your credit limit)
• Open accounts with a positive standing (payments being made on time and so forth)

Some veteran-specific loans (like loans offered by Navy Federal Credit Union or Omni Financial) may waive some of these requirements or offer features that make it easier for a veteran to secure a personal loan.

You can also check out this article from Credible to connect with more veteran lending resources like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 

Personal Loan Considerations

A personal loan is your solution if you’re a veteran who needs 1 lump sum payment with quick funding you can repay over time. It's important to understand the terms of your loan. Adhering to them during the course of repayment is important to maintain the integrity of your credit. 

Look out for sketchy lenders online or at nondescript payday lenders. Some try to prey on the most vulnerable in our society, including veterans. 

Try to go through trusted financial institutions. Use a loan comparison service such as Even to connect with vetted lenders and avoid trouble.

Personal Loans vs. Credit Cards

Personal loans and credit cards are both lines of credits, but the differences make them each more beneficial in certain situations.

Personal loans are best when you need 1 lump sum of cash and can meet rigid repayment terms. They allow you to pay for a large purchase or consolidate debt at lower rates.

For example, personal loans through Payoff specialize in debt consolidation and lend you enough to pay off your current credit balances. You’ll receive any remaining funds. And Payoff has transparent criteria and clear-cut terms.

Personal loans make it easy to calculate the exact amount you’ll pay in interest with a fixed-rate loan and be able to budget with monthly installment payments. When the loan is paid off, the account is closed. It’s not a revolving line of credit that you can re-use when you pay it off. 

A credit card also allows you to make purchases on credit, but there are several differences. Credit cards often have lower credit limits than personal loans with variable but sometimes come with high interest rates. 

Credit cards are better to cover smaller purchases that you’ll repay off in a short period of time. You usually have a minimum payment, but these don’t necessarily cover your monthly balance. This means you’ll need to manually adjust your payments to keep your balance low so your credit isn’t adversely affected. 

Get Fast Funding with a Personal Loan

Whether you’ve fallen on hard times or need some extra cash to pay for a large or out of the ordinary purchase, a personal loan can be your solution.

Personal loans can be used for many things, including consolidating debt from medical bills or credit cards. Use a loan comparison service or connect with 1 of the lenders mentioned above to find a loan to fit your needs as a veteran. 

Frequently Asked Questions