Best Personal Loans in Ohio

Quick Look: The Best Personal Loans in Ohio

• Best for $0 Origination Fee: LightStream
• Best for Excellent Credit: Marcus by Goldman Sachs
• Best for Comparing Lenders: Credible
• Best for No Origination Fees: SoFi
• Best for Quick Funding: Figure

Need a personal loan? It’s easy to find banks and credit unions in the Buckeye State that offer personal loans for debt consolidation or whatever else you might need, whether it’s electronics, furniture, appliances or a dream vacation. 

Check out Benzinga’s guide to find the best personal loans from the credit unions and banks in Ohio. 

Best Personal Loans in Ohio 

Prefer an alternative to a bank for your personal loan? Consider getting a membership to one of our featured credit unions in Ohio. 

LightStream

LightStream, like many of its competitors, offers Ohio residents:

• No collateral loans
• No late fees
• The possibility of same-day funding
• An online application 
• A quality mobile app

There are no monthly service fees and no origination fees when you borrow with LightStream. Plus, the company is highly rated by both Benzinga and the BBB. As the best of the $0 origination fee loan programs, you can choose from a vast range of terms and loan values. Also, it’s easy to reach out to the customer service team for more information on your application, loan balance or repayment.

This is a good option for Ohioans who want to try a new type of platform or who don’t want to pay the high fees of the banks around the corner. This is also a good option for agricultural businesses, small businesses in 1 of the 5 major cities in the state along with students attending one of the many universities across the state.

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs offers personal loans through Marcus by Goldman Sachs. 

Maximum personal loan amounts through Marcus by Goldman Sachs cap at $40,000 but the amount you can borrow depends on your income and creditworthiness. Flexible loan terms and amounts make it easier for Ohioans to look into their funding options. Plus, you might be inspired to use this platform to manage more of your finances in the future.

Personal loan services are notable for their clear and organized user platform. The web page asks for specifics such as:

• Intended loan amount
• Intended monthly repayments
• Reason for requesting the loan 
• Type and amount of salary you receive
• Monthly housing payment 

Credible

Credible’s organized, user-friendly platform provides the largest range of loan amounts on our list, from $600 to $200,000 per loan. Credible’s goal is to empower individuals by implementing transparency and awareness by taking on personal loans. You can compare rates, terms and fund amounts from top lenders. Credible offers APRs as low as 6.99% (with autopay) on terms ranging from 1 to 10 years. 

SoFi

Unlike many online lenders, SoFi provides comfort and quality with access to services such as complimentary financial advice, member events and a top-notch referral program to fit your needs. Though SoFi provides personal loans for the same range of services as noted in the above descriptions, SoFi does not permit them to be used for purchasing real estate, business, postsecondary education or investments. 

SoFi offers loans that range from 7.99% and terms from 2 to 7 years. 

Figure

Figure offers personal loans in an all-online format that allows you to get started as quickly as possible. The firm offers competitive rates and quality customer service throughout the process, and they even offer gift cards to customers who refer friends and family to their personal loans department. This is a good option for Ohioans who want to get the cash they need quickly. Plus, this is a good place to check your eligibility and what your options are.

Plus, Figure also offers:

• Financing up to $50,000
• Multiple fixed-term options
• Low fees
• Quick funding

Consider Figure when you want to take out a personal loan to addressing an emergent situation, business expenses, educational costs and more. There’s less waiting around, and you can even earn a bit of that money back through referrals.

Personal Loan Considerations

Would rather have a secured or unsecured loan? There’s an important difference between them. Secured loans are backed by collateral, such as a car or savings account. If you fail to make payments on your loan, the bank or lender can seize your asset. 

It’s very important to ensure that a lender is legitimate by researching the Better Business Bureau or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, particularly when you’re researching online lenders. 

A bank or lender can decide whether to lend you an unsecured loan based on your credit score and income. When you apply for a loan, you’ll notice a hard inquiry on your credit, which will usually last for about 2 years. If you’re comparing offers by applying to several lenders, make sure you do it within a period of a few weeks. If you don’t, repetitive hard inquiries over multiple months can leave a bad impact on your credit score. 

You may also want to consider either a home equity loan or a line of credit or a peer-to-peer loan from investors. 

Home equity loans allow you to tap into your home’s equity — it's just like taking out a second mortgage. A home equity loan lets you use the equity you’ve built up as collateral in your home. In other words, your home is used as security to protect your lender if you’re unable to pay back the money you borrow and default on your loan. 

A home equity line of credit is also a type of second mortgage. You can borrow money against the equity you have in your house and receive the money as a line of credit. 

If you send an application for investors to look over and consider, it takes more time than signing on a personal loan from a traditional lender. Peer-to-peer lending gives you more flexibility with payment terms and interest. 

Personal Loans vs. Credit Cards

Personal loans and credit cards both offer flexibility but that’s about where the similarities end. Credit cards involve a line of credit, whereas personal loans are fixed debt that you pay off in installments over a predetermined period of time.

You may want to choose a personal loan if you plan to make a large purchase and prefer to pay it off over a longer period of time. Personal loans also have much lower interest rates, which is why many people use them to pay off credit card debt. 

Credit cards are convenient for repeated use on smaller expenses and can help boost a lower credit score when used responsibly. However, credit card interest rates are high and commonly have variable interest rates that can increase over time. Even fixed rates on credit cards can increase due to late payments or other penalties outlined in the contract. 

Get the Best Bang for Your Buckeye 

It’s important to keep yourself educated on all of the options and restrictions that come with getting a personal loan. APR, terms, origination fees and minimum credit score requirements are crucial to discuss with your lender. If you’re living in the Buckeye State, there are plenty of options at your fingertips. 

Frequently Asked Questions