Does LendingClub do joint personal loans?

LendingClub requires a minimum credit score of 600 for LendingClub’s “standard” loans, according to the company’s annual report. The report also states that borrowers with lower credit scores may be approved for “custom” loans, which generally have the same sizes and lengths. Applicants can be approved for a custom loan if LendingClub is able to verify their income and that income is high enough to offset their credit score (no specific dollar amount given). According to numerous third-party sources, it may be possible to qualify for one of these loans with a credit score as low as 600 - 640.... read full answer

Applicants for a LendingClub personal loan will be judged based on more than just their credit score and income, however. LendingClub also considers an individual’s existing debt load, recent credit inquiries and more.

The best way to find out your chances of approval is to check for pre-qualification. Not only will this give you an idea of whether you’re likely to be approved, but it will also give you an estimate of your potential rates and fees. Pre-qualification will not affect your credit score, but actually submitting an application afterward will. You can use WalletHub’s free pre-qualification tool to check your status with LendingClub and a number of other lenders.

Keep in mind that in order to get LendingClub’s cheapest rates, you’ll likely need an excellent credit score. People who just barely qualify are likely to get rates closer to LendingClub’s maximum.

It’s also good to note that LendingClub offers auto refinancing loans, too. According to third-party sources, LendingClub might accept credit scores as low as 510 for these loans.

Your LendingClub final review may be taking a long time because LendingClub is having trouble deciding whether or not you are qualified for a loan. One reason this might happen is that LendingClub is unable to quickly verify the information on your application. Another reason could be that you are right on the borderline based on creditworthiness. A closer, manual look could be needed to determine if your income is high enough to outweigh your credit score or vice versa.... read full answer

LendingClub says the entire application, approval and funding process takes 7 business days or fewer, on average. So if it hasn’t yet been 7 business days, there’s no reason to worry. Anecdotal evidence from credit forums shows that some people have had to wait more than a week and a half for the final review to conclude. But if you’re concerned about your LendingClub final review taking a long time, you can always call customer service for help. The number is 1 (888) 596-3157.

It’s also helpful to be fully aware of how LendingClub’s application process works. When a potential borrower applies, LendingClub goes through a pre-qualification process. This tests whether the applicant meets some basic requirements. If the applicant makes it through this process, they are able to post their loan request on LendingClub’s marketplace for funding by investors. During this process, LendingClub will do an in-depth review of the borrower’s profile. That includes a hard pull of their credit. Usually this final review takes place during the funding process. But depending on how quickly LendingClub is able to verify the applicant’s information, it may take longer.

If you want to get a personal loan with no credit and no cosigner, your options are limited to credit-builder loans, secured personal loans, home equity loans and borrowing from alternative sources like friends and family. Having no credit disqualifies you from getting most unsecured loans, as lenders usually require an established credit score of 600 or higher.... read full answer

You could get around that issue if you had a cosigner, as the lender would use that person’s credit in the decision instead of yours. But without a cosigner, you have to rely on what you do have – income and collateral.

How to get a personal loan with no credit and no cosigner:

Get a secured personal loan. Your credit, or lack thereof, doesn’t matter as much when you put up collateral to secure a loan. The lender can take possession of the collateral if you default, which means they have far less risk in lending to you.

You can find secured personal loans at banks like Wells Fargo, Fifth Third Bank, KeyBank and PNC. You can also ask about them at your local credit unions. There are online lenders that offer secured personal loans, too. But make sure they’re not predatory payday loans or auto title loans that charge excessive fees.

Take out a credit-builder loan. This is a type of loan where the lender sets aside a certain sum of money in a savings account for you. Then, you pay that amount back in monthly installments and receive access to the account with all your money at the end. Plus, the lender reports to the credit bureaus each month, helping you build your credit score.

The only problem is that this process is kind of backward if you need money upfront. So it’s really only intended for building credit rather than getting money. If you’re interested in a credit-builder loan, check your local banks and credit unions.

Use your home equity. Home equity loans are another type of secured loan. But they can be for much larger sums because the amount you can borrow is based on the value of your house minus the amount you have left to pay on the mortgage. So if your house is mostly paid off and is worth a lot of money, you could get a big loan. It’s not common that someone would own a home yet have no credit history, but it is possible.

Borrow from someone you know. A family member or friend isn’t as likely to care if you don’t have credit history. You may be able to convince them to give you a loan. But in order to avoid any relationship problems with that person in the future, you should make sure you have a written agreement and a plan to pay them back.

All in all, it’s not impossible to get a personal loan with no credit and no cosigner, but your options aren’t the greatest either. If you only need a few hundred dollars, you can always apply for a credit card for people with no credit. Then, you’ll have a credit line to draw on whenever you need it, and the ability to carry a balance between months if necessary.