By Bob Haegele ·September 29, 2022 · 8 minute read
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You might be wondering how easy it is to get approved for a $5,000 personal loan. In most cases, the process is straightforward and no collateral is required — though you might pay more in interest if your credit is poor. Overall, a $5,000 personal loan is a good way to access cash for unexpected bills and necessary expenses.
Learn more about the typical terms and requirements for a $5,000 personal loan.
Pros of a $5,000 Personal Loan
A personal loan is money that you borrow from a bank, credit union, or online lender that you pay back in regular installments with interest, usually over about two to seven years. Personal loans have several advantages over high-interest credit cards, making them a good option for a variety of borrowers.
Popular uses for personal loans include consolidating debt, covering medical bills, and home repairs or renovations.
Recommended: 11 Types of Personal Loans
Flexible Terms
With $5,000 personal loans, you can choose the repayment terms to fit your budget. For example, you can opt for a longer repayment term with a higher interest rate but a lower monthly payment. Or you can choose a shorter repayment term with a lower interest rate and a higher monthly payment.
No Collateral
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning you aren’t required to provide collateral to be approved. That said, using collateral on a personal loan can increase your approval odds, especially if your credit is poor. Doing so could result in a larger loan amount, lower interest rate, and better terms.
Fixed Payments
The interest rate on a $5,000 personal loan is usually fixed, meaning your payments will stay the same for the life of the loan. Fixed payments are typically easier to budget for.
Cons of a $5,000 Personal Loan
Small personal loans of $5,000 or so have disadvantages that should be considered before you apply.
Debt
You’ll be going into debt when you take out a $5,000 loan, which is the biggest downside. If you struggle to repay the loan, you can end up in a worse financial position than before you took it on.
Origination Fees
Personal loans can have many fees, including origination fees. This fee is separate from the interest the loan charges and has no direct benefit to you as the borrower.
Some origination fees can be high, up to 15% of the loan principal. Even just a 5% fee on a $5,000 loan is $250 — just to receive the money. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid loan origination fees.
Interest Rates
While personal loan interest rates are usually lower than credit cards’, they can cost you hundreds (or even thousands) over the life of the loan. A personal loan calculator can help you figure out the total interest you’ll pay.
| Personal Loan Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Flexible terms: Choose the repayment terms that suit you. | Debt: Personal loans increase your debt and the risks that come with it. |
| No collateral: Most personal loans are unsecured. | Origination fees: Personal loans often have fees for borrowing money.” |
| Fixed payments: Payments stay the same for the life of the loan | Interest: You’ll be charged interest, which can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. |
Requirements for a $5,000 Personal Loan
Requirements for a $5,000 loan vary by lender. But in general, you should have at least Fair credit, which is a score of 580 or above. Lenders may also look at other factors, such as your income and your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), during the application process.
Recommended: The Credit Score Required To Get a Personal Loan
$5,000 Personal Loan Terms
Repayment terms for a $5,000 personal loan are usually in the range of two to seven years. The length of the repayment term will play a role in determining the monthly payment amount and the interest rate.
Your credit score will also affect the interest rate. For example, the average interest rate for personal loans is 6.59% for those with Excellent credit. However, if you have Fair credit, the average jumps to 15.91%.
Payment on a $5,000 Personal Loan
The payment on a $5,000 personal loan depends in large part on the length of the loan term. For example, SoFi’s personal loan calculator estimates that the monthly payment for a two-year $5,000 personal loan ranges from $224 to $252. A $224 monthly payment over two years results in your paying $5,376 total: the $5,000 principal plus $376 in interest.
Increase the loan term to seven years, and you have a much lower monthly payment of $89 to $106. However, $89 paid over 84 months comes to $7,476. That’s a whopping $2,476 in interest for the same $5,000 principal.
The higher interest paid is due to both the longer repayment term and the higher rate that longer repayment terms usually come with.
Top $5,000 Personal Loan Lenders
There are many online lenders that offer $5,000 personal loans. Personal loan amounts can range from $1,000 up to $100,000. However, the requirements will be different for larger loan amounts. For instance, the credit score required for a $10,000 personal loan is 640, compared to 580 for a $5,000 loan. For a $50,000 personal loan, the credit score requirement jumps to 660.
Here are seven of the top lenders we find by searching online, along with their terms for a $5,000 loan:
1. LightStream
Lightstream is a division of Truist bank and offers some of the best APRs for $5,000 personal loans. APRs can be as low as 3.99% — the lowest on this list. While the exact APR will vary with your credit, Lightstream has some of the lowest fees overall, charging no fees to use its services. There is also a 0.50% discount for enrolling in autopay.
2. Discover
Discover offers personal loans with competitive rates and flexible terms. APRs on Discover personal loans range from 5.99% to 24.99%. Terms range from 36 to 84 months with no origination fees.
3. Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers personal loans of up to $40,000. APRs start at 6.99%, with repayment terms ranging from 36 months to 72 months. There are no origination fees, and there is a 0.25% discount for enrolling in autopay.
4. Best Egg
Best Egg offers personal loans of up to $50,000 and competitive interest rates. Loan terms are from 36 months to 60 months. However, Best Egg does charge an origination fee of at least 0.99% of the loan amount.
5. PersonalLoans.com
PersonalLoans.com does not lend money itself but instead connects you with lenders in its network or another third-party lender network. Personal loans from its lenders have competitive APRs, ranging from 5.99% to 35.99%. It has flexible repayment terms as brief as three months and up to 72 months. Most of the lenders in its network charge origination fees.
6. CashUSA
CashUSA offers personal loans of up to $10,000 with a competitive APR that starts at 5.99%. It has flexible payment terms which start at three months and can be as long as 72 months. Applying for a personal loan on CashUSA.com is simple, and you can have money as soon as the next day.
7. Happy Money
Happy Money offers the Payoff Loan, branded specifically as a personal loan meant for paying off credit card balances. Given that credit cards can have high APRs, Happy Money’s starting APR could be a good choice. Its term is from 24 to 60 months, and origination fees are included in the APR.
| Lender | APR | Term | Origination Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| LightStream | 3.99% – 19.99% | 24 – 84 months | $0 |
| Discover | 5.99% – 24.99% | 36 – 84 months | $0 |
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 6.99% – 19.99% | 36 – 72 months | $0 |
| Best Egg | 5.99% – 35.99% | 36 months or 60 months | 0.99% – 5.99% of loan amount |
| PersonalLoans.com | 5.99% – 35.99% | 3 – 72 months | 1% – 5% of loan amount |
| CashUSA | 5.99% – 29.99% | 3 – 72 months | Varies |
| Happy Money | 5.99% – 24.99% | 24 – 60 months | Included in APR |
The Takeaway
Many lenders offer $5,000 personal loans with competitive APRs and flexible terms. However, you are still charged interest and often additional fees, so you’ll want to shop around for the best deal you qualify for.
If you find yourself in need of quick cash, consider SoFi Personal Loans. SoFi has a competitive APR that starts at 6.99% for loans up to $100,000. There are no origination fees or hidden fees of any kind.
FAQ
What credit score do I need for a $5,000 personal loan?
In most cases, the credit score needed for a personal loan is at least 580, considered a Fair credit score. If your score is lower than that, your borrowing opportunities will be limited. Lenders may also look at other factors, such as your income and your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), during the application process.
How much is the monthly payment for a $5,000 personal loan?
The amount you pay per month depends on the loan amount, the APR, and the length of the loan. You can opt for a longer repayment term with a higher interest rate but a lower monthly payment. Or you can choose a shorter repayment term with a lower interest rate and a higher monthly payment.
How can you get a $5,000 personal loan?
Online lenders tend to offer your best chance of approval, especially those that work with lender networks. This is because you can apply to more than one lender at a time.
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