Avant: Personal Loans Review

Avant Snapshot

Founded in 2012, Avant is one of the biggest online lending platforms on the market based out of Chicago with over $6.5 billion extended to borrowers. The company focuses on regular middle-class Americans with lower credit scores.

The lender only requires a minimum credit score of 580, even though most customers have a score between 600 and 700. According to Avant, nearly half of the borrowers take out loans for debt consolidation. However, the personal loans may be used to fund unexpected expenses or home improvements. Loan terms can be between two and five years.

Summary

Avant was founded with the middle class in mind. If you have a lower credit score, then Avant is probably the right lending institution for you. They only require a minimum credit score of 580.

And although their loans are costly compared to other lenders, the barrier to entry for a loan is a bit lower than competitors. This means that borrowers with higher credit scores may be better off choosing a different lender. The minimum Avant interest rate is quite high, at 9.95% while the maximum interest rate is 35.99%.

Avant also charges an administration fee of 4.75% of the loan amount. This means if you qualify for a $10,000 loan, they will deduct $475 from the loan amount before transferring the funds into your account.

Once you’re qualified for an Avant loan, you’ll get your money quite quickly. Typically speaking, you should get your personal loan within 1-3 business days.

Loan Types

Avant offers unsecured personal loans for customers looking to get a loan without a high credit score. If you’re qualified, you’ll get funding quite quickly, often by the next day.

Even though the minimum credit score required to get Avant funding is 580, most borrowers have scores between 600 and 700. Avant is similar to other low-credit lenders, like OneMain Financial who also reaches out to lower-credit borrowers.

Personal Loan Rates & Terms

Depending on your credit score, you could qualify for a loan with an APR between 9.95% and 35.99%. The maximum rate is higher compared to other lenders and the lowest rate is much higher compared to other lenders.

Many other lenders start out their rates around 6-7% and max out around 25%. However, every Avant loan APR is fixed, which means it won’t get higher as long as the loan remains open.

Avant charges an “administration fee” which can range from 0% to 4.75% of the loan depending on your loan, terms, rate, and credit history.

Overall, Avant offers pretty good terms for those with lower credit. Plus, they offer pretty high loans despite offering loans to lower-credit borrowers. Loans can range from $2,000 to $35,000 for periods of 24 to 60 months.

Avant Application Process

While Avant doesn’t disclose any minimum income requirements, they do require a minimum credit score of 580. You also must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the US with a Social Security Number in order to apply.

After you fill out the quick online application, you can check out your different loan options. You’ll have to fill out a form that includes basic information like your name, address, income, and desired loan amount, etc.

In the application process, you’ll also need to create an account on the Avant website. Once the pre-qualification process is done, you’ll be able to finish your application.

Customer Support

Avant has great customer service. With a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of A-, they’ve been accredited since 2015.

Since they launched in 2012, Avant has served over 800,000 customers and built up quite the reputation for customer service.

For informational resources, you can check out their FAQ section on their website, or their blog for in-depth financial information.

If you have any questions, it’s easy to contact them by phone throughout the week, or by email.

Final Thoughts on Avant

So, should you use Avant to access a personal loan?

Well, Avant’s loans may not be the best choice for everyone. It’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the platform.

In terms of disadvantages, Avant doesn’t allow you to include a co-signer (co-borrower), which means if your credit isn’t good enough, you can’t get in by signing up with someone with higher credit.

Another disadvantage is that the APR caps are high and they include an administration fee, which can both add up quickly.

However, the advantages include a wide range of loan amounts ($2,000 to $35,000), which is impressive considering they will approve someone with a lower credit score of 580. Avant also offers a mobile app to see your payment history and manage your account.

Overall, Avant is a great solution for anyone with lower credit who’s willing to pay a bit more in fees to secure a personal loan.