Personal loans offer a straightforward solution to financing a major purchase or consolidating high-interest debt. They offer a lump sum upfront that you can pay back over several years, usually at a fixed interest rate. You can use personal loans for almost any purpose, making them an appealing source of funds for various projects.
If you’re looking for personal loans in Virginia, you can choose between local lenders and national ones that offer personal loans across the country. Here’s a closer look at your options for personal loans in Virginia, including our top picks for loans with competitive interest rates and flexible repayment terms.
These are the best national lenders available in Virginia:
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How to find the best personal loans in Virginia
It’s worth shopping around and checking offers from multiple lenders to find the best personal loans in Virginia.
Rates
You can find rates starting around 6% or 7% and going up to 36%. You shouldn’t come across rates higher than 36%, thanks to the Fairness in Lending Act, which Virginia lawmakers passed in 2020. This act caps interest rates at 36% and limits the fees lenders can charge.
Loan amounts
Loan amounts vary by lender, with some offering personal loans up to $50,000 and others up to $100,000 or more. You can typically choose terms anywhere from one to seven years, allowing you to select a repayment term and a monthly payment that works for your budget.
Collateral
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning you don’t have to pledge any collateral to borrow. However, you will have to meet a lender’s requirements for credit, income, and other criteria. If you have weak credit, you may have an easier time qualifying for a secured personal loan, which requires collateral, or a cosigned or joint loan, which involves a creditworthy cosigner or co-borrower.
As you sort through your options, consider the following lenders providing Virginia personal loans. Our selections focus on national and local/regional lenders that provide loans specifically to Virginia residents.
| Lender | Availability |
| Credible | All 50 states |
| LightStream | All 50 states |
| Upgrade | All 50 states |
| SoFi® | Most states |
| Happy Money | All except for MA and NV |
| Virginia Credit Union | Local lender |
| United Bank | 8 states |
| Carter Bank & Trust | VA and NC |
| FirstBank | Local lender |
Best Virginia online personal loans
The rise in online lenders has made finding unsecured personal loans in Virginia more convenient than ever. These financial products don’t require collateral, making them an accessible option for many borrowers.
The following companies offer unique benefits:
Credible
Why Credible is the best marketplace
Credible lets you compare prequalified rates from multiple lenders without charging a fee or running a hard credit check to help you find the best terms without applying to multiple lenders across several applications.
Several of Credible’s lenders offer cost-effective solutions with no origination or late payment fees.
- Compare loans from multiple curated lenders
- Get prequalified loan offers in as little as 2 minutes
- Get funded within a few business days
- No option to apply for joint loans
| Rates (APR) | 6.99% – 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 – $200,000 |
| Repayment terms | 1 – 10 years |
Eligibility requirements
- Soft credit check? Yes
- Minimum credit score: Varies
- Minimum income: Not disclosed
- States: Loan partners may not be available in all states
Repayment terms
Credible loans have repayment terms ranging from one to 10 years. Some lenders may charge a prepayment penalty if you pay your loan off early.
Upgrade
Why Upgrade is the best personal loan for fair credit
We like Upgrade‘s commitment to borrowers with fair credit. A soft credit check and transparent terms help ensure that you understand your repayment schedule.
Upgrade makes it possible to consolidate debt with friendlier terms. It can help you pay off existing debts by using your funds to make direct payments to creditors. This user-friendly service caters to anyone seeking a straightforward, manageable loan solution.
- Choose your monthly payment and loan term
- Joint applications accepted
- Loan funds may be available in as little as 1 day
- Smaller loan maximum limit
- 1.85% to 9.99% origination fee
| Rates (APR) | 8.49% – 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 – $50,000 |
| Repayment terms | 2 – 7 years |
Eligibility requirements
- Soft credit check? Yes
- Minimum credit score: 580
- Minimum income: Not disclosed
- States: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Repayment terms
Upgrade loans have repayment terms from two to seven years, and your monthly due date is adjustable to fit your budget. A short-term financial hardship program is available if you’re temporarily unable to manage payments.
SoFi
Why SoFi is the best personal loan for good credit
SoFi is ideal for Virginia residents with good credit. It can provide a fee-free borrowing experience: No required origination fees, no late fees, and no penalties for paying off your loan early.
With high loan amounts and a commitment to no fees, SoFi is a top choice for Virginians looking for a reliable, low-cost lender.
- No origination fees, late payment fees, or prepayment penalties
- Check rates in as little as 60 seconds
- Some borrowers may qualify for same-day funding
- Higher minimum loan amount
- Autopay discount is lower than what some lenders offer
| Fixed rates (APR) | 8.99% – 29.99% with all discounts |
| Loan amounts | $5,000 – $100,000 |
| Repayment terms | 2 – 7 years |
Eligibility requirements
- Soft credit check? Yes
- Minimum credit score: 660
- Minimum income: Not disclosed
- States: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Repayment terms
SoFi personal loans feature terms from two to seven years. If you enroll in autopay, you’ll get a 0.25% rate discount. There’s no penalty if you decide to pay your loan off early.
Happy Money
Why Happy Money is the best personal loan for credit card debt
Happy Money is focused on helping Virginians tackle credit card debt, offering loans and tools to improve financial health and habits.
With Happy Money, you can choose between multiple loan terms to prioritize the lowest monthly payment, best rate, or the quickest path to becoming debt-free. It’s a great choice if you’re looking to clear high-interest credit card debt and improve your financial standing.
- Send payments directly to creditors
- Choose your loan repayment term and due date
- Free monthly credit score monitoring
- Origination fee from 1.5% to 5.5%
- Not available for uses other than credit card debt
| Rates (APR) | 12.45% – 17.99% |
| Loan amounts | $5,000 – $40,000 |
| Repayment terms | 2 – 5 years |
Eligibility requirements
- Soft credit check? Yes
- Minimum credit score: 640
- Minimum income: Not disclosed
- States: Loans not offered in Nevada or Massachusetts
Repayment terms
Happy Money lets you choose personal loan terms ranging from two to five years, so you can get a payment that reflects your budget. There are no prepayment penalties, and you won’t be charged a fee if your payment is late. Happy Money doesn’t offer rate discounts at this time.
LightStream
Why LightStream is the best personal loan for excellent credit
LightStream is our pick for Virginia residents with excellent credit. It offers low rates if you have an established credit history, income, and a credit score of 800 or higher. Since personal loans are its primary focus, it can offer more than 30 customized solutions tailored to your specific needs.
LightStream’s Rate Beat Program helps ensure a competitive edge. No origination, prepayment, or late fees can make the loan more cost-effective over time.
- Rate match guarantee ensures that you get the best rate possible
- Same-day funding may be available
- Take advantage of a longer repayment term if you need lower payments
- No option to prequalify or check rates with a soft credit pull
- Minimum loan amount is $5,000
| Rates (APR) | 7.49% – 25.49% |
| Loan amounts | $5,000 – $100,000 |
| Repayment terms | 2 – 12 years |
Eligibility requirements
- Soft credit check? No
- Minimum credit score: 660
- Minimum income: Not disclosed
- States: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Repayment terms
LightStream offers some of the longest repayment terms of any lender, giving you up to 12 years to repay your loan. You can pay your loan off early, without a prepayment penalty and rate discounts can help bring the cost of your loan down.
Local personal loans in Virginia
If you prefer a local lender, consider these personal loan providers in Virginia. Unlike online-only lenders, some of these lenders offer the option of in-person banking at your local branch.
| Lender | Availability |
| Virginia Credit Union | Local lender |
| United Bank | 8 states |
| Carter Bank & Trust | VA and NC |
| FirstBank | Local lender |
Plus, you may qualify for an interest rate discount if you’re a banking customer and set up automatic loan payments from your account. Many of these lenders can also offer fast funding as soon as the same day you apply.
However, they don’t give you the chance to prequalify for a loan, so you may need to submit a full application (and permit a hard credit inquiry) to see your loan offers.
Typically, the best way to select a personal loan lender is to start by knowing your financial situation. Understand your current debt to income, cash flow, and credit score. Knowing these aspects will make it much easier to evaluate different lenders and determine which is best for you.
Rand-Millwood, CFP®
Since some lenders specialize in working with lower credit scores, you may focus on those rather than lenders with better rates that won’t accept you. Going with a local can be beneficial with reduced rates for being a banking customer and setting up autopayment from your account.
So knowing your financial situation and then utilizing the online research tools to find lenders that specifically suit your situation are great ways to determine the best lender.
How to choose the best Virginia installment loans
Here’s how to choose a lender.
- Compare offers from multiple lenders. Rates and terms vary by lender, so shopping around can help you find the most affordable personal loan. Some let you prequalify for a loan online, allowing you to check your rates without harming your credit score.
- Look for the lowest interest rate and fees. As you compare loan options, try to find one with the lowest interest rate and few (or no) loan fees to keep your borrowing costs as low as possible.
- Consider repayment terms and flexibility. Your repayment terms affect your monthly payments and the total interest you pay. Look for terms that work for your budget. It’s also worth checking if the lender offers any borrower protections, such as the option to modify payments if you lose your income.
Best alternatives to personal loans in VA
Personal loans can be a useful financing option for a variety of scenarios, but there are also alternative sources of funding you can consider:
- 0% APR credit card: If you have good credit, you may qualify for a credit card with a 0% APR promotional period that spans 12 months or longer. If you can pay off your expenses before that period ends, you could essentially get an interest-free loan. However, interest rates will likely be high after that.
- Home equity loan or line of credit: Homeowners may be able to tap into their home equity with a loan or HELOC. A home equity loan offers a lump sum upfront, while a HELOC is a revolving line of credit that you can withdraw from as you need funds. Both types of financing are secured and use your home as collateral.
- Buy now, pay later (BNPL): If you want to purchase a large-ticket item, consider a BNPL service to spread out the cost over time. You may not owe interest if you pay back the expense over six weeks. Longer loan terms might be available, but they will likely carry interest.
If you have good credit and sufficient cash flow, a 0% credit card (usually for 12 to 18 months) or a home equity line of credit (for longer-term payoff) are typically your best options.
The terms are often better, with similar or lower rates and longer payment terms than those of personal loans. A HELOC may also offer tax benefits, depending on how the funds are used.
Rand Millwood, CFP®
Recap of the best online loans in Virginia
About our contributors
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Written by Rebecca SafierRebecca Safier is a personal finance writer with years of experience writing about student loans, personal loans, budgeting, and related topics. She is certified as a student loan counselor through the National Association of Certified Credit Counselors.
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Edited by Amanda HankelAmanda Hankel is a managing editor at LendEDU. She has more than seven years of experience covering various finance-related topics and has worked for more than 15 years overall in writing, editing, and publishing.
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Reviewed by Rand Millwood, CFP®Rand Millwood, CFP®, CIMA®, AIF®, is a partner at Guardian Wealth Partners in Raleigh, North Carolina. His firm assists clients of all ages and areas of life (with a strong background in the medical and legal fields) in planning, investing, and preparing for retirement and other financial goals.