A personal loan is money you might borrow from a bank, credit union, or online lender. With a personal loan, you make fixed monthly payments over a set period. These loans are usually unsecured, meaning you don’t provide collateral.
The appeal of personal loans is how easy it is to get one and the flexibility to use them for almost any purpose. In addition, they can have lower interest rates than other sources of credit like payday loans or credit cards.
If you live in Wisconsin, you might take out a personal loan to keep up with the state’s slightly higher-than-average cost of living. Wisconsin residents have many options when considering personal loans, including local, regional lenders, national, and online lenders. Here are the best online personal loans in Wisconsin:
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How to find the best personal loans in Wisconsin
Regulations around personal loans generally don’t differ substantially in Wisconsin compared to other states. The factors influencing personal loan terms in the state are universal for the most part—your credit score is one of the most significant factors in determining your interest rate and loan terms.
As in most states, getting a personal loan in Wisconsin may be more difficult if you have bad credit. In such cases, you may have higher interest rates and getting approved may be more complicated than it is for borrowers with good or excellent credit.
To learn more about personal loans in Wisconsin, check information on the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions website. This organization provides information on consumer rights, financial literacy, and resources for borrowers.
We’ve listed some of the best personal loan companies below. This includes local and regional lenders, as well as national lenders that serve Wisconsin residents. The top choices include:
| Lender | Rates (APR) |
| Credible | 7.49% – 35.99% |
| LightStream | 7.49% – 25.49% |
| Upgrade | 8.49% – 35.99% |
| Happy Money | 11.72% – 17.99% |
| Mariner Finance | Not disclosed |
| WESTconsin Credit Union | 11.75% – 13.25% |
| Heights Finance | Not disclosed |
Online personal loans in Wisconsin
With its diverse economic sectors, from manufacturing to agriculture, Wisconsin presents unique financial challenges and opportunities for its residents. In navigating such a landscape, personal loans can be a flexible solution to various needs, from debt consolidation to home improvement projects.
Recognizing the varied requirements and financial backgrounds of Wisconsinites, we’ve hand-picked a selection of top online personal loan providers, each excelling in a specific domain. Whether your credit is impeccable or you’re working to improve it, a lender is tailored to your situation.
Credible
Why Credible is the best marketplace
Credible streamlines the comparison process, allowing Wisconsin residents to explore multiple loan options without a hard credit check, meaning rate shopping won’t hurt your credit score.
- 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
Upgrade‘s mission aligns well with the needs of Wisconsin’s middle-income earners who may be working toward improving their financial health. Its emphasis on education through credit health tools offers a valuable resource if you’re aiming to enhance your creditworthiness.
- 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.
Happy Money
Why Happy Money is the best personal loan for credit card debt
Happy Money addresses a common financial hurdle: credit card debt. Its focus on consolidation loans, coupled with supportive financial guidance, is a lifeline for those struggling with high-interest debt in Wisconsin.
The Joy app, a complimentary tool, helps you track your spending and saving habits, fostering a healthier financial lifestyle. For Wisconsinites bogged down by credit card debt, Happy Money offers a way out and a route to lasting financial wellness.
- 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
In Wisconsin, where outdoor activities such as boating and biking are popular, LightStream is an attractive option if you have great credit and want to fund your hobbies or other significant expenses without the burden of high interest rates or fees.
- 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 Wisconsin
Now, we’ll take a quick look at some of the best personal loans available in Wisconsin. Some of these lenders may only be available in Wisconsin.
| Lender | Rates (APR) |
| Mariner Finance | Not disclosed |
| WESTconsin Credit Union | 11.75% – 13.25% |
| Heights Finance | Not disclosed |
In my experience, national lenders typically have better offers from a financial perspective. Service and a good user experience is where comparing national and local lenders comes into play. Local lenders typically have much more personalized service, and one can feel more ‘at home’ and speak with a real person, rather than call a 1-800 number. In the end, it all comes down to what is important to you.
Kyle Ryan, CFP®
How to choose the best Wisconsin personal loan
If you want a personal loan in Wisconsin, follow the proper steps to get the best offer. Here’s how the process typically works:
- Determine your needs. You should know why you need the loan and at least know how much you want to borrow. This may take 10 to 30 minutes.
- Research lenders. You may want to research local, regional, and national, as well as online banks. It might require a few hours of research to identify the best options.
- Compare offers. Once you identify a few lenders that could be the right fit, prequalify to check your approval odds, if available. This allows you to avoid a hard credit check. Pit the offers you receive against one another, comparing rates, fees, and repayment terms. This may take 10 to 30 minutes per lender.
- Apply. Once you have identified the lender with the best offer, complete a formal application. This can take 30 minutes or less for an online application, but it might take longer for an in-person application.
- Review and sign the offer. If your application is approved, you’ll receive an offer. Before signing, check the rates, fees, and repayment terms. If the offer looks good, go ahead and sign it. This may take up to 30 minutes.
Most steps in the process shouldn’t take more than a few hours. Generally, the biggest delays come from the underwriting process (which could take a few days to a few weeks).
In addition, after signing the offer, you might have to wait a few days to receive your money. However, same-day funding might sometimes be available, especially with unsecured personal loans.
Recap of the best online personal loans in Wisconsin
About our contributors
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Written by Bob HaegeleBob Haegele has been a freelance personal finance writer since 2018. In January 2020, he turned this side hustle into a full-time job. He is passionate about helping people master topics such as investing, credit cards, and student loans.
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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 Kyle Ryan, CFP®Kyle Ryan, CFP®, ChFC®, is a co-owner and financial planner at Menninger & Associates Financial Planning. He provides his clients with financial products and services, always with his clients' individual needs foremost in his mind.