Personal Loan With a 700 Credit Score: Rates, Lender Tiers and How to Move Up One
A 700 is a good score, close to the national average, and it qualifies you for mainstream unsecured personal loans at many lenders. It also sits in a wide band where pricing changes quickly. Lenders that split "good" credit into narrower tiers can quote a 700 very differently from a 740. This page shows where 700 lands on published scales, what average rates look like by band, which lenders put their terms in writing, and the steps most likely to move you up a tier before you apply.
Key takeaways
- 700 is "Good" on myFICO's scale (670 to 739), just below Experian's 2025 national average of 713.
- Bankrate's benchmark for a 700 FICO, $5,000, three-year loan was 12.53% on September 23, 2026. LendingTree's Q2 2026 average for 670 to 739 was 22.70% across a wider mix of loans.
- The next tier (740+) averaged about five points lower in LendingTree's data.
- Utilization, report errors and recent inquiries are the usual levers between 700 and 740.
This guide is part of our hub on personal loans by credit score.
Where does a 700 credit score fall in lender tiers?
myFICO puts 670 to 739 in its "Good" range and says most lenders consider a score there good. Experian reports the average FICO Score was 713 at the end of 2025 and that 70% of consumers had a good score or better. So a 700 is ordinary, in a good way, and slightly below the middle.
Lenders don't have to use FICO's lines. Best Egg's rate tool, for example, labels 670 to 749 "Good" and starts "Great" at 750. A 700 is comfortably "Good" on both scales, but on Best Egg's scale it is 50 points from the next band rather than 40.
What APR do lenders offer at 700?
Published averages depend on the scenario, so read each one with its assumptions.
| Source | Scenario | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Bankrate Monitor, September 23, 2026 | 700 FICO, $5,000, 3-year term | 12.53% average |
| Federal Reserve G.19, Q2 2026 | Commercial banks, 24-month personal loan, all borrowers | 11.86% average |
| LendingTree, Q2 2026 | Good (670 to 739), $5,000 to $54,999, 36 to 83 months | 22.70% average APR |
| LendingTree, Q2 2026 | Very good (740 to 799), same scope | 17.46% average APR |
| LendingTree, Q2 2026 | Fair (580 to 669), same scope | 27.52% average APR |
The gap between Bankrate's 12.53% and LendingTree's 22.70% is mostly scope. Bankrate's figure is a single short, small-loan scenario. LendingTree's covers larger loans, longer terms and the whole 670 to 739 band, including borrowers with high debt. LendingTree also prints a slightly different second table for the same quarter (23.27% for the Good tier), so treat these as approximate.
What both say clearly is that the next tier up prices lower. In LendingTree's data the move from Good to Very good was worth about five percentage points of average APR.
Representative example. For a $5,000 loan at a 10% APR over 36 months, the monthly repayment would be $161.34. Over the term, the total repayment would amount to $5,808.24, with $808.24 in interest. The loan terms range from 6 months to 12 years, with APRs between 5.99% and 35.99%. The exact rate you receive depends on factors like your creditworthiness, loan size, and repayment schedule. Better rates are typically offered to those with excellent credit.
Which lenders publish terms a 700 borrower can compare?
These terms come from each lender's own page as of October 1, 2026. None of them publishes a hard minimum score there, and none of them can promise approval.
| Lender | Published APR range | Amounts | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upgrade | 7.74% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $50,000 | Example shows 5% origination |
| Best Egg | 6.99% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $50,000 (rate tool) | Up to 9.99% origination |
| Upstart | 6.3% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $75,000 | Example shows 8.15% origination |
Upgrade's own worked example is useful at this band: a $10,000 loan at 17.98% APR over 36 months, made up of a 14.32% interest rate and a 5% origination fee ($500). You receive $9,500 and pay $343.33 a month. Upstart's representative example is a $10,000, 60-month loan at a 19.08% interest rate with an 8.15% fee ($815), for a 23.37% APR; the borrower receives $9,185 and pays $261 a month. Both show how much a fee adds to the APR.
Upgrade also accepts joint applications, and says applying with another person "may help you qualify for a bigger loan and/or a better rate." For a side-by-side on two of these lenders, see Upgrade vs Best Egg.
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How can you move from 700 to the next tier?
You can't control how a lender draws its bands. You can control several of the inputs that feed the score and the underwriting.
- Get all three reports. The FTC says the three nationwide bureaus have permanently extended free weekly reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Errors such as a paid account still showing a balance are worth disputing before you apply.
- Pay down card balances. myFICO lists credit utilization among the factors in a FICO Score. Lower revolving balances relative to your limits is the lever you control most directly.
- Hold off on new applications. The CFPB says hard inquiries affect scores because models look at "how recently and how frequently you apply for credit." Prequalify with soft pulls instead.
- Keep old accounts open. Closing a card removes its limit from your utilization math.
- Give it time to report. A paydown only counts once the creditor reports the new balance.
Our 60-day plan to raise your score before a loan turns these into a dated checklist.
Is waiting worth it? On $10,000 over 36 months, the LendingTree averages work out to $3,879.44 of interest at 22.70% and $2,917.52 at 17.46%. That $961.92 difference is what a tier move can be worth at the averages. If your expense can wait a month or two, that is real money.
What if your score is a bit lower or higher than 700?
If you are in the 650s or low 660s, you are in FICO's "Fair" band and pricing steps up; see personal loans with a 650 credit score. If you are already at 740 or above, the 750 credit score guide covers what changes there.
Who this is for
Borrowers with scores from roughly 670 to 739 deciding whether to apply now or work on their credit first.
What to do next
Pull your reports, pay revolving balances down, and prequalify with several lenders on the same amount and term. Compare APR and total cost.
Loans Generator may be paid when you click or submit a request through this link. This does not change what we report.
Common questions
Can I get a personal loan with a 700 credit score?
Many mainstream lenders lend in this range, and 700 is "Good" on FICO's scale. Approval still depends on income, DTI, state and each lender's underwriting.
What is the average personal loan rate for a 700 score?
Bankrate's benchmark for a 700 FICO on a $5,000, three-year loan was 12.53% on September 23, 2026. LendingTree's Q2 2026 average for 670 to 739 across larger and longer loans was 22.70% APR.
Is 700 good enough to avoid an origination fee?
Not necessarily. Fees depend on the lender. Upgrade's example at a 17.98% APR includes a 5% fee; some lenders charge none. Compare APR, which includes the fee.
Is it worth adding a co-applicant at 700?
It can be if the co-applicant has stronger credit or income. Upgrade says a joint application may help with a bigger loan or a better rate. Both applicants are responsible for repayment.
How fast can I go from 700 to 740?
There is no fixed timeline. A paydown counts once the account next reports; an error fix takes as long as the dispute. Nobody can promise a specific score.
How we researched this
We pulled lender terms from each lender's own page and averages from Bankrate, LendingTree and the Federal Reserve on October 1, 2026, and recomputed the payment figures.
Sources
- myFICO, "What is a FICO Score?" https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/what-is-a-fico-score (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Experian, "What Is the Average Credit Score in the US?" https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-the-average-credit-score-in-the-u-s/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- LendingTree, "Best Personal Loans with the Lowest Rates," https://www.lendingtree.com/personal/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Bankrate, "Average Personal Loan Interest Rates," https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/average-personal-loan-rates/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Federal Reserve, Consumer Credit G.19, release of September 8, 2026, https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/current/default.htm (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Best Egg, "Personal Loans," https://www.bestegg.com/personal-loans/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Upgrade, "Personal Loans," https://www.upgrade.com/personal-loans/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Upstart, "Personal Loans," https://www.upstart.com/personal-loans (accessed October 1, 2026)
- FTC, "Free Credit Reports," https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/free-credit-reports (accessed October 1, 2026)
- CFPB, "What is a credit inquiry?" https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-credit-inquiry-en-1317/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
Loans Generator is not a loan provider or broker. We connect users with lending partners who may offer loans. Submitting a connection request on our site does not count as a loan application. To receive an actual loan offer, you must apply directly with a lender. We cannot guarantee loan approval or the terms shown on our website. Always review the loan agreement carefully before proceeding. Availability, rates, and terms vary by lender and by state. Rates, lender terms and regulatory details cited on this page were checked on October 1, 2026 and change without notice. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.