What credit score do I need to get a personal loan under 10% APR?

Rate tiers by credit score (mid-2026 benchmarks):

760+ FICO: LightStream offers rates from 6.99% APR for well-qualified borrowers. Marcus and SoFi offer rates starting 7.99%-8.99%. This is the tier that reliably gets under 8% APR.

740-759 FICO: Rates from 8.99%-11.99% are typical at prime lenders. Getting under 10% is achievable but requires strong income and low DTI alongside the score.

720-739 FICO: Many lenders price this tier at 10%-14% APR. Rates below 10% are uncommon at 720, though some credit unions may offer them to existing members with long relationships.

700-719 FICO: Rates typically start at 11%-14% at mainstream lenders. Sub-10% is rare at this tier.

Income and DTI matter as much as score: A 730 FICO borrower with $150,000 income and 15% DTI may get a better rate than a 750 FICO borrower with $40,000 income and 40% DTI. Lenders use both credit score and risk indicators in pricing.

Credit union advantage: Federal credit unions cap rates at 18% and often offer better rates than banks for scores in the 700-740 range, particularly for existing members.

Lender-specific factors: LightStream is known for the lowest rates but requires strong credit (720+) and uses a proprietary underwriting model that considers not just score but also credit depth - number of years of credit, types of accounts, and savings history.