What credit score do I need to get the lowest personal loan interest rate?

Rate tiers by credit score (approximate, 2026): 760+: 6.99%-10.99% APR at premier lenders (LightStream, SoFi, Marcus). Low origination fees or none. Maximum loan amounts available. 720-759: 9%-14% APR. Still competitive across major lenders. 680-719: 12%-18% APR. Good credit category; most major lenders compete for this tier. 640-679: 16%-24% APR. Fair-good range; still approved at most lenders. 580-639: 22%-30% APR. Fair credit; limited to certain lenders. Below 580: 28%-36% APR (if approved at all). Very limited options; may need co-borrower or secured loan.

What lenders consider beyond score: Debt-to-income ratio: a 760 score with 55% DTI gets worse rates than a 740 score with 20% DTI. Lenders price the full credit risk profile. Employment stability: W-2 employees with 2+ years at the same employer get better rates than job-hoppers. Loan amount: some lenders offer better rates on larger loans (less cost per dollar for the lender). Loan purpose: LightStream offers different rate tiers by loan purpose (home improvement rates are often lower than debt consolidation rates).

How to move toward the best rate tier: If your score is 680-720, moving to 740 requires: 12-18 months of on-time payments on all accounts, reducing credit card utilization to below 10%, and avoiding new hard inquiries for 6+ months. The jump from 680 to 740 is worth $2,000-$5,000 in interest savings on a $20,000/48-month personal loan.