Getting a personal loan with a cosigner can make it easier to borrow money when you have poor credit or a limited credit history. A cosigner is someone who agrees to add their name to a loan application to help you get approved for a loan at a favorable interest rate. This is different from a co-borrower, who takes out a loan with you for a joint purpose — such as a married couple buying a home together.
Not all personal loan lenders allow cosigners, but some do. If you’re interested in applying for a personal loan with a cosigner, here’s how it works and what you can expect.
You can compare personal loan rates from multiple lenders when you use Credible.
Be sure to comparison shop for a personal loan so that you can find the right fit for you. Compare rates, repayment terms and other important factors to ensure that the loan will fit within your budget. The following seven lenders are Credible partners that allow you to have a cosigner on your personal loan.
Achieve can fund loans in as little as two business days, so it’s a good option if you need money fast.
Happy Money, formerly known as Payoff, offers some of the lowest personal loan rates around, which could help you save even more on interest if you’re consolidating credit card debt.
LendingClub offers peer-to-peer personal loans, which could translate to lower interest rates if you or your cosigner have a strong credit score.
LightStream provides personal loans up to $100,000 with no prepayment penalties, origination fees or late payment fees.
OneMain Financial doesn’t have a minimum credit score requirement, which can make them a good option if you have poor or no credit. You can borrow up to $20,000 and receive your funds as soon as one to two business days after approval.
PenFed Credit Union offers loans as small as $600, making them a good option if you don’t need a large loan. While you don’t need to be a member to apply, you’ll have to join the credit union if you’re approved and want to accept the loan.
SoFi offers loans up to $100,000 with repayment terms from two to seven years. If you borrow from SoFi, you’ll also get access to perks such as unemployment protection.
The following two lenders are not Credible partners, so you won’t be able to easily compare your rates with them on the Credible platform. But they may also be worth considering if you’re looking for a personal loan with a cosigner.
Old National offers personal loans from $2,500 to $35,000 with repayment terms up to seven years, and you can check your rates without affecting your credit score.
Laurel Road offers personal loans from $5,000 to $45,000 with repayment terms from three to five years. Laurel Road doesn’t charge origination fees or prepayment penalties, so they can be a good option if you want to pay off your loan early.
Credible evaluated the best personal loan lenders based on factors such as customer experience, minimum fixed rate, maximum loan amount, funding time, loan terms and fees. Credible’s team of experts gathered information from each lender’s website, customer service department and via email support. Each data point was verified to make sure it was up to date.
The goal in getting a personal loan with a cosigner is to qualify for the best possible rate and loan term. Narrow down your list of potential cosigners to those with good credit, as this is typically the biggest factor in a lender’s decision. A good FICO® credit score falls in the 670 to 739 range. Meanwhile, a score of 740 or higher is considered very good to exceptional.
Ideally, your cosigner is a family member or friend who pays their bills on time and in full each month and is generally responsible with their money. It also helps if they have a steady income and have been at their current job for at least a year.
While adding a cosigner to your loan can be a great way to lock in a lower rate than you’d get on your own, you should only consider asking someone to cosign your loan if you’ve exhausted all other options and need funds for an emergency situation. Adding a cosigner to your personal loan is a good alternative to scams, such as payday loans, which can have exorbitant interest rates up to 400% APR.
Asking someone to cosign a loan can put strain on your relationship. If you’re unable to make payments, you put them on the hook for repaying your loan and risk damage to their credit. Instead of getting a cosigned personal loan, consider asking to borrow the money from a trusted friend or relative.
Make sure to outline a repayment timeline and discuss details such as how much you want to borrow and any interest you want to include. Just keep in mind that if you’re unable to repay the money you borrowed, it could injure your relationship.
With Credible, you can compare personal loan rates from multiple lenders in minutes.
Having a cosigner can improve your odds of getting approved for a personal loan and help you qualify for the best rates possible. But asking someone to cosign a personal loan isn’t something to take lightly — when someone cosigns a loan, they become equally responsible for the debt.
Sharing responsibility for a personal loan can have some negative implications for your cosigner if you’re unable to pay the loan back. Here are some of the key things to keep in mind when weighing whether to get a personal loan with a cosigner:
You should also take the time to compare lenders and loan terms. Specifically, look at how much you can borrow with a cosigner, whether rates are fixed or variable, how long you’ll have to repay the loan and how much you might pay in fees. Before signing on the dotted line, make sure you understand all terms of the loan so there are no surprises down the road.
If a lender allows cosigners for personal loans, the cosigner may need to meet certain eligibility criteria, such as a minimum age and U.S. residency. But generally, your cosigner can be any of the following:
Regardless of how the person is connected to you, a cosigner should be someone that has a good credit score and will agree to add their name to the loan. Remember, a cosigner puts their credit on the line for you, so think carefully before you ask someone to be your cosigner.
When you’re ready to shop for a personal loan, check out Credible to compare rates multiple lenders without affecting your credit score.