Best Low-Income Loans in Kentucky: Top Lenders and Rates for 2024

Updated: October 29, 2024

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WHAT WE’RE GEEKING OUT ON

Best Low-Income Loan Lenders in Kentucky

Given that Kentucky residents have an average personal loan debt of $18,887, it is clear that consumers are not afraid to obtain a loan. However, not everyone can fulfill the income requirements lenders have set. Fortunately, low-income loans make it possible for candidates with lower-than-average wages to get approved.

MoneyGeek's low-income loan analysis considered over 30 factors to find where you may get the best low-income loan in Kentucky. APR ranges, credit score requirements, repayment durations and loan disbursement are just a few of the criteria that we analyzed objectively.

Best Overall Low-Income Loan in Kentucky: Upgrade


  • Upgrade
    • 5.94% to 35.47%APR Range
    • 560Minimum Credit Score
    • $1,000 to $50,000Loan Amount Range
    • 36 to 60 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Same DayTime to Receive Funds

    MoneyGeek named Upgrade as the best low-income lender in Kentucky. It is the best choice if you're looking for a loan to pay off other obligations and debts or if you're seeking attractive rates to finance significant purchases.

    Since 2017, Upgrade has offered personal loans in the $1,000 to $50,000 range. It conducts a soft credit check without lowering your credit score. However, the lender's APR fees can be rather hefty, and it does require employment for all of its applicants. Despite this, Upgrade remains the overall best low-income loan in the state as long as you have a credit score of at least 560.

    Pros

    • Does soft credit check
    • Autopay discount
    • No prepayment fees
    • A+ BBB rating

    Cons

    • Low maximum loan amount
    • Late fees
    • Origination fees
    • APR range: 5.94% to 35.47%
    • Minimum/maximum loan amount: $1,000 to $50,000
    • Minimum credit requirements: 560
    • Repayment terms: 36 to 60 months
    • Time to receive funds: Same day
    Upgrade

Runner-Up for Best Low-Income Loan in Kentucky: LendingClub


  • LendingClub
    • 7.04% to 35.89%APR Range
    • 600Minimum Credit Score
    • $1,000 to $40,000Loan Amount Range
    • 36 to 60 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Next DayTime to Receive Funds

    Borrowers with good or fair credit who want to consolidate debt or finance major expenditures could consider LendingClub’s low-income loans. The company emerged as the runner-up for MoneyGeek’s picks for the best low-income loans in Kentucky.

    LendingClub is an online marketplace for fintech loans that provides personal loans with amounts ranging from $1,000 to $40,000. There are two loan terms available to borrowers, ranging from 36 to 60 months. It's a good option for consumers with fair-to-good credit because the eligibility requirements are less restrictive than those implemented by other lenders. You can also get your funds the next day once you are approved for a loan from this lender.

    Pros

    • A+ BBB rating
    • Performs soft credit inquiry
    • Joint loans available
    • Doesn’t charge prepayment penalty

    Cons

    • Potentially high APR
    • No co-signers
    • Charges late and origination fees
    • APR range: 7.04% to 35.89%
    • Minimum/maximum loan amount: $1,000 to $40,000
    • Minimum credit requirements: 600
    • Repayment terms: 36 to 60 months
    • Time to receive funds: Next day
    LendingClub

Best Low-Income Loan for Bad Credit in Kentucky: Upstart


  • Upstart
    • 3.22% to 35.99%APR Range
    • 300Minimum Credit Score
    • $1,000 to $50,000Loan Amount Range
    • 36 to 60 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Next DayTime to Receive Funds

    Upstart is a lending platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that links borrowers and affiliated lenders. It is MoneyGeek’s pick for the best low-income loan in Kentucky for borrowers with bad credit. Upstart is a great choice since it evaluates unconventional factors, such as college education, to boost applicants’ access to loans.

    The lender offers low-income loans to customers by looking beyond credit history, but its greater accessibility has a cost. Borrowers can only choose a three- or five-year term, which is shorter and less flexible than loans from other online lenders. Furthermore, annual percentage rates are on the higher end.

    Pros

    • Performs soft credit inquiry
    • Available to borrowers with fair credit
    • A+ BBB rating
    • Joint loans available
    • No prepayment penalty fee

    Cons

    • No co-signer option
    • Charges origination fees
    • Doesn’t provide discounts for autopay
    • APR range: 3.22% to 35.99%
    • Minimum/maximum loan amount: $1,000 to $50,000
    • Minimum credit requirements: 300
    • Repayment terms: 36 to 60 months
    • Time to receive funds: Next business day
    Upstart

Best Low-Income Loan for Good Credit in Kentucky: Prosper


  • Prosper
    • 7.95% to 35.99%APR Range
    • 640Minimum Credit Score
    • $2,000 to $40,000Loan Amount Range
    • 36 to 60 monthsRepayment Terms
    • Same DayTime to Receive Funds

    Prosper, a peer-to-peer lending marketplace, enables borrowers to obtain low-income loans between $2,000 and $40,000. The company emerged as MoneyGeek’s best low-income loan in Kentucky for borrowers with good credit.

    Prosper is the best option for borrowers with good credit since scores as low as 640 are required for loans. The prequalification tool offered by Prosper allows potential borrowers to check what terms they are eligible for without affecting their credit ratings. Although borrower qualifications are easier to meet than with many other online lenders, rates can still reach around 36%, and borrowers can expect origination fees.

    Pros

    • A+ BBB rating
    • Performs soft credit pull
    • No prepayment penalty fee
    • Offers joint loans for customers

    Cons

    • Origination fees
    • Charges $15 late payment fee
    • Low maximum loan amount
    • APR range: 7.95% to 35.99%
    • Minimum/maximum loan amount: $2,000 to $40,000
    • Minimum credit requirements: 640
    • Repayment terms: 36 to 60 months
    • Time to receive funds: Same day
    Prosper

How to Choose the Best Low-Income Loan in Kentucky for You

Kentucky residents have an average of $18,887 in personal loan debt. Before submitting an application for a low-income loan in Kentucky, consider all of your options carefully. Look into factors like interest rates, loan amounts, associated fees and terms of repayment.

Here are some of the things that you should think about before filling out an application for a low-income loan in Kentucky.

  1. 1
    Ask Yourself the Important Questions

    You must think about whether obtaining a low-income loan is a wise choice for you before evaluating which company you might qualify with. To choose the finest low-income loan in Kentucky, consider answering these questions:

    • How much do I need? Determine how much money you will need, then choose a lender who can provide you with that amount.
    • What is your credit score? Your ability to obtain loans and the interest rates you will be charged are both impacted by your credit score.
    • Can I pay the needed amount each month? Defaults in payment result in fines and poor credit history.
    • Do you have any outstanding debts? Avoid having a high debt-to-income ratio because lenders might take that into account when assessing your application.
    • Can you come up with another way to settle your debt? You may not need a low-income loan if you have other options for debt consolidation.
  2. 2
    Do Your Research

    Make sure you are well-informed before applying for a low-income loan in Kentucky. Since some lenders have restrictions on how you can use the loan, be sure you are aware of the conditions for using the funds.

    MoneyGeek suggests the top low-income loan providers, but our recommendations are generalizations. To determine which lender offers the best value considering your selections, you can evaluate interest rates from several lenders.

  3. 3
    Wait

    Taking a moment to consider your decision before applying can be advantageous. Before doing anything, be sure that you can meet all of the loan's terms. Personal loans can be a two- to four-year commitment on average, so you’ll want to make sure taking out a loan is the best option for you. As you take some time to consider your decision, you may even find a better funding option for your needs.

  4. 4
    Read the Fine Print

    It's always a good idea to read the fine print before submitting your application for a low-income loan. This is the time that you carefully examine all the ins and outs of your contract. Do not simply think that you are aware of all of the loan's terms. If something’s unfamiliar, don’t hesitate to ask. Failing to review the fine print could lead to considerable financial risk as you may expose yourself to costs like origination fees or late payment penalties.

  5. 5
    Apply

    After asking relevant questions and thinking about all the considerations, it’s time to apply for the loan. The lender may require you to provide the necessary documents and information to complete the application process. While many lenders allow online applications, if you work with a lender that has physical locations, it might be better to apply in person. This way, you can get any questions you have answered throughout the application process.

What to Do if You Can’t Get a Low-Income Loan in Kentucky

Despite reviewing the standards and determining if you qualify for a low-income loan in Kentucky, lenders could decline your loan request. The denial can be based on factors like your loan amount, credit score, debt-to-income (DTI) ratio and payback duration. It's best to understand the reasons your application was denied if this happens to you. Once you understand the problem with your application, you can ask to modify the loan's terms since it can shift the tides in your favor.

In other circumstances, the issue can be your credit score or DTI ratio. For this scenario, a rapid fix isn't always feasible. Take the time to fix these issues before applying again, even with another lender. This way, you can avoid getting rejected again.

Payday loans may tempt some dejected borrowers, but MoneyGeek strongly discourages borrowers to use these. It is better to use a long-term approach than apply for pricey payday loans.

Calculate Your Monthly Payment

It's critical that your application for a low-income loan in Kentucky gets approved, but you also need to confirm that you can manage the monthly payments. To help you determine if you can afford your monthly payments, MoneyGeek’s personal loan calculator can help.

years
months
%
Principal
+ $114.98
Interest
+ $8.33
Origination Fee Percentage
+
%
Origination Fee Fixed amount
+
Total monthly Payment
$123.31

FAQs About Low-Income Loans in Kentucky

Knowing the various factors lenders in Kentucky will consider when evaluating your loan application is a smart idea, but your financial needs will be the top consideration before choosing a loan. To guide you in choosing a lender, MoneyGeek has answered frequently asked questions concerning low-income loans in Kentucky.

What is the best low-income loan lender in Kentucky?
Which lender in Kentucky has the lowest interest rates for low-income?
What kind of debts can I not use my low-income loan for in Kentucky?
How much debt can I consolidate in Kentucky?
How long does it take to get a low-income loan in Kentucky?
Can I pay off my loan early in Kentucky?

Methodology

mglogo icon
METHODOLOGY

MoneyGeek assessed over 30 personal loan companies using at least 35 different data points in six categories, including lender transparency, affordability, customer service, accessibility, consumer friendliness and flexibility.

We looked at specific data points inside each category that we think will be most relevant when choosing a personal loan lender. Some of these variables include application fees, minimum income requirements, APR ranges, credit scores, disbursement time and maximum loan amounts.

At MoneyGeek, customers are our utmost priority. We take into consideration each lender's reviews and services that could simplify your experience, such as mobile apps, prequalification options and a convenient payment process.

We present our recommendations after our in-depth study. Our personal loan recommendations are made to help you make informed decisions when choosing a lender that meets your needs.

About Christopher Boston

Christopher Boston headshot

Christopher (Croix) Boston was the Head of Loans content at MoneyGeek, with over five years of experience researching higher education, mortgage and personal loans.

Boston has a bachelor's degree from the Seattle Pacific University. They pride themselves in using their skills and experience to create quality content that helps people save and spend efficiently.

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The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the rates mentioned may have changed. We recommend visiting the lender's website for the most up-to-date information available.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, lender or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.

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