Personal loan rates by credit score: what each band paid in 2026

Average personal loan rates by FICO Score

Experian publishes national average personal loan APRs by FICO Score, using Curinos data as of September 2026. The table lists single scores from 620 to 740, for 36-month and 60-month terms.

Read the table for what it is. These are national averages, not offers. Each row is a single score, so if you're at 690, the 680 row is the closest match at or below you. And the table runs from 620 to 740, so it doesn't describe pricing below 620 or above 740.

The longer term costs more at every score. Experian notes that shorter terms tend to carry lower rates, because the lender gets its money back faster. Rates also vary by state, Experian says, with regulations, lender competition and local economic conditions all playing a part.

What each score costs on a $15,000 loan

Example: a $15,000 loan, 36 monthly payments, fixed rate, no fee, priced at each score's average 36-month APR.

Moving from the 620 average to the 740 average saves about $52 a month and $1,881 over three years. Moving from 680 to 740 saves about $28 a month and $1,023.

The term changes the picture too. At 680, the same $15,000 over 60 months at 15.99% drops the payment to $364.69, but total interest climbs to about $6,881, close to double the 36-month figure.

The score cost calculator runs the same math with your own score, amount and term, using this same Experian table.

These are national averages, not offers. A lender can quote you well above or below the average for your score based on income, debts and its own rules.

Where 20 points matter most

The steps between rows aren't even. Here's how much the average 36-month APR drops with each 20-point move up the table:

• 620 to 640: 0.76 points
• 640 to 660: 1.09 points
• 660 to 680: 1.36 points
• 680 to 700: 1.57 points
• 700 to 720: 1.22 points
• 720 to 740: 1.15 points

The middle of the table, from 660 to 700, is where a 20-point gain moved the average most. On the $15,000 example, going from 680 to 700 cuts the payment by $11.44 a month and saves about $412 in interest.

If you're sitting at 690 or 715, the next row up is close. See what a 700 score gets you elsewhere, too.

Individual lenders draw their own lines, often at different numbers. Treat the rows as where average pricing sat, not as rules.

Banks and credit unions price differently

The Federal Reserve's G.19 release puts the average commercial bank rate on a 24-month personal loan at 11.86% in Q2 2026, up from 11.36% in Q1. Banks tend to approve stronger borrowers, which pulls that average down.

NCUA's survey from late December 2025 found 36-month unsecured fixed-rate loans averaging 10.64% at credit unions and 12.00% at banks. Federal credit unions are limited to 18% on most loans, a temporary ceiling NCUA extended in February 2026 through September 10, 2027. Their small payday alternative loans have a separate, higher cap.

That puts the 740 row of Experian's table (10.82% for 36 months) right alongside the credit union average, which is one more reason to include a credit union when you shop. Joining comes first, and credit score for credit union loans covers membership and how they approve.

What moves your rate besides the score

Your score sets the neighborhood. These set the house number:

• Debt-to-income. Lenders compare your monthly debt payments to your income. A strong score with a high debt-to-income ratio can still get a worse offer.
• Term. A 3-year loan usually prices better than a 5-year one, as the table above shows at every score.
• Recent credit activity. Experian lists recent credit applications among the things lenders weigh. Several new accounts or hard inquiries in the last year read as risk, even with a decent score.
• Card balances. Experian names existing card balances too. High utilization drags the score and also signals stretched cash flow.
• Origination fees. Two loans with the same rate can have very different APRs, because the fee comes out of what you receive. Compare offers by APR, not by rate.

Before you apply

1. Pull your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and fix real errors first. The score in your app may not be the one the lender uses; free score vs. lender score explains why.
2. If you're close to the next row up, say 690 heading for 700, pay card balances down before the statement closing dates. Paying down before an application shows the timing.
3. Prequalify with three to five lenders, including at least one credit union. Prequalification uses a soft pull, which doesn't affect FICO Scores.
4. Compare APRs, not rates, so fees are counted.
5. Formally apply with one lender. myFICO says FICO Scores don't group multiple personal loan inquiries the way they do for mortgage and auto loans, so each extra application can cost you.

Prequalifying with a soft pull walks through step 3 in detail.