Back Link
Reader View

How much can you borrow with a personal loan?

www.cnbc.com · November 4, 2026 · 21:07

Personal loans can be used for almost anything, so loan amounts vary greatly. You can find lenders that will approve borrowers for as little as a few hundred dollars and some that will OK as much as $100,000 or more.

Find out how much you can borrow with a personal loan, learn what determines the amount you're approved for and discover lenders that approve the largest (and smallest) loans.

Many lenders offer personal loans that range from $1,000 to $50,000. Smaller loans are harder to find, but PenFed Credit Union approves financing for as little as $600, with competitive financing and no origination fees.

Oportun specializes in small personal loans starting at $300. It works with applicants with bad or limited credit. It does charge an origination fee, so consider whether the cost of borrowing is worth it for such a small amount.

A good option for borrowers with good credit.

PenFed caps APRs at 17.99%, with funds available as early as the next business day. Credt union membership only requires a $5 deposit.

See if you're pre-approved for a personal loan offer.

Borrowers with good-to-excellent credit who want competitive rates and no upfront fees should consider PenFed. Its $50,000 loan cap means it might not be the right lender for larger expenses.

Oportun offers funding amounts from $300 to $10,000, with secured car-title loans available from $2,525 to $18,500.

$300 to $10,000 ($2,525 to $18,500 for car title loans)

Oportun is a good option for borrowers with weak or no credit, especially if you don't need a large loan. But the flexible requirements and fast funding are offset by a high maximum APR.

On the other end of the spectrum, SoFi and Alliant Credit Union approve loans for as much as $100,000. Both lenders advertise the availability of same-day funding.

SoFi approves loans for as much as $100,000, with no origination or application fee.

We like that SoFi has high loan caps and doesn't charge any origination fee, so borrowers get the full amount funded. The credit requirements can be stringent, however, and interest rates for weaker applicants are on the higher side.

Fixed rates from 6.99% APR to 35.49% APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% member rate discount. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 11/4/26 and are subject to change without notice. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2024 was around $33K. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed and will depend on the term you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and a variety of other factors.

Alliant approves personal loans for up to $100,000 with no origination fee and funds available the same day in most cases. You can apply with a co-borrower, but it does not offer secured loans.

We like how Alliant Credit Union combines competitive rates with easy membership requirements and high loan limits. There are no physical branches, however, which could be a deal-breaker if you want in-person banking.

BHG Financial approves up to $250,000, the largest loan cap we've seen. Loan terms can go up to 120 months, and you don't need to secure the loan with collateral, but it can take up to five days to receive your money.

BHG approves loans for as much as $250,000, more than twice the industry standard.

This non-bank lender is a standout for large loan amounts, flexible credit score requirements and generous repayment terms. But borrowers typically need income of at least $100,000 and you can't secure your loan with collateral.

Navy Federal Credit Union's minimum loan amount is just $250 and its maximum is $150,000, but only with a co-applicant — and membership in NFCU is limited to current and former service members, Department of Defense employees and their families.

Just because a bank has a high loan cap doesn't mean you're guaranteed to be approved for that amount. Lenders consider a variety of factors when deciding how much to lend.

Typically, the larger the loan, the better your credit needs to be. Some lenders require a FICO Score of at least 670 for standard loans (considered "good" credit), but you may need a 720 or better for loans in the $50,000 to $100,000 range. Negative marks like late payments, accounts in collections or many recent inquiries can shrink your approved amount.

You should be able to verify that you make enough to make payments on a large loan, and that it's a stable source of income. Most lenders don't publicly disclose their minimum income requirements, but BHG Financial requires an annual salary of at least $100,000.

Your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI, is how much debt you have in relation to how much you earn. A lower DTI means you have sufficient income to take on more debt. For a personal loan, a DTI of 36% is considered a good, but applicants with 10% or less tend to get approved for the lowest advertised APRs and highest loan amounts.

Most personal loans are unsecured by default, but if you don't have great credit, using collateral can help you get approved for more favorable terms and higher loan amounts. Upgrade approves borrowers for as much as $50,000 and allows secured loans backed by either a car title or the fixtures in your home.

Upgrade offers repayment terms of up to seven years, longer than the five years most lenders offer.

We like that Upgrade considers borrowers with fair credit and allows co-borrowers, which can improve the odds of approval and receiving favorable rates. The maximum interest rate is on the high side, however.

Why Upgrade is the best for financial literacy:

Applying with a co-borrower with good credit and high income can increase your odds of getting approved for a lower interest rate or a larger loan. Consider getting a joint loan if you have poor or insufficient credit, low income or a DTI that's too high. Happen Bank allows joint applications and approves loans of up to $75,000, with funds often available in as little as 24 hours.

Happen Bank considers borrowers with FICO Scores of 600 and above, which is in the fair range (between 580 and 669).

Formerly LendingClub, Happen Bank offers competitive rates on a wide range of loan amounts, with funds available in as little as 24 hours after final approval.

If you're using the money for home repairs or debt consolidation, many lenders will have a higher lending cap compared to a loan for discretionary spending, like a wedding or vacation.

Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.

Just because you qualify for a large loan doesn't mean you should automatically borrow that much. Always consider what you can reasonably afford to pay back.

Look at your income, existing debts and other current and future financial obligations. How will a new loan payment affect your spending or savings goals?

Getting prequalified will give you an idea of how much you can borrow, and the rate and loan terms you qualify for. But it won't tell you how it will fit in with your budget.

Different repayment terms will have a significant impact on the total cost of borrowing. For example, a $50,000 loan with a 10% interest rate would accrue much more interest over seven years than it would over three years.

Extending the loan to seven years lowers your monthly payment by about $783, but adds an additional $11,644 in interest over the life of the loan.

The highest loan cap we've found is with BHG Financial, which approves up to $250,000. Other lenders, like SoFi, Wells Fargo and Alliant Credit Union will greenlight borrowers for up to $100,000.

The smallest personal loans we've found that are available to the general public are with PenFed Credit Union, which approves borrowers for as little as $600, and Oportun, which OKs loans for as little as $300.

Not necessarily. Consider how much money you actually need and whether you can comfortably afford to make the monthly payments. Borrowing more than necessary means paying more in interest than you need to and can make repayment more difficult.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice to help them make informed financial decisions. Every loan article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of loan products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.