Bankrate Monitor data released on January 14, 2026, indicates the average personal loan rate stands at 12.19% for customers with a 700 FICO score, a $5,000 loan amount, and a three-year repayment term. The survey collects rates from the ten largest banks and thrifts in the ten largest U.S. markets.
LightStream currently offers the lowest personal loan rate among Bankrate's featured lenders at 6.24 percent. In January 2025, the lowest rate was 6.94 percent. The best rates typically go to excellent-credit borrowers with a low debt-to-income ratio and shorter repayment terms.
Average rates differ by lender type. According to recent data from the National Credit Union Administration, the average finance rate for personal loans offered by commercial banks is 12.06% for a three-year term. NCUA data shows the national average rate for a three-year personal loan at a credit union was 10.72% in the third quarter of 2025.
For online lenders, the lowest available rate among Bankrate-featured lenders is 6.24%, while the highest is almost 36%. One thing to watch with online lenders is the origination fee, which can be as high as 12% of the loan amount.
The median lowest rate offered by tracked lenders was 8.74% on January 14, 2026, with the lowest available rate at 6.24%. This represents a drop from previous months; for example, on October 1, 2025, the median lowest rate was 8.44% and the lowest available rate was 6.70%.