Unsecured loans for the planned expense: the medical bill, the move, the repair you've been putting off. Fixed APR from 17.99%, fixed monthly payment, and a soft credit check that tells you your rate without touching your score.
Personal loan APRs are tiered by credit band. Pre-qualification uses a soft inquiry, so you see your tier before anything touches your report.
| APR | 12 mo | 24 mo | 36 mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17.99% | $275.02 | $149.76 | $108.44 |
| 24.99% | $284.71 | $159.94 | $119.25 |
| 29.99% | $291.75 | $167.38 | $127.20 |
| 35.99% | $300.30 | $176.47 | $137.00 |
A personal loan is priced for planned spending, not emergencies. If you need cash in the next hour, an installment or payday loan is faster — this is the cheaper option when you have a day.
ER bills, procedures, orthodontics
Cheaper than most medical credit cardsFirst and last month, movers, utilities
Fixed payment through the transitionHVAC, roof, transmission
Avoid putting $3,000 on a 29% cardWeddings, funerals, travel
Borrow only what the event costsCertifications, licensing, tools
Short terms keep total cost lowPersonal loan rates are the same in all three states. The maximum term and the age requirement are the only differences.
| Term | APR range | $3,000 / mo | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $526–$552 | $3,156–$3,312 |
| 12 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $275–$300 | $3,300–$3,604 |
| 24 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $150–$176 | $3,594–$4,235 |
| 36 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $108–$137 | $3,904–$4,932 |
Maximum $5,000. Age 18+. No origination fee. Funded next business day by ACH.
| Term | APR range | $3,000 / mo | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $526–$552 | $3,156–$3,312 |
| 12 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $275–$300 | $3,300–$3,604 |
| 24 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $150–$176 | $3,594–$4,235 |
| 36 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $108–$137 | $3,904–$4,932 |
Maximum $5,000. Age 18+. Fixed rate for the full term.
| Term | APR range | $3,000 / mo | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $526–$552 | $3,156–$3,312 |
| 12 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $275–$300 | $3,300–$3,604 |
| 24 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $150–$176 | $3,594–$4,235 |
| 36 mo | 17.99–35.99% | $108–$137 | $3,904–$4,932 |
Maximum $5,000. Age 19+. Fixed rate for the full term.
Ranges reflect credit bands from excellent to fair. Your exact APR is shown after the soft-inquiry pre-qualification and is fixed for the life of the loan. Loans subject to approval, state law and your written agreement.
Pre-qualifying is free and soft. If the rate you see isn't what you hoped, nothing has been reported and you can choose another product.
Personal loans are the only Bears Lending product with a hard inquiry, and it happens only at the very end.
When you check your rate we pull a soft inquiry. It shows your credit band, gives you a firm APR and payment, and is visible only to you. Nothing changes on your report.
If you accept the offer, we run one hard inquiry to fund the loan. A single hard inquiry typically moves a score by a few points and stops affecting it after 12 months. On-time payments are reported monthly and usually outweigh it.
Pre-qualification uses only a soft inquiry. You'll see your APR, payment and term options in about two minutes, and nothing appears on your credit report unless you accept.
The most common alternative for a $3,000 expense is a credit card. Here's the math.
| Feature | Personal loan | Credit card |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 17.99% – 35.99% fixed | 22% – 30% variable |
| Payment | Fixed, same every month | Minimum, changes monthly |
| Payoff date | Set at signing | Open-ended |
| $3,000 over 24 months | $3,594 – $4,235 total | $3,900+ making minimums; often 5+ years |
| Credit impact | Installment, builds history | Raises utilization |
| Funding | 1 business day | Instant if you have the card |
A card is faster if you already have one with room. A personal loan is cheaper and ends on a date you choose.
Used a $4,000 personal loan to cover an ER bill instead of putting it on a 29% card. Fixed rate, fixed monthly payment, funded in one business day. Customer service actually answers the phone.
The soft check showed my rate before I committed to anything. $2,500 over 18 months for a move. The payment never changed, and the payoff date was on the paperwork from day one.
About 600 or above. Under 600, a bad credit loan → is the better fit and uses a soft inquiry only.
No. Pre-qualification is a soft inquiry. A single hard inquiry runs only when you accept an offer.
One business day by ACH after acceptance. It's our slowest loan because it's our cheapest — if you need cash today, an installment loan funds the same day.
No. The APR is the entire cost. No application fee, no origination fee, no prepayment penalty.
Yes, any time. Interest stops the day you pay off; there is no penalty.
Yes, for the full term. Your payment and payoff date never change.
Same monthly structure, different pricing and qualification: personal loans require fair credit and cost 17.99–35.99% APR; installment loans take any credit at 89–149%.
Check your rate with a soft inquiry in two minutes. No origination fee, no prepayment penalty, funded in one business day.
Photo ID · SSN · proof of income ($1,000+/mo) · active checking account. Age 18+ (FL, GA) or 19+ (AL).
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