LendUp Review and Comparison

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LendUp is a popular online lender that offers short-term loans, credit cards, and other financial products. LendUp's main goal is to provide access to credit for people who may not qualify for traditional loans.

LendUp's loan amounts range from $100 to $1,000, with repayment terms of 14 to 30 days. This is a relatively short repayment period compared to other lenders.

LendUp's interest rates vary, but they can be as high as 1,000% APR. This is much higher than traditional credit cards, which typically have APRs ranging from 12% to 30%.

LendUp offers a credit-building program that rewards customers for on-time payments, which can help improve their credit scores over time.

Expand your knowledge: Commercial Credit Cards

How LendUp Works

LendUp is designed for borrowers who are declined by traditional financial institutions. They offer short-term loans and a few credit card options to people with poor credit scores.

These loans are usually high-interest, and the borrower is supposed to pay the full amount plus interest back out of their next paycheck.

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A typical loan through LendUp comes with a significant interest added on to it. For example, if you live in California and borrow a $100 loan for a term of 30 days, you will be paying back $117.30.

The annual percentage rate for this loan is just over 210 percent. You do have the option to refinance these loans, however paying it off as quickly as possible is the best choice.

LendUp offers a fast and easy application process for any potential borrowers. This is an entirely online system of lending.

You'll need to fill out the application, providing things like your full name, birthday, current address, banking information, income, employment information, and your social security number.

LendUp will take this information and ask you to upload your two most recent pay stubs or banking information so they can verify your income level.

You'll be able to repay the loan through automatic payments, debit card, personal check, or MoneyGram.

LendUp does not check your credit score, so there is no damage to your rating.

LendUp Features

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LendUp offers a range of features designed to help borrowers manage their finances and improve their credit scores.

Their online platform allows users to apply for loans and manage their accounts from anywhere with an internet connection.

LendUp's credit-builder loans are specifically designed to help users build their credit scores over time.

These loans offer fixed interest rates and repayment terms, making it easier for borrowers to budget and stay on track.

LendUp's mobile app allows users to check their credit scores and monitor their loan progress on the go.

Their credit-builder loans can be repaid in as little as 6 months, making it easier to get back on track with your finances.

See what others are reading: Equifax Credit Scores

Borrower Information

To borrow from LendUp, you'll need to provide some basic information about yourself.

You must be at least 18 years old to apply, and you'll need to provide a valid government-issued ID.

LendUp is available in 25 states, so make sure you live in one of those areas before applying.

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To get started, you'll need to provide your social security number, driver's license number, or state ID number.

LendUp reports to all three major credit bureaus, so making on-time payments can actually help improve your credit score.

You can borrow between $100 and $1,000 from LendUp, depending on the state you live in and your individual creditworthiness.

LendUp offers loans with terms ranging from 14 to 30 days, depending on the state and your credit history.

Borrowers can repay their loans online, by phone, or by mail, making it easy to get back on track with payments.

You can't borrow from LendUp if you're currently in bankruptcy or have an outstanding payday loan with another lender.

Comparison and Controversy

LendUp's Controversy was a major issue, with the company fined over $6 million dollars in late 2016. This includes a $1.8 million fine from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and a $100,000 fine for violating laws from the California Department of Business Oversight.

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LendUp got caught inflating interest rates, which is a major red flag for borrowers. Charging fees to borrowers who took their money out the same day it was made available is also not right.

The company's advertising was also misleading, as they claimed to have loans available in all 50 states when the majority of the loans were only available in California. This lack of transparency is unacceptable and can cause harm to those who rely on these services.

LendUp promised to pass good payment behavior on to the three credit bureaus to help clients improve their credit scores, but they never followed through on this promise.

How Does Other Compare to Companies?

When comparing other companies to LendUp, it's essential to look at their APR rates. LendUp's APR rates range from 200% to 625.71%, which is significantly higher than Avant's rates, which start at 9.95%.

Avant's funding time is also faster than LendUp's, taking only 1 to 2 business days to process loans. In contrast, LendUp's funding time is a mere 15 minutes.

Discover more: Avant (company)

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If you're looking for a larger loan amount, Avant is the way to go, offering loans from $1,000 to $35,000. LendUp's maximum loan amount is a more modest $1,000.

Traditional payday loans have a reputation for being predatory, but some companies still offer them. Their APR rates are staggering, ranging from 391% to 3,733%.

Here's a comparison of the three companies' minimum credit score requirements:

Lastly, if you're concerned about the impact on your credit score, it's worth noting that Avant offers a soft credit check, while LendUp and traditional payday loans do not.

Controversy

LendUp's Controversy is a significant issue that has been widely reported. The company was fined over $6 million dollars in 2016, including a $1.8 million fine from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

LendUp got caught inflating interest rates, which is a major red flag for borrowers. This means that the company was charging more interest than it should have, making it even harder for people to pay back their loans.

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Charging fees to borrowers who took their money out the same day it was made available is also a problem. This is because these fees are illegal, and they resulted in a misleading interest rate being advertised.

The company promised to pass good payment behavior on to the three credit bureaus to help clients improve their credit scores, but it never did. This is a big deal, as it means that borrowers didn't get the credit they deserved.

LendUp also advertised that it had loans available in all 50 states, but the majority of the loans were only available in California. This is misleading, and it's not what borrowers signed up for.

The company's "LendUp Ladder" was a key part of its pitch to borrowers. The idea was that by taking out high-interest loans at first, borrowers could pay them off and then take out lower-interest rate loans over time.

However, the CFPB says that many of these loans were not as available as the company let on. The "Platinum" and "Prime" loans were only available in California, although they were advertised nationwide for three years.

The company now operates in 24 states, down from the 50 states it initially claimed to serve. This is a significant reduction, and it highlights the problems that LendUp faced in the past.

A different take: Lpl Financial Advisors Fees

Reviews and Accreditations

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LendUp has a mixed bag of reviews from various sites and companies.

The Better Business Bureau revoked LendUp's status, which is a red flag for some potential borrowers.

On the other hand, LendUp received a high rating of 9.5/10 from TrustPilot.

Here's a summary of LendUp's reviews from different sites:

*The average score was calculated based on an equal weight from each of the above reviews, with BBB scored 0/10 since their status was revoked.

Credit Ladder

The Credit Ladder is a unique feature of LendUp that sets it apart from other payday loan companies. It's a graduated system that helps you earn lower interest rates and higher credit lines by completing certain tasks and making on-time payments.

The ladder starts at the Silver level and progresses to Gold, Platinum, and Prime positions. However, it's worth noting that the criteria for climbing the ladder vary from state to state.

To climb the ladder, you'll earn points by completing free education courses, taking out your first loan, repaying your loan on time, referring friends, sharing your story, and more. Here are the six main ways to earn points:

  • Free Education Courses - You'll earn points for watching LendUp's short financial education video series.
  • Free Education Bonus - You'll receive bonus points for watching each of their educational finance videos.
  • Refer a Friend - You'll earn points for each friend you refer who takes out a loan and mentions your name.
  • Repaying Your Loan on Time - You'll get points each time you repay your loan on time and for the full amount.
  • Share Your Story - LendUp may ask you to share your personal story and offer points as an incentive.
  • Taking Out Your First Loan - You'll receive a few points for taking out your first loan with the company.

The higher you climb the ladder, the better interest rate and higher credit lines you'll have access to. Once you reach Platinum or Prime level, LendUp will begin reporting your loan status with your payments to the three credit bureaus, which can help raise your credit score by a few points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did LendUp shut down?

LendUp shut down due to a lawsuit alleging illegal and deceptive marketing practices. The company ceased loan operations in January 2022 as a result of the settlement.

Antoinette Cassin

Senior Copy Editor

Antoinette Cassin is a seasoned copy editor with over a decade of experience in the field. Her expertise lies in medical and insurance-related content, particularly focusing on complex areas such as medical malpractice and liability insurance. Antoinette ensures that every piece of writing is clear, accurate, and free of legal and grammatical errors.

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