U.S. Bank Personal Loans Review (May 2024) (2024)

MarketWatch Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

U.S. Bank shines best for its existing customers, offering competitive rates, higher loan limits up to $50,000 and favorable loan terms from 12 to 84 months. Couple that with no origination fees and no penalties for early repayment, and it’s easy to see why it’s a top choice for many. The bank’s same-day funding is another advantage.

But there’s a catch for non-customers: U.S. Bank’s requirements are steeper if you don’t have an existing account. These include a higher minimum credit score of 720, a cap on loan amounts at $25,000 and loan terms that only extend to 60 months. So if you aren’t already banking with them and aren’t willing to switch, it might be worth exploring other options.

U.S. Bank’s personal loan rates are competitive overall, going as low as 8.74% as of this writing. But if you have excellent credit and think you might qualify for the lowest rate, lenders like PenFed, LightStream and Discover have annual percentage rates (APRs) that start at 7.99%, so you might be able to save money by shopping around.

A few of the benefits and drawbacks of U.S. Bank personal loans include the following:

U.S. Bank's personal loans are best for existing U.S. Bank customers or those willing to switch banks. If you fall into this group and have a credit score of at least 660, you’ll benefit the most from a U.S. Bank personal loan.

On the other hand, U.S. Bank's personal loans may not be the best choice for individuals with credit scores below 660 (or 720 if you’re not a customer), as they may face more challenging approval processes or less favorable terms.

Also, if you need to borrow more than $50,000, you might need to explore alternative lenders, as U.S. Bank's maximum limit is capped at $50,000 for existing customers and $25,000 for non-customers.

If you're considering a U.S. Bank personal loan, here’s what you can expect during the application and funding process.

Application Process

To start, visit U.S. Bank’s website and use its platform to check your rates, apply and get prequalified. This will require some personal information, such as your name, contact details, annual income and Social Security number. U.S. Bank will conduct a soft credit check during this stage, which won't impact your credit score.

Additionally, you'll need to specify the loan amount you're seeking and the purpose of the loan, whether it's for debt consolidation, an auto purchase, home improvement or another reason. Once you provide this information and review your personalized loan rates, you can proceed to the formal application.

The timeline for the entire application process can vary, but for U.S. Bank customers with good credit scores, it's possible to receive approval and funding within hours. Non-customers may experience a slightly longer process, and approval timelines can be influenced by factors such as the completeness of your application and verification of information.

Approval and Funding

Upon submitting your formal application, U.S. Bank will review your credit history, financial information and the purpose of your loan. You'll receive a loan offer outlining the terms, interest rate and repayment schedule if approved.

To expedite the approval process, provide accurate and complete information during your application. Also, consider signing up for autopay to take advantage of the 0.5% interest rate discount, which can save you money on your monthly payments.

Once you’ve accepted the loan offer, U.S. Bank will disburse the funds to your account. This can be a U.S. Bank checking account, savings account or another account of your choice.

To give you a look at how customers overall feel about personal loan companies, MarketWatch Guides compiled tens of thousands of reviews from popular publicly available user-review sites, including Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs and Best Company.

We then categorized each review and analyzed the sentiment to determine whether it was positive or negative. Finally, we normalized scores against each other to create a fair standard.

With all of that data, we generated numeral scores to gauge U.S. Bank's ease of use, responsiveness, transparency, reliability, and customer service as it relates to other companies in the industry. Scores do not guarantee your experience and are only intended to convey general trends. U.S. Bank’s score includes a mix of positive and negative reviews, and may include comments on aspects on other bank features – not just personal loans.

In all categories, a score of 3.5 stars is average.

Most Praised Features

U.S. Bank scored the highest for its transparency, though the score was still below the industry average. As a brick-and-mortar bank, U.S. Bank also has the opportunity to demonstrate quality customer service in person.

• Customer-focused branch staff: Some users positively mentioned staff members at local branches being courteous and providing assistance in difficult situations, like resolving account issues or helping with loan applications. About 11% of positive reviews praised customer-focused staff in branches.

Most Common Complaints

Like most big banks we tested, U.S. Bank’s scores overall rank below average.

• Customer service inefficiency: Many customers criticized U.S. Bank's customer service for being unhelpful, particularly citing long wait times, unresolved disputes, and rude behavior from support representatives. About 34% of negative reviews criticized customer service inefficiency.
• Transparency and fee issues: A significant number of negative reviews highlighted unclear policies regarding loans. Nearly 28% of negative reviews cited transparency issues.
• Response delays: Customers mentioned delays in processing transactions, handling disputes and providing responses to inquiries. About 19% of negative reviews complained about response delays.

“At U.S. Bank, we are committed to great client experiences,” a U.S. Bank spokesman said in a statement.

To be approved for a U.S. Bank personal loan, applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements. Understanding these requirements can help you determine if you’re likely to qualify for a loan.

Credit Score and Financial History

Your credit score plays a key role in determining whether you qualify for a U.S. Bank personal loan. Typically, U.S. Bank requires a FICO score of 660 or above for approval. FICO scores are a commonly used way to measure your likelihood of paying back a loan.

Having a higher credit score, ideally 720 or higher, can improve your chances of not only meeting the basic eligibility requirements but also getting the best U.S. Bank personal loan rates.

Your credit history, which includes factors like your payment history, credit utilization and previous delinquencies, also plays a role in the approval decision. If you have a solid financial history that shows you can responsibly manage credit cards and other debts, it can boost your eligibility and strengthen your application.

Income and Employment

In addition to your credit profile, U.S. Bank will assess your income and employment status when reviewing your loan application. While specific income requirements are not provided on its website, having a stable source of income is usually a requirement for personal loans. Applicants with a steady job or a reliable source of income, such as investments or retirement funds, are more likely to meet these criteria.

U.S. Bank gives you a lot of freedom when it comes to how you use its personal loans. It doesn’t have strict rules about what you can't do with the money. So, whether you're thinking about fixing up your home, paying for a special wedding, moving to a new place or even covering an unexpected medical bill, you can use a U.S. Bank personal loan to do it.

Just remember that a personal loan is a form of debt. And because it’s unsecured — meaning there’s no collateral to back it up — you may face higher interest rates. It’s important to always borrow responsibly and ensure the money is used for necessary purchases. That way you don’t find yourself trapped in a cycle of debt.

Before you take out a personal loan, be aware of any fees or penalties that might come with it.

Loan Origination Fees

U.S. Bank is on your side when it comes to origination fees — it doesn’t charge any. Origination fees are typically one-time costs to set up your loan. Since U.S. Bank doesn't have these fees, you don't have to worry about them eating into the amount you receive or increasing the overall cost of your loan.

Always consider origination fees when comparing personal loan offers. These fees can significantly increase a loan's overall cost.

Early Repayment Penalties

If you decide to pay your loan off ahead of schedule with U.S. Bank, there's more good news. It doesn’t charge any early repayment penalties, which are fees some lenders charge to make up for the interest payments they lose out on.

Understanding prepayment penalties is vital, as they can impact your decision to pay off a loan early. With U.S. Bank, you're free to make extra payments or pay off the entire amount without any added costs.

Wondering how U.S. Bank compares to other popular personal loan providers like LightStream, SoFi and PenFed? Let’s take a closer look.

U.S. Bank shines for its existing customers, providing them with generous loan terms and competitive rates. If you already bank with them, its personal loans are a compelling option.

But for newcomers, the loan parameters can be restrictive — especially if your credit score is below 720. Carefully weigh these factors against your personal and financial circ*mstances before making a decision.

Our team put together a comprehensive 100-point rating system to evaluate U.S. Bank and other personal loan companies based on factors that mean the most to you, the potential borrower. We then gathered scores of data points from across the industry, analyzing disclosures, licensing documents, sample loan agreements, marketing materials and websites for more than two dozen of the most prominent personal loan companies in the U.S.

Our rating system takes into account four broad categories. Here’s a brief breakdown of each one.

• Affordability (35%): We gauge how expensive each company’s loans are to pay back, taking into account both interest rates and fees. The highest-scoring lenders will have low minimum and maximum annual percentage rates (APRs) and low or no origination fees.
• Loan features (35%): This category measures the breadth of loan terms available to prospective customers. The most points go to lenders with a wide range of loan lengths, small minimum loans, large maximum loans, and fast funding.
• Customer experience (20%): We review each company’s application, prequalification and customer service policies and procedures to create this category score. The best companies will have simple online applications and multiple ways for customers to get their problems solved.
• Company reputation (10%): Our team analyzes each company’s Better Business Bureau file, customer reviews and any outstanding regulatory actions. The most points will go to companies with an A+ rating with the BBB, a track record of addressing customer complaints and no active regulatory orders.

This rating system is intended to give readers a comprehensive overview of each personal loan company. However, our top-rated lenders may not be the best fit for all borrowers. To learn more, you can read our full personal loans methodology or our list of the best personal loan lenders.

U.S. Bank’s relatively low company reputation score is due to several recent legal settlements the bank has made with federal regulators. In 2022, the bank was fined $37.5 million by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for allegedly incentivizing workers to open sham accounts for its customers. In a statement at the time, the bank said the fine was related to “legacy sales practices involving a small percentage of accounts,” according to media reports.

In December 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered U.S. Bank to pay about $21 million to resolve allegations that the bank froze the accounts of some customers receiving unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, U.S. Bank told media outlets that it had made improvements to its unemployment benefit system, and that its account freezes prevented roughly $375 million in fraud.