iBet uBet web content aggregator. Adding the entire web to your favor.
iBet uBet web content aggregator. Adding the entire web to your favor.



Link to original content: https://www.investopedia.com/achieve-personal-loan-review-4800935
Achieve Personal Loans Review for 2024

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Achieve Personal Loans Review for 2024

Achieve offers many personal loan options and several unique discounts

Achieve

Achieve / Investopedia

Investopedia’s Rating
4.3

Our Take

A personal loan from Achieve is an excellent option for people who want to receive unique rate discounts and apply with a co-borrower. However, Achieve charges origination fees for its personal loans, and minimum loan amounts are higher than those of competitors.

  • Pros & Cons
  • Key Takeaways
  • Company Overview
  • specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Co-borrowers are allowed

  • Interest rate discounts available

  • Low minimum APR

Cons
  • High minimum loan amount

  • Charges an origination fee

  • Limited qualification details available

Key Takeaways
  • Achieve personal loans are available in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 and have competitive minimum interest rates and a variety of loan terms.
  • Achieve offers interest rate discounts for applying with a co-borrower, having proof of sufficient retirement savings, or having your loan funds sent directly to other creditors.
  • Achieve charges an origination fee for its personal loans, which could add thousands to your loan costs.
  • Achieve isn’t available in all states, so verify your eligibility before applying for a loan.
Company Overview

Achieve is an online personal loan provider that’s owned and operated by the Freedom Financial Network.

Freedom Financial Network is a financial services company founded in 2002, with offices located in Tempe, Arizona, and San Mateo, California.

In addition to providing personal loans, the parent company of Achieve helps people resolve debt issues and improve their finances. Its debt relief services are available to over 75% of the country.

specifications
APR Range
8.99% - 29.99%
Loan Amount
$5,000 - $50,000
Loan Terms
24 Months - 60 Months
Recommended Minimum Credit Score
620
Average Origination Fee
1.99% - 6.99%
Late Fee
None
Why Trust Us
59
Lenders reviewed
45
Loan features considered
2,655
Data points analyzed
284
Primary data sources used
Investopedia collected data from dozens of lenders to evaluate the factors most important for borrowers. We used this data to rank each lender based on APRs and fees, loan amounts, repayment terms, customer experience, and more to provide unbiased, comprehensive reviews and help you make the right borrowing decision for your needs.

Pros Explained

  • Co-borrowers are allowed: Achieve allows you to add a co-borrower to your application to improve your chances of approval, which many lenders don’t allow.
  • Interest rate discounts available: Achieve offers interest rate discounts for adding a qualified co-borrower, showing proof of retirement savings, and having your loan funds paid directly to your creditors during debt consolidation.
  • Low minimum APR: Achieve’s minimum APR is lower than many of its competitors, meaning borrowers with excellent credit may be able to save money.

Cons Explained

  • High minimum loan amount: Achieve’s minimum loan amount is $5,000, which is higher than most lenders and disqualifies those borrowers who only want small loans.
  • Charges an origination fee: Origination fees with Achieve can range from 1.99% to 6.99% of your loan amount, which can add up to thousands of dollars.
  • Limited qualification details available: Though it shares the minimum credit score needed for a personal loan (which is 620), Achieve offers minimal other guidelines on what is needed to qualify.

Types of Personal Loans Offered by Achieve

Achieve offers unsecured personal loans that can be used for nearly any purpose. Though Achieve doesn’t have specific requirements as to what borrowers can use their loans for, it lists some common loan purposes:

  • Debt consolidation
  • Credit card refinancing
  • Home improvements
  • Weddings
  • Large purchases
  • Travel or vacations
  • Medical expenses
  • Moving or relocation expenses

According to Investopedia’s 2023 Personal Loan Borrower survey, debt consolidation is the most common reason cited for getting a personal loan. Paying for home improvements and large purchases were the next two most common reasons.

Achieve also offers fixed-rate home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), which allow borrowers to get a revolving line of credit of up to $150,000 for debt consolidation and large purchases.

Time to Receive Funds

In many cases, you could get approved for an Achieve personal loan the day you apply. Achieve generally disburses funds to borrowers’ bank accounts within 24 to 72 hours. It also offers an option to send the funds directly to your creditors if you’re using the loan to consolidate debt. Not only does it eliminate steps for you, but it also qualifies you for an interest rate discount.

To expedite the approval and funding process, make sure to submit a complete application and respond quickly to any requests for documentation or additional information.

Borrower Requirements

Achieve requires a credit score of at least 620 to qualify for a personal loan. You’ll also need the following to have your application approved:

  • Proof of income
  • Social Security number
  • Proof of identity
  • Employment status

Keep in mind that even if you provide the necessary information and meet the minimum credit score requirement, you could still have your application denied based on other factors on your credit report or in your personal finances.

Achieve Personal Loan Features

  • Use a co-borrower to qualify or get better rates: If you can’t qualify on your own or you want to receive better rates and terms than what you can get on your own, you can apply for an Achieve personal loan with a co-borrower. This is a value-added feature not offered by many personal loan providers.
  • Reduce your rate by paying off debt or proving retirement savings: You could get a better rate on your Achieve personal loan if you use at least 85% of the proceeds to pay off qualifying existing debt. Also, better rates are offered to individuals who can prove they have sufficient retirement savings in a 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, etc. These features help Achieve stand out from the competition.

Co-Signers and Co-Borrowers

Achieve doesn’t allow co-signers on its personal loans, but it does allow you to apply with a co-borrower. In fact, you can get an interest rate discount for adding a qualified co-borrower to your loan application.

Both co-signers and co-borrowers can help improve your chances of being approved for a personal loan, can increase the amount you’re approved for, and can help you qualify for a lower interest rate.

A co-applicant is someone who applies for a loan with you. They also often directly benefit and help to repay the loan. An example of co-borrowers might be a couple that applies for a loan together to fund a joint purchase.

A co-signer is someone who puts their name on the loan application to help improve your chances of qualifying. The co-signer generally doesn’t benefit from or make payments on the loan, but they promise to repay the loan if the primary borrower can’t.

Though co-borrowers and co-signers have different names, there is no practical difference between the two. Either way, lenders expect to be repaid for loans, regardless of who is making the payments. If you fail to make your loan payments, the other person listed on your loan will also face negative consequences, regardless of whether they were a co-applicant or co-signer.

Can You Refinance a Personal Loan With Achieve?

Depending on your loan eligibility, you may be able to refinance a personal loan with Achieve. Because Achieve charges no prepayment penalties, you can refinance your personal loan at any time without fees. You would simply qualify for a new loan and use those loan proceeds to pay off your existing Achieve loan.

You can also use an Achieve personal loan to refinance a personal loan you have with another lender. Simply apply for an Achieve loan, and when you receive your loan proceeds, use the funds to pay off your other loan. You can also ask Achieve to pay your loan funds directly to your other creditor, and will receive an interest rate discount for doing so.

Customer Service

You can contact the customer service team at Achieve via telephone anytime: 1-833-796-1058. Achieve doesn’t offer live chat on its website, which is typical for the industry.

Customer Satisfaction

Achieve received a Combined Consumer Review rating of 4.8 (out of 5 possible). This rating is an aggregate of consumer review ratings and the number of reviews on two review sites: Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau.

It’s worth noting that while Achieve itself hasn’t been the subject of any regulatory action or official complaints, its parent company, Freedom Financial Network, has many complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Its company Freedom Debt Relief was also the subject of a 2017 lawsuit by the CFPB for misleading and deceiving its customers. 

How to Qualify For and Apply For an Achieve Personal Loan

You can apply for a personal loan from Achieve online by completing these steps:

  1. Gather personal information and preliminary documentation: Before you apply, make sure you have basic personal information like your Social Security number, address, bank account number, and routing number on hand. Also, gather your current government-issued ID and income documentation.
  2. Consider pre-qualifying first: Achieve allows you to pre-qualify for a loan without impacting your credit score. Doing this can give you a good idea of whether you’ll be approved for a loan and can help you avoid an unnecessary hit to your credit report.
  3. Submit a quick online application: Once you have all the information you need to apply, you’ll complete a simple online application and wait to receive a loan decision.
  4. Receive a loan decision: Assuming you’ve submitted your application early in the business day, your application is complete, and you respond quickly to any request for information, you may receive a loan decision on the day you apply.
  5. Upload documentation: If you accept the loan, you’ll be required to upload documentation and sign a contract online.
  6. Get funded: After your loan is approved and you’ve received and accepted your terms, your funds will be deposited electronically into your bank account. You can also opt to have your loan funds sent directly to your credits if you’re consolidating debt. Loans are generally funded between 24 hours and 72 hours after you sign the contract.

Loan consultants are available throughout the application process to answer your questions and help you.

Qualifying for a loan and being able to afford a loan are two different things. Before accepting a personal loan with Achieve, carefully evaluate your budget to ensure you can comfortably afford your loan payment based on the interest rate and monthly payment you’ve been offered.

Other Banking Services and Loans Offered by Achieve

In addition to its personal loans, Achieve offers home equity lines of credit (though it refers to them as home equity loans). Its HELOCs are fixed-rate revolving lines of credit of from $15,000 to $150,000. 

You can borrow against the credit line as many times as you want, as long as you repay it. The draw period—meaning the period during which you can borrow from the HELOC—is five years. Once the draw period has ended, you’ll repay your HELOC as you would any other loan.

HELOCs through Achieve can be used for many purposes, including debt consolidating or refinancing, home improvements, or major purchases.

Compare Achieve With Other Personal Loan Lenders

Achieve Upgrade Upstart
APR Range 8.99%–29.99% 8.49%–35.99% 7.40%–35.99%
Loan Amounts $5,000–$50,000 $1,000–$50,000 $1,000–$50,000
Loan Terms 24–60 months 24–84 months 36–60 months
Recommended Minimum Credit Score 620 580 300
Max. Origination Fee 6.99% 9.99% 12%
Time to Receive Funds 1 day 1 day 1 day

The Bottom Line

Achieve personal loans have some major benefits, including a low minimum APR and interest rate discounts to help you save even more money. Achieve also allows co-borrowers, which many personal loan lenders don’t.

Achieve does have a high minimum loan amount and charges an origination fee (which is common in the industry). However, if you’re planning to borrow at least $5,000, the discounts and interest savings available with Achieve might balance out the origination fee.

Is Achieve Good for Personal Loans?

Achieve can be a good option for personal loans for borrowers who qualify for the best interest rates or interest rate discounts. Achieve is also worth considering if you need to apply with a co-borrower, since many other lenders don’t allow that.

What Credit Score Do You Need for an Achieve Loan?

Achieve requires a credit score of at least 620 to qualify for a personal loan, but you could still be disqualified with the minimum score if you have other negative marks in your credit history.

How Long Does It Take to Get Funds From an Achieve Personal Loan?

Once your loan has been approved, which can happen as soon as the same business day, it takes between 24 and 72 hours to have your loan funded.

Is Achieve Personal Loans Legit?

Yes, Achieve is a legitimate lender that offers a legitimate product in its personal loans. You don’t have to worry about getting scammed by Achieve, but you should run the numbers to see how it stacks up to other personal loan lenders based on your financial situation.

Companies We Reviewed

While we write individual reviews for many companies, we do not always write reviews for companies we would not recommend. Below are the lenders we researched to determine the best personal loan providewrs, along with links to individual company reviews to help you learn more before making a decision:

Achieve, Affinity Federal Credit Union, Alliant Credit Union, American Express, Avant, Axos, Best Egg, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, BHG Financial, Blaze Credit Union, Blue Federal Credit Union, Boeing Employees' Credit Union, Citibank, Connexus Credit Union, Discover, ENT Credit Union, Fig Loans, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Greenstate Credit Union, Happy Money, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Laurel Road, LendingClub, LendingPoint, LendingUSA, Liberty Federal Credit Union, LightStream, Mariner, Money Key, Mountain America Credit Union, NASA Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union, Netcredit, Old National Bank, OneMain, OppLoans, Patelco Credit Union, PenFed, Personify Financial, PNC Bank, Prosper, Reach Financial, Regions, Reprise, Rocket Loans, Santander, Service Federal Credit Union, SoFi, Summit Credit Union,TD Bank, Teachers Federal Credit Union, Truist, U.S. Bank, Universal Credit, Upgrade, Upstart, USAA, Wells Fargo, Zable.

Methodology

Investopedia’s list of the best personal loans is based on comprehensive research of 59 lenders. 

To evaluate and rank personal loan providers, we collected and scored over 2,600 data points from 59 lenders, including traditional banks, credit unions, fintechs, and finance companies. We researched and evaluated 45 criteria such as APRs, loan amounts and terms, fees, customer experience, and more. Research and data collection occurred from July 23 to October 18, 2024. 

We organized the 45 criteria into four categories and weighted 26 (involving more than 1500 data points), using the others for background and editorial richness. We then scored and weighted each criterion to develop our overall star rating for each lender. The categories and their weights for this project are:

  • Borrowing Requirements: 24.00%
  • Lender Features: 24.00%
  • Loan Costs: 30.00%
  • Loan Terms: 22.00% 

Learn more about how we evaluate personal loans and lenders in our complete methodology.

Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.
  1. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “CFPB Sues Freedom Debt Relief for Misleading Consumers.”

  2. Achieve. “Home Equity Loans: Frequently Asked Questions.”