A 680 FICO is the threshold where the prime personal-loan market starts opening up. SoFi, Marcus, and Discover all approve borrowers at this credit tier; LightStream is borderline. Expect APRs in the 11–18% range from prime lenders, with the best-of-shelf rates reserved for borrowers in the upper 700s. The lender pool is wide enough that pre-qualifying with three lenders is meaningful — the variance for the same 680 borrower is routinely 200–400 basis points.
Compare lenders
Lenders that approve 680 FICO borrowers, ranked by editorial fit. Realistic APR for this credit tier is the upper end of each lender's published range.
| Lender · Best for | APR range | Loan amount | Min. credit | Fees | Funding | Terms | Soft pull? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SoFi Best overall · prime credit |
8.99% – 25.81% | $5,000 – $100,000 | 680 | No origination | 1–3 days | 2–7 years | Yes | Check rates → |
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs No fees, ever |
6.99% – 24.99% | $3,500 – $40,000 | 660 | None | 1–4 days | 3–6 years | Yes | Check rates → |
| Discover Personal Loans Best for direct-creditor consolidation |
7.99% – 24.99% | $2,500 – $40,000 | 660 | None | 1–7 days | 3–7 years | Yes | Check rates → |
| Best Egg Quick funding · fair to good credit |
8.99% – 35.99% | $2,000 – $50,000 | 600 | 0.99% – 5.99% origination | 1–3 days | 3–5 years | Yes | Check rates → |
| Upstart Best for thin credit files |
7.80% – 35.99% | $1,000 – $50,000 | 300 (effectively 580+) | 0% – 12% origination | Next business day | 3 or 5 years | Yes | Check rates → |
APRs and product details reflect publicly available lender information; actual offers depend on credit profile, income, state, and lender underwriting. iLoans.ai may earn a commission if you apply through these links. Advertising disclosure.
SoFi
- APR range
- 8.99% – 25.81%
- Loan amount
- $5,000 – $100,000
- Min. credit
- 680
- Fees
- No origination
- Funding
- 1–3 days
- Terms
- 2–7 years
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
- APR range
- 6.99% – 24.99%
- Loan amount
- $3,500 – $40,000
- Min. credit
- 660
- Fees
- None
- Funding
- 1–4 days
- Terms
- 3–6 years
Discover Personal Loans
- APR range
- 7.99% – 24.99%
- Loan amount
- $2,500 – $40,000
- Min. credit
- 660
- Fees
- None
- Funding
- 1–7 days
- Terms
- 3–7 years
Best Egg
- APR range
- 8.99% – 35.99%
- Loan amount
- $2,000 – $50,000
- Min. credit
- 600
- Fees
- 0.99% – 5.99% origination
- Funding
- 1–3 days
- Terms
- 3–5 years
Upstart
- APR range
- 7.80% – 35.99%
- Loan amount
- $1,000 – $50,000
- Min. credit
- 300 (effectively 580+)
- Fees
- 0% – 12% origination
- Funding
- Next business day
- Terms
- 3 or 5 years
Detailed lender reviews
SoFi
What we like
- No origination, late, or prepayment fees
- Loans up to $100,000 — among the highest in the prime market
- Soft-pull pre-qualification on SoFi.com
- Unemployment protection and member benefits
- Same-day funding in many cases
What to watch for
- Effective minimum credit around 680
- Strong income documentation required for the largest loans
- Some advertised rate discounts require setting up direct deposit
A consistent top pick for prime borrowers. The combination of no fees, large loan amounts, soft-pull pre-qualification, and member benefits makes it the most-recommended single lender on the consumer side of the market.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
What we like
- No fees of any kind, including no late fees
- Defer-a-payment reward after 12 on-time payments
- Customizable monthly payment date
- Backed by Goldman Sachs
What to watch for
- Loan amounts capped at $40,000
- No co-signer option
- Term length limited to 6 years
A clean, no-frills option for prime borrowers. The combination of competitive rates, zero fees, and the unique defer-a-payment benefit makes Marcus a strong fit for consolidation up to $40,000.
Discover Personal Loans
What we like
- No origination fees, late fees, or prepayment penalties
- Direct creditor payment for debt consolidation
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee on funded loans
- Strong customer support reputation
What to watch for
- Loan amounts capped at $40,000
- Funding can take up to a week — slower than competitors
- No autopay rate discount
A solid no-fee option for borrowers consolidating credit-card debt. The direct-creditor payment feature removes the friction of paying off cards yourself after funding.
Best Egg
What we like
- Approves credit scores starting at 600
- Fast funding — usually next business day
- Secured option available for lower rates
- No prepayment penalty
What to watch for
- Origination fees up to 5.99%
- Maximum 5-year term limits payment flexibility
- Reduced rates require minimum income thresholds
A solid mid-tier option for fair- and good-credit borrowers. The secured loan option (using your vehicle as collateral) can lower rates meaningfully for borrowers willing to pledge an asset.
Upstart
What we like
- Algorithm-driven underwriting considers education and employment
- Approves thin-file borrowers other lenders decline
- Soft-pull pre-qualification
- Competitive rates for borrowers with strong credentials
What to watch for
- Origination fees up to 12% can dramatically raise effective APR
- Only 3-year or 5-year terms — no flexibility
- Late fees of $15 or 5% of payment
A different kind of underwriting model that produces unexpectedly strong offers for borrowers with educational or employment credentials but limited credit history. Origination fees can be significant — read the rate offer carefully.
How to choose
At 680 FICO, you have meaningful options but you're paying meaningfully more than borrowers with excellent credit. The right strategy is to either accept the rate gap, or invest 60–90 days improving credit before applying.
- Pre-qualify with three lenders before applying. The variance among lenders for the same 680 borrower is routinely 200–400 basis points — that's $1,500–$3,000 in lifetime interest difference on a 5-year, $20,000 loan. Soft-pull pre-qual costs nothing.
- Consider improving credit first if you can wait. Paying credit-card balances below 10% of limits and disputing errors on credit reports can move a 680 score to 720+ within 60–90 days, which dramatically changes available rates.
- Skip lenders that decline 680. LightStream's effective minimum is closer to 700; some credit unions require higher. Applying to lenders unlikely to approve produces hard inquiries that further dent your score.
- Watch origination fees specifically. Mid-tier lenders often charge 3–8% origination, which dramatically increases the all-in APR. SoFi, Marcus, and Discover charge zero — start there.
- Pick the shortest term you can afford. Term length affects rate and total interest substantially. A 3-year, $20,000 loan at 12% costs $3,920 in interest; the same loan over 7 years costs $9,500.
Frequently asked questions
What APR can I get with a 680 credit score?
Realistic APRs at 680 FICO range from 11–18% at prime lenders (SoFi, Marcus, Discover) and 13–28% at fair-credit lenders (Upstart, Upgrade). Pre-qualifying with three lenders typically produces a 200–400 basis point spread for the same borrower.
Is 680 considered good or fair credit?
FICO classifies 670–739 as "good credit." A 680 score sits at the lower end of good credit, just above fair (580–669). Most prime lenders approve at this tier; the best rates are reserved for higher scores.
Will my credit score affect my interest rate or just my approval?
Both. Credit score is the largest single input to both approval decision and rate offered. A 680 borrower and a 760 borrower applying to the same lender for the same loan amount will receive materially different APRs — typically 300–600 basis points apart.
Can I qualify for a $50,000 loan with a 680 score?
Possibly, but the lender pool narrows. SoFi and Marcus are the realistic options at this loan size and credit tier. Income verification and debt-to-income ratio matter more for larger loans, especially at sub-prime credit tiers.
Should I improve my credit before applying?
If you can wait 60–90 days, yes. Moving from 680 to 720 typically reduces APR by 200–400 basis points, saving $1,500–$3,000 over the life of a typical 5-year loan. The investment of time produces real money.
Does pre-qualifying hurt my 680 credit score?
No. Pre-qualification uses a soft credit pull that does not affect your score. Hard pulls only happen if you formally apply, and multiple hard pulls within a 14-day window typically count as one for FICO scoring.