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How to Get a Personal Loan With a 580-669 Credit Score

This article was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy by Avant staff. 

Last updated: August 2026.

Data note: Statistics, FICO® weight percentages, market figures, and scoring model guidance in this article reflect information available as of August 2026. Rates and regulatory requirements can change — verify current figures at the sources cited in the References section before making financial decisions. 

Quick answer

A 580-669 credit score falls in the fair range, and it’s possible to qualify for a personal loan at that score. Avant weighs more than the score itself when considering applicants for its personal loans, issued by WebBank1 – income, existing debt, and overall credit history all factor into a decision. Avant considers applicants with average credit, offering APRs from 9.95% to 35.99%.2

In this article

  • What does a 580-669 credit score mean?
  • Step-by-step: how to qualify for a personal loan with a fair credit score
  • Is it hard to get approved for a loan through Avant?
  • Next steps: applying for a loan through Avant
  • Frequently asked questions

Key takeaways

  • A 580-669 score sits in the fair range, one tier above poor, according to Experian.
  • Some lenders, including Avant, accept applications from borrowers with fair credit — approval depends on the full financial picture, not the score alone.
  • Loans through Avant range from $2,000 to $35,000 with APRs from 9.95% to 35.99%.2
  • Fair-credit borrowers — roughly the 580-669 range — typically pay meaningfully higher rates than those with stronger credit. NerdWallet tracks average personal loan APRs by credit tier, which is a useful benchmark for what pricing looks like at this level. 
  • Checking your rate through Avant’s prequalification tool uses a soft credit inquiry and does not affect your credit score.5

What does a 580-669 credit score mean?

On the standard FICO® scale, credit scores that range from 580 to 669 are classified as fair, (sometimes called average), one step above poor (300–579) and one step below good (670–739), according to Experian. Roughly 17% of consumers fall in the fair credit range, and while lenders generally treat this tier as higher risk than the good or excellent credit tiers (Experian), that doesn’t mean the door is closed! Some lenders decline applicants in this range outright; others, including Avant, are built to evaluate borrowers with fair credit scores and price loans accordingly. Understanding your fair credit score helps set realistic expectations for the rate and terms you’re likely to see, rather than comparing your offer to rates built for borrowers with excellent credit.

Step-by-step: how to increase your chances of qualifying for a personal loan with a fair credit score

  1. Check your credit report for errors. Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and dispute any errors you may find like accounts that aren’t yours, outdated balances, or payments marked late that were actually on time. Errors are more common than most people expect, and disputing one that’s dragging down your credit score can make a big difference if you’re in the 580-669 fair credit range.
  2. Pay down outstanding balances. Credit utilization — the share of your available credit you’re using — is one of the larger factors in your score. For example, if you’re carrying $6,500 in outstanding balances across $10,000 in total credit limits, that’s 65% credit utilization. Bringing the balance down to $3,000 drops your credit utilization to 30%, which many scoring models treat as a meaningful threshold (Experian). How fast this works: often one to two billing cycles, once the lower balance is reported (Avant).
  3. Show steady, verifiable income. Lenders weigh stability alongside your credit score itself. A consistent employment history and income you can document with pay stubs or statements works in your favor, even when your score itself is on the lower end.
  4. Only apply for what you need. Apply for the amount you actually need, not the maximum a lender offers. A smaller loan amount relative to your income can make approval more likely.
  5. Seek out credit options that work with applicants with fair credit, like Avant. Some lenders will only work with applicants at or above a certain credit rating, and not every lender publishes the credit minimum score they will consider. Look for lenders that describe evaluating the whole application — income, debt, and history — rather than screening on credit score alone.
  6. Gather your documentation before you apply. Lenders often ask for additional documents along with your application in order to better understand your financial situation. Common examples of these documents may include proof of income (pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements), employment details, and information regarding your current debts. Having these ready before you start the application shortens the back-and-forth that can otherwise delay or stall a decision.
  7. Fill out the application completely and accurately. Gaps or inconsistencies between what you enter and what your documentation shows can slow down a lending decision or trigger a request for more paperwork. Double-check income figures and debt amounts before submitting.
  8. Compare full loan terms across offers, not just the headline rate. Look at the entire APR range a lender quotes, the origination or administration fee, the total loan term, and how the monthly payment fits your budget — not just the lowest number in an ad.

Is it hard to get approved for a loan through Avant?

Avant is an online lending platform that considers applicants with fair and average credit, including scores in the 580-669 range.1 However, approval is not guaranteed. Rather than relying on the credit score alone, Avant evaluates the applicant’s overall credit history, income, and existing debt obligations.

Check your rate with Avant to see what a loan through the platform might look like for your situation. Checking your rate through Avant’s prequalification tool uses a soft credit inquiry, so it does not affect your credit score.5 If you move forward and accept an offer, that step involves a hard inquiry. From there:

  1. Gather your income and employment documentation ahead of time so the application moves quickly.
  2. Submit the application and review any offer in full — the complete APR, the loan amount, the term length, and the administration fee — before accepting.2
  3. If approved, funds are generally available via ACH as soon as the next business day, provided the approval comes in before 4:30 p.m. CT on a business day.4

If a loan isn’t the right fit right now, you can see if you qualify for the Avant Credit Card, issued by WebBank1, which may help build credit history with responsible, on-time use.

For more information about getting a personal loan, please visit here for steps and tips.

Frequently asked questions

What interest rates can I expect with a 580-669 credit score?

Rates through Avant range from 9.95% to 35.99% APR2, with the lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy applicants – an applicant’s likelihood and ability to repay their debts (Avant).² Borrowers in the fair-credit range generally see rates in the upper half of a lender’s range. NerdWallet tracks how average APRs shift by credit tier if you want a market-wide comparison. Your actual rate depends on your full credit profile, income, and the amount and term you choose — not the score alone.

How quickly can I get funds after approval?

If approved, funds are generally deposited via ACH for delivery the next business day, provided the approval happens by 4:30 p.m. CT on a business day.4 The decision itself may take longer than a few minutes if the lender requests additional documents, and final timing depends on your state and individual credit determination.3

Will checking my rate with Avant affect my credit score?

No. Checking your rate through Avant’s prequalification process uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score.5 A hard inquiry only occurs if you accept a loan offer and move forward with the application.

Can I refinance later if my credit improves?

Yes. If your credit profile strengthens after taking out a loan, refinancing is worth exploring — Avant’s refinance loans run 24 to 60 months, with a lower administration fee (up to 5%) than new-customer loans.3 Whether refinancing makes sense depends on the new rate you’d qualify for compared with your current terms.

Disclosures

1 Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank.

2 APR ranges from 9.95% to 35.99% with the lowest rates available only for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved, actual rates may vary based on credit history, current income, ability to repay, and other factors. Loan amounts range from $2,000 to $35,000. Loan lengths range from 24 to 60 months. Administration fee up to 9.99%, deducted from the loan proceeds and paid to the lender; the administration fee is deemed part of the loan principal and is subject to the accrual of interest. Minimum loan amounts vary by state. (Source: avant.com, current as of August 2026.)

3 Refinance loans range from 24 to 60 months with an administration fee of up to 5% for refinance customers. If approved, actual loan terms may vary based on credit determination, state law, and other factors.

4 The decision process may take longer if additional documents are requested. Approval and loan terms will vary based on credit determination and state law. Personal loan funds are generally deposited via ACH for delivery the next business day if approved by 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

5 Checking your rate through Avant uses a soft credit inquiry and does not affect your credit score. This process is specific to Avant; other lenders may handle prequalification differently. Accepting a loan offer involves a hard credit inquiry.

References

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