Introduction
Founded in 2015, Albert Loan is a financial services company that provides personal loans to consumers in the United States. The company was started by Dan Macklin, who previously worked at SoFi and wanted to create a more accessible lending platform.
Macklin partnered with Yin Wu and Eric Chan, who brought financial and technical expertise, to launch Albert Loan. The company is headquartered in New York City and has raised over $200 million in funding from investors including General Catalyst, Propel Venture Partners, and Portage Ventures.
Albert Loan aims to use technology and data analytics to provide affordable loans with a quick and simple application process. They offer personal loans ranging from $1,000 to $35,000 that can be used for debt consolidation, home improvement, medical bills, or other major expenses.
With an end-to-end digital lending platform, Albert Loan does not operate physical branches. Instead, they focus on streamlining the borrowing experience through mobile apps and online tools. The company touts its proprietary algorithms and machine learning models as a key advantage in evaluating risk and determining personalized offers for applicants.
Since its founding, Albert Loan has experienced rapid growth and issued over $5 billion in loans. They now serve over 1 million customers across all 50 states. With strong funding and ambitions to expand, Albert Loan aims to become a leading fintech lender known for transparency, flexibility, and ease of use.
Overview of Albert Loan
Albert Loan is an AI-powered personal loan provider that aims to make borrowing fast, easy and completely digital. It’s designed for anyone looking to take out a personal loan up to $5,000 for any purpose.
The loan application process is done entirely online through the Albert app. Applicants simply download the app, connect their bank account, provide some basic personal information and can receive an instant loan decision.
If approved, funds can be deposited directly into your bank account as soon as the next business day. The entire process from application to funding takes just a few minutes and can be done from your phone.
Albert uses AI and machine learning to analyzed personal cash flow data and make real-time lending decisions. This allows them to go beyond traditional credit scores and make it possible for more people to qualify for loans.
Repayment terms are flexible, with options for 3, 6 or 12 month installment loans. The APR ranges from 9% to 32% depending on creditworthiness. There are no fees or prepayment penalties.
Overall, Albert Loan provides a fast, convenient borrowing experience through easy mobile access and instant approvals. It uses technology to expand access to affordable credit for more consumers.
Features and Benefits of Albert Loan
Albert Loan offers several key features and benefits for borrowers looking for personal loans.
Interest Rates
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Competitive interest rates starting as low as 5.99% APR depending on creditworthiness. Rates are customized for each applicant.
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Fixed rates mean your monthly payment won’t fluctuate.
Fees
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No origination fees or prepayment penalties. You won’t get hit with surprise charges.
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Late fees are capped at $25 to avoid punitive charges.
Loan Terms
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Loan terms range from 2 to 5 years so you can choose a repayment timeline that fits your budget.
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Borrow between $1,000 to $35,000.
Application Process
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Fast online application takes just minutes to complete.
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Same day funding available once approved so you get access to cash quickly.
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eSign loan documents for a seamless and paperless process.
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Customer service available 7 days a week if any questions come up.
Albert Loan makes getting a personal loan straightforward with competitive rates, minimal fees, flexible loan terms, and a smooth application process. Their features cater towards borrowers who want an easy loan experience.
Requirements and Eligibility
To qualify for an Albert loan, there are a few requirements you must meet:
Credit Score
- Albert requires a minimum credit score of 640 to qualify for a loan. They will check your credit report from TransUnion when reviewing your application. Having a higher credit score in the good to excellent range (680+) will increase your chances of approval and may result in a lower interest rate.
Income
- You must have a steady source of income to demonstrate your ability to repay the loan. Albert will verify your income, employment, and total monthly expenses when determining the loan amount you qualify for.
Employment
- Stable, verifiable employment is required. Albert wants to see that you have at least 2 years of employment history with the same employer. If you are self-employed, you’ll need to provide business tax returns and bank statements showing regular income deposits.
The main criteria Albert evaluates are your credit history, income, and employment status. Meeting the minimum requirements above is key to qualifying and getting approved for an Albert loan. Having strong credentials in each of these areas will improve your chances.
Pros of Using Albert Loan
Albert Loan stands out from other lending options because of its fast funding, flexible loan terms, and accessibility for borrowers with poor credit.
Fast Funding
One of the biggest pros of Albert Loan is that funding can be extremely fast compared to traditional bank loans or other online lenders. Applicants can receive loan funds deposited into their bank account as soon as the next business day after approval. This makes Albert Loan a great option when you need access to funds quickly.
Flexible Terms
Albert Loan offers borrowers flexible loan terms, allowing you to choose a repayment timeline that fits your budget. Loan terms range from 3 to 5 years. You can also choose between making monthly or biweekly loan payments. This flexibility makes it easier to manage loan repayment.
Good for Bad Credit
Many online lenders and banks will reject applicants with poor credit scores. However, Albert Loan considers more than just your credit score when evaluating your application. They understand that bad credit doesn’t define you. This gives people with less-than-perfect credit an opportunity to still get approved for a personal loan.
In summary, the speed of funding, customizable loan terms, and approval of borrowers with bad credit histories make Albert Loan a great lending choice for many people. The pros and flexibility of this loan option make it stand out as a top pick.
Cons of Using Albert Loan
Albert Loan offers personal loans with some potential downsides to be aware of.
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High Interest Rates: Albert Loan’s interest rates are higher than rates from traditional banks and credit unions. Rates range from 9.99% to 35.99% APR, which are significantly higher than average personal loan rates of around 10%. The higher rates make Albert Loans expensive for borrowers.
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Prepayment Penalties: Borrowers face prepayment penalties if they pay off an Albert Loan early. The penalty is 5% of the remaining loan balance if you pay off the loan in the first year, 4% in the second year, 3% in the third year, 2% in the fourth year, and 1% in the fifth year. This makes it costly to refinance or pay off the loan faster than the original term.
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Origination Fees: Albert Loan charges origination fees of up to 6% of the loan amount. This fee is taken out of the loan proceeds but makes the loan more expensive.
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Short Loan Terms: Albert Loan offers terms of 2 to 5 years. The short terms mean larger monthly payments than longer term loans. Borrowers may struggle with the higher payments each month.
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Strict Eligibility: Getting approved for an Albert Loan can be difficult due to strict credit score and income requirements. Many borrowers may not qualify for an Albert Loan.
Albert Loan is best for borrowers who can qualify and don’t mind paying higher rates and costs. Carefully consider the downsides before applying.
Albert Loan vs. Competitors
Albert Loan stands out from other popular online lenders like LendingClub in a few key ways:
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Lower interest rates – Albert Loan offers rates as low as 6.9% APR, while LendingClub’s rates start at 10.68% APR for excellent credit. Albert’s rates are very competitive.
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No origination fees – Albert Loan does not charge origination fees, application fees or prepayment penalties. LendingClub charges origination fees from 1-6% of the loan amount.
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Flexible loan amounts – You can borrow between $1,000 to $5,000 with Albert Loan. LendingClub has a minimum loan amount of $1,000 and max of $40,000.
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Fast funding – Albert Loan funds loans by the next business day once approved. LendingClub can take up to 7 days to fund loans.
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Credit building – Albert Loan reports payments to all 3 major credit bureaus. On-time payments help build your credit history.
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Member benefits – As an Albert program member, you get access to free credit monitoring, financial advice and savings on prescriptions.
Overall, Albert Loan’s has very competitive rates compared to leading lending marketplaces like LendingClub, with more flexibility on loan amounts and faster funding times. The additional member perks also make it a great option for borrowers looking to improve their finances.
Customer Reviews
Albert Loan’s has received largely positive feedback from customers. Many reviewers praise the quick and easy application process, instant loan decisions, competitive interest rates, flexible repayment options, and excellent customer service.
On Trustpilot, Albert Loan’s has an ‘Excellent’ rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars based on over 5,000 reviews. Positive reviews highlight the seamless application experience, fast funding, and helpful support team. As one reviewer wrote, “The application process was super fast and easy. I applied in the morning and had the money in my account by the afternoon.”
Some of the most commonly cited pros of Albert Loan’s according to customer reviews include:
- Fast approval and funding
- Easy online application with instant decision
- Competitive interest rates and fees
- Flexible repayment terms
- No collateral required
- Excellent customer service
The main downsides mentioned by some customers include:
- High interest rates for those with bad credit
- Strict eligibility criteria
- Low maximum loan amounts
- Origination fees
- Difficulty getting loan increases
While interest rates can be high for borrowers with poor credit histories, overall most customers seem very satisfied with Albert Loan and recommend their services. As one happy borrower stated, “Albert Loan came through for me when I was in a tight spot. Reasonable rates, fast funding, and great service. Highly recommend!”
How to Apply
Applying for an Albert loan is a straightforward process that can be completed entirely online. Here are the steps to take:
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Go to albert.com/apply and click on “Apply Now”. This will take you to the online application.
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Create an account or log in if you already have one. You’ll need to provide some basic personal information like your name, email, phone number, and address.
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Choose the loan amount and term length you need. Albert offers loans from $250 to $5,000 that can be repaid over 3 to 12 months.
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Provide information about your income, expenses, and employment. You’ll need to upload documents to verify your income.
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Link your bank account so Albert can evaluate your cash flow. This allows for faster approval decisions.
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Review your loan terms, disclosures, and e-sign the loan agreement.
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If approved, you’ll receive the loan funds deposited directly into your bank account as soon as the next business day.
The entire application process can take just a few minutes to complete. Albert focuses on cash flow rather than credit score when making lending decisions, so approval is possible even with bad credit or thin credit files. Their website is secure and user-friendly for a smooth application experience.
Conclusion
Albert Loan’s provides a flexible, convenient way to access funds when you need them. By linking to your bank account, Albert Loan enables you to borrow up to $5000 and repay the loan on a schedule that works for your budget.
Key features like no origination fees, no prepayment penalties, and competitive interest rates make Albert Loan’s an affordable borrowing option compared to payday loans or credit cards. Eligibility requirements are basic – you need a checking account, regular income of at least $4000 per month, and a minimum credit score of 560.
Overall, Albert Loan’s is a recommended solution if you need fast access to extra cash. The easy online application process and fast funding make it possible to get money deposited into your bank account as soon as the next business day after approval. Just be sure to only borrow what you need and can realistically repay to avoid paying unnecessary interest costs. Used responsibly, Albert Loan provides a valuable financial resource.
