Loan Companies That Use TransUnion Only: 6 Lenders to Choose From

TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian are the three major U.S. credit reporting agencies that collect and maintain consumer credit history to ensure that creditors have the information they need to make lending decisions. Creditors can choose which agency or agencies to report information to, which is why your credit score can vary by agency.

There are some loan companies that use TransUnion only for credit checks. If your strongest credit report is held by TransUnion and you want to increase your approval odds, you may want to apply for a loan from one of the companies listed below.

Be aware that even if a lender only pulls from TransUnion, it may still have strict credit requirements for approval. Additionally, lenders can always decide to pull your credit from more than one credit bureau, especially for large loans or if your credit score is bordering two credit tiers. When a lender receives multiple credit reports, Forbes reports that it will make a decision using the lower of two scores or the middle of the three.

What We Recommend

Online-only lenders have become a popular source of personal loans — these lenders are typically able to offer the best loan terms, and there are a few that only pull credit reports from TransUnion to determine approval. Upgrade is one such lender, and it stands out for its high loan amounts (up to $50,000) with reasonable interest rates. Its credit requirements are also not incredibly strict — you can typically get approved for a loan with a credit score that at least falls within the fair range (about 600 to 620 or better). Approval often only takes minutes.

Prosper is another popular online lender with loan terms and requirements similar to those offered by Upgrade, but the maximum loan amount through Prosper is $40,000, and your approval odds are best with a credit score of at least 640.

The List

When applying for loans, you should keep in mind the loan’s terms and interest rates. Having a thorough understanding of the total cost of the loan can help you avoid issues managing it, and it is helpful to know that you will be able to repay the loan before applying. Defaulting on a loan will negatively impact your credit score.

Below, we list the lenders that typically pull credit reports from TransUnion only, ordered starting with the lenders with the easiest approval and best overall loan terms. We confirmed the information with customer service representatives from the lenders and by viewing their online disclosures.

Upgrade

• Type of loan(s): Personal
• Loan term: 36 to 60 months
• Maximum loan amount: $50,000
• APR: Variable; typically between 7% and 36%
• Minimum credit requirement: Fair
• Application requirements: You must be at least 18 and have a valid bank account and email address. You may be asked to provide recent pay stubs and bank statements, as well as a government-issued photo ID.
• Find out more or apply

Prosper

• Type of loan(s): Personal
• Loan term: 36 to 60 months
• Maximum loan amount: $40,000
• APR: Variable; typically between 7% and 35%
• Minimum credit requirement: Good (around 640)
• Application requirements: You must be at least 18. You’ll need to provide recent pay stubs, tax returns or bank statements, a Social Security number, and a government-issued photo ID.
• Find out more or apply

Avant

• Type of loan(s): Personal
• Loan term: 24 to 60 months
• Maximum loan amount: $35,000
• APR: Variable; typically between 10% and 35%
• Minimum credit requirement: No exact minimum; loan decisions are based on multiple factors, but customers report approval with scores in the fair to good range.
• Application requirements: You must be at least 18, provide a Social Security number, and have a valid checking account. You may be asked to provide additional documentation, such as a government-issued photo ID.
• Find out more or apply

Payoff

• Type of loan(s): Personal
• Loan term: 24 to 60 months
• Maximum loan amount: $35,000
• APR: Variable; typically between 8% and 25%
• Minimum credit requirement: Good (at least 640)
• Application requirements: You must be at least 18, provide a Social Security number, and have a valid checking account. You may be asked to provide your two most recent pay stubs, a recent bank statement, and a government-issued photo ID.
• Find out more or apply

Alliant Credit Union

• Type of loan(s): Personal
• Loan term: 12 to 60 months
• Maximum loan amount: $50,000
• APR: Variable; typically under 10%
• Minimum credit requirement: No exact minimum; loan decisions are based on multiple factors
• Application requirements: You must be an Alliant Credit Union member for at least six months before you are eligible to apply for a loan. You also must be at least 18, have a government-issued photo ID, and provide a Social Security number.
• Find out more or apply

Barclays

• Type of loan(s): Personal
• Loan term: 36 to 60 months
• Maximum loan amount: $35,000
• APR: Variable starting around 5%
• Minimum credit requirement: No exact minimum; loan decisions are based on multiple factors
• Application requirements: Currently, Barclays’ Personal Loans are an invitation-only product. Personal loans may be open to the public soon.
• Find out more

In Summary

There are a few lenders that use TransUnion only when looking into your credit history — for the best approval odds and loan terms, consider borrowing through an online-only lender like Upgrade or Prosper. Be aware that, particularly for large loans, lenders may choose to pull your score from more than one bureau. In most cases, even if only your TransUnion score is pulled, you’ll still need a valid checking account and a Social Security number to apply for a personal loan, and you may be asked for additional documentation like recent pay stubs.

For more information about borrowing, see our article on the different types of loans. If you want to apply for a credit card instead, we also list which credit card companies reportedly use TransUnion only.