Northern Star Loan (northernstarloan.com) operates a free loan-matching service. This disclosure explains our role, how we are compensated, and the costs and conditions that come with personal loans offered by lenders in our network. Please read it before submitting a request.
We are a connector, not a lender
Northern Star Loan does not make loans, broker loans on your behalf, or make credit decisions, and every approval, APR, term and funding decision is made solely by the independent lender you choose.
When you submit a request, we share it with lenders and lending partners whose criteria may fit your profile. Lenders that can work with you present their own offers. Your loan agreement is between you and the lender, and the lender services the loan afterward. Information on this site is not an offer of credit or a commitment to lend.
How we earn money
Lenders and lending partners in the Northern Star Lending network may pay us a fee when we pass along a borrower request, when a borrower is approved, or when a loan funds.
Compensation arrangements vary by partner. Some pay per qualified request, some pay only when a loan funds, and some use a combination. These payments fund our operations, including support staff, the website and the educational guides we publish.
How compensation may affect which offers appear
Compensation may influence which lenders and partners receive your request, which offers you see, and the order in which offers or lenders are displayed on our site.
Our network does not include every lender or every loan product available in the market, and other lenders may offer terms that are better for your situation. We encourage you to compare offers from more than one source. Compensation does not change the facts we publish about costs, risks or alternatives in our guides.
No fee to borrowers
Borrowers never pay Northern Star Loan to submit a request, receive matches or review offers, and you are under no obligation to accept any offer you are shown.
If anyone claiming to represent us asks for an upfront fee, gift card or wire transfer, do not pay. Contact our support team instead. Lender fees, such as origination or late fees, are separate and are disclosed in each lender’s offer and loan agreement.
APR disclosure
Annual percentage rates for personal loans from mainstream lenders commonly range from about 6% to 35.99% APR, and some lenders that serve fair or poor credit borrowers may charge higher rates.
Your APR depends on factors the lender evaluates, which may include your credit history, income, existing debt, loan amount, term and state of residence. Loan amounts available through the network range from $500 to $5,000. Repayment terms commonly run from 3 to 36 months, and terms vary by lender, with some offering longer terms. The APR includes interest and certain fees, so it is the best single number for comparing offers.
Representative example
A representative personal loan of $2,000 repaid over 24 months at 18.5% APR, with no origination fee, carries a monthly payment of about $100.33 and a total repayment of about $2,407.97.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $2,000 |
| APR | 18.5% |
| Term | 24 monthly payments |
| Monthly payment | About $100.33 |
| Total interest | About $407.97 |
| Total repaid | About $2,407.97 |
Estimate only. Actual terms depend on the lender. If a lender charges an origination fee, the APR would be higher and the amount you receive may be lower than the amount you borrow.
Late and missed payments
Lenders may charge late fees, return-payment fees or additional interest if a payment is missed, and late payments may be reported to credit bureaus and can lower your credit score.
Repeated missed payments may lead to collection activity under the lender’s agreement and applicable law. If you expect to miss a payment, contact your lender early to ask about options. Review the lender’s policies on late fees, collections and renewals before you sign.
Credit checks
Submitting a request through Northern Star Loan typically involves a soft inquiry that does not affect your credit score, while a lender may run a hard inquiry if you accept an offer and proceed.
Lenders may also verify your information through consumer reporting agencies and alternative data sources. A hard inquiry can have a small, temporary effect on your score.
State availability
Loan availability, amounts, rates and terms vary by state, and some lenders in our network do not operate in every state or offer every product to every resident.
Lenders are responsible for complying with the laws that apply to their products. If no lender in our network serves your state, you may not receive an offer.
Learn more
Northern Star Loan publishes plain-English guides to help you understand rates, fees and the matching process before you decide whether to borrow at all.
See how the matching process works, review current personal loan rate ranges, or read more about our company and standards.