Original research
The lender on your contract may not be the brand you chose
Key finding
The website can sell or service the loan while another company legally makes it. Read the legal lender on your contract. In 9 of 17 programs, it was different from the consumer brand or could change by state, partner, or offer. Five programs used a variable lender rule.
This 17-program sample is not the whole market and cannot predict your offer. CC BY 4.0 covers Rung-owned work, with third-party material excluded. This working report is public. Publisher review and third-party source clearance remain pending; no completed reviewer approval is claimed.
- The legal lender is the company named as creditor on your agreement.
- The brand may run the website, review the application, or collect payments.
- Your state can change which company makes the loan.
- Use the legal name for notices, complaints, and state-specific rights.
The brand, lender, and servicer may be different companies
This does not make the loan improper. It does mean the logo alone cannot tell you who your contract is with.
Brand
The name on the ad, website, or application.
Legal lender
The company named as creditor on your contract.
Servicer
The company that collects payments or manages the account.
The company behind the brand can change the contract
The legal lender matters because that company makes the loan and supplies the controlling disclosures. Start with the name on your offer, then use this table for context.
Scroll across to see all columns.
| Brand | Platform | Legal lender | How the lender is chosen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prosper | Prosper Marketplace, Inc. | WebBank | WebBank originates all personal loans made through the Prosper marketplace in the reviewed sources. |
| Oportun | Oportun, Inc. | varies | Oportun, Inc. originates in New Mexico and Wisconsin. In 39 other states listed on the checked product page, loans are originated by one or both of Pathward, N.A. and Column N.A. |
| Upstart | Upstart Network, Inc. | varies | A regulated financial institution or licensed lending partner makes the loan; the specific creditor is disclosed with the offer and note. |
| Happen Bank | Happen Bank, National Association | Happen Bank, National Association | Unless otherwise specified, current credit products are provided by Happen Bank, N.A. |
| SoFi | Social Finance, LLC | SoFi Bank, N.A. | The reviewed current disclosure identifies SoFi Bank, N.A. as the originator of SoFi Personal Loans; participating-bank referrals may be offered separately. |
| OneMain Financial | OneMain Financial Group, LLC and affiliates | varies | OneMain personal loans are made by state-licensed OneMain affiliates; the legal creditor depends on the consumer's location and loan documents. |
| Upgrade | Upgrade, Inc. | Cross River Bank | The current bank-partner page identifies Cross River Bank for personal loans through Upgrade. |
| Best Egg | Marlette Marketing, LLC | varies | Best Egg unsecured personal loans are made by Cross River Bank or Column N.A.; the specific creditor is disclosed with the offer. |
| Avant | Avant, LLC | WebBank | The checked consumer disclosure identifies WebBank as the issuer of Avant-branded credit products and states that Avant, LLC is not the lender. |
| LendingPoint | LendingPoint LLC | varies | Direct-to-consumer applications may be funded by FinWise Bank, Coastal Community Bank, or LendingPoint as a licensed state lender. |
| Discover | Discover, a division of Capital One, N.A. | Capital One, National Association | The current terms identify Capital One, N.A., through its Discover division, as the maker of Discover Personal Loans. |
| Wells Fargo | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. offers the Wells Fargo-branded unsecured personal loan directly to established customers. |
| U.S. Bank | U.S. Bank National Association | U.S. Bank National Association | The current product disclosure states that installment loans are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. |
| PNC | PNC Bank, National Association | PNC Bank, National Association | PNC Bank, N.A. offers the PNC-branded unsecured personal loan directly in its listed jurisdictions. |
| Citi | Citibank, N.A. | Citibank, N.A. | The current product disclosure states that Citi Personal Loans are made available by Citibank, N.A. |
| Alliant Credit Union | Alliant Credit Union | Alliant Credit Union | Alliant Credit Union offers the unsecured personal loan directly to established members. |
| PenFed Credit Union | Pentagon Federal Credit Union | Pentagon Federal Credit Union | Pentagon Federal Credit Union offers the PenFed-branded unsecured personal loan and creates membership during the application for a guest applicant. |
Five programs can use a different lender by state, partner, or offer
Scroll across to see all columns.
| Brand | How the legal lender is chosen |
|---|---|
| Oportun | Oportun, Inc. originates in New Mexico and Wisconsin. In 39 other states listed on the checked product page, loans are originated by one or both of Pathward, N.A. and Column N.A. |
| Upstart | A regulated financial institution or licensed lending partner makes the loan; the specific creditor is disclosed with the offer and note. |
| OneMain Financial | OneMain personal loans are made by state-licensed OneMain affiliates; the legal creditor depends on the consumer's location and loan documents. |
| Best Egg | Best Egg unsecured personal loans are made by Cross River Bank or Column N.A.; the specific creditor is disclosed with the offer. |
| LendingPoint | Direct-to-consumer applications may be funded by FinWise Bank, Coastal Community Bank, or LendingPoint as a licensed state lender. |
Match the brand to the legal lender on the note
Check the next part of your offer
Save the legal lender’s name with your loan records.
Use that name for notices, complaints, and the state rules that apply to your contract.