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Achieve Reviews

8

bestfor-icon Resource for people struggling with debt

lauren
Written by Lauren Le-Hair

About Achieve | Read More

8

LS Score

8

Credibility

8

Support

8

Accessibility

Visit Site
Opening Hours Opening Hours drop-down-btn
Mon-Fri 6am-5pm PST
Sat-Sun Closed
Contact Information Contact Information drop-down-btn
  • (800) 220-7791
  • Headquarters: 1875 South Grant Street, Suite 400, San Mateo, CA 94402
Social Media Social Media drop-down-btn

Achieve Personal Loans Review

Achieve is an indirect lender that offers personal loans ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to borrowers with good or fair credit. These loans have flexible repayment terms and a starting APR starting at 7.99%, making them fairly competitive. The loan application is online, secure, and takes only a few minutes to complete.

Achieve Personal Loans Highlight

630

Min Credit Score

7.99-35.99%

APR. Fixed Rate

$5K-$50K

Loan Amount

24-60 months

Repayment terms

Yes

Soft Credit Pull

Marketplace

Lender Type

None

Other Fees

1.99-5.99%

Origination Fee

None

Prepayment Fee

1 days

Funding Time

Pros & Cons

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  • con-icon Loans up to $50,000
  • con-icon Next day funding available
  • con-icon Rate discounts may apply
  • con-icon Excellent customer service
  • con-icon Higher starting APR
  • con-icon Origination fee may be included

Loan Purpose

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  • Credit Card Refinance
  • Debt Consolidation
  • Home Improvement
  • Medical Expenses
  • Relocation
  • Vacation
  • Wedding

Loan Type

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  • Unsecured Personal Loans
  • Fixed-Rate Personal Loans
  • Co-singer / Joint loans

Achieve Personal Loans Terms & Requirements

Achieve offers personal loans that can be used for a variety of reasons, including debt consolidation and funding a large purchase. These loans have terms ranging from 2 to 5 years, which is fairly standard. Although an indirect lender, Achieve is very transparent about their loans and what you could get as a borrower.

Applying for a loan with Achieve

Applying for a personal loan is simple and can be done completely online. Go to Achieve main page and indicate how much money you want to borrow and the desired term. Then, follow the prompts to fill out general information. This includes your name, employment status, current address, Social Security Number, and birth date.

From there, press “Continue” to agree to a soft credit pull – for prequalification purposes. This does not affect your credit score.

If approved for a personal loan, there will be a hard credit pull verifying your credit information. On average, expect to receive funds within 1 to 3 business days.

Qualification Requirements

  • 600 or 620 FICO Score
  • Source of income or proof of employment
  • Personal and contact information
  • Co-signer details (same as primary applicant)

Required Information

To prequalify for a personal loan through Achieve, you’ll need to provide some standard information, including:

  • Amounted needed and preferred loan term
  • Reason for the loan
  • State of residency
  • Name
  • Email and phone number
  • Employment status
  • Annual income (verifiable)
  • Whether you want a co-applicant
  • Address and zip code
  • Date of birth
  • Bank account information (may be required after approval)

Application Steps & Time Frames

  • The entire application is done online and only takes a few minutes.
  • Once completed, it usually takes 2 to 3 hours for a credit decision to be made and for your application to be approved or denied.
  • The time to funding is typically between 24 and 72 hours (longer if applying over the weekend or on a federal holiday).

State Availability

Available - Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah,

Not Available - California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming,

Achieve Mortgages Review

Achieve offers a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) through their subsidiary, Achieve Home Loans, formerly known as Lendage. HELOC offers fixed-rate advances that use the borrower’s home equity as collateral. HELOCs are generally provided at a competitive interest rate and are an easier way to consolidate debt than mortgaging or taking out a traditional loan with a bank. They are helpful for the flexibility offered as there are fewer conditions for use than with a standard personal loan.

Achieve Mortgages Highlight

620

Min Credit Score

10 or 15 year terms

Repayment terms

Yes

Soft Credit Pull

Direct

Lender Type

$684

Underwriting Fee

Yes

Other Fees

2.5% of the requested amount

Origination Fee

None

Prepayment Fee

15 Days

Funding Time

138464

NMLS

Home Equity

10.25-16.00%

APR. Fixed Rate

$15K-$150K

Mortgage Amount

Pros & Cons

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Mortgage Type

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  • Home Equity Line of Credit

Achieve Mortgages Terms & Requirements

Achieve only offer HELOC, and as such, it is a requirement that you already own a property and have a sufficient amount of equity in the property. The following are also requirements to take advantage of Achieve’s HELOC product:

Mortgage Requirements

  • A minimum credit score of 600 if HELOC is to be used for debt consolidation
  • A minimum credit score of 670 if HELOC is to be used for cashout purposes
  • A maximum debt-to-income ratio of 45%
  • Property must be owner-occupied, with a loan to value of not greater than 80% (including the proposed HELOC request)

Mortgage Terms

  • APRs of between 10.25% and 16% are available dependent on conditions including credit rating and loan-to-value position
  • An origination fee of 2.5% charged
  • Underwriting fee of $685 charged
  • Loans available for between $15,000 and $150,000

Repayment Terms

  • Repayment terms of 10 or 15 years are available
  • Repayments must be made monthly

Generally, the terms and conditions associated with the Achieve Home Equity Line of Credit are not overly competitive. The APRs offered are higher than average, and many competitors do not charge origination or underwriting fees. While other debt-relief options from Achieve are very competitive, we would recommend shopping around for better terms if you are looking for HELOC.

How to Apply

We decided to test the application process for getting HELOC from Achieve, as the company has a reputation for a straightforward, streamlined application process. After navigating to the Home Equity Loan section of the website, we were greeted with a simple opening screen to start the process.

We were then met with another simple screen to confirm that we wanted to use the financing for debt consolidation and that we were homeowners. After this, we were asked to enter our basic personal details.

Qualification Requirements

We followed up this by giving our home address and Social Security Number. Finally, we ticked that we submitted to a soft credit check being undertaken. We then clicked “See My Offer” to complete the pre-qualification.

We were approved, and the next step was to speak with a personal advisor from Achieve Loans. They helped guide us through a more in-depth application process and advised us of all the information we would need to provide, including proof of identity and proof of income and home ownership. At this stage, a hard credit check was performed.

If your application is successful, funding will be processed and sent to you within 15-18 days on average.

The initial pre-qualification process was quick, and we got an idea of the HELOC rates available to us. The second part of the application wasn’t quite as fast, but the personal advisor was friendly and efficient, and the application process was not complicated.

Qualification Requirements

To be eligible for a HELOC from Achieve, you must meet the following requirements:

  • US citizen or permanent resident
  • A minimum credit score of 620 for debt consolidation or 670 for cash out
  • A minimum debt-to-income ratio of 45%
  • Must have steady verifiable income 
  • Property must be owner-occupied

State Availability

Achieve does not off HELOC in all states. Unfortunately, Achieve does not say which states offer HELOC and which do not. Therefore the best way to establish which areas are eligible is to start the pre-qualification process, and you will be informed if you are in an ineligible state. 

Required Information

When going through the application process, we had to provide the following documentation to Achieve:

  • Proof of ID
  • Proof of income
  • Proof of home ownership
  • Social Security Number
  • Email address
  • Employment history
  • Phone number

Application Steps & Time Frames

The pre-qualification stage was completed in five minutes, and the second stage with a personal advisor took just under an hour to finish. After processing the application, funding is generally provided between 15 and 18 days.

State Availability

- Available in all states

lauren
Written by Lauren Le-Hair linkedin-icon

As an experienced content writer, Lauren's passion for the finance sector is only exceeded by her love of writing. With years of experience writing for financial websites, she has honed her expertise and developed a deep understanding of the industry. Lauren specializes in delivering top-quality, specialized content with an expert tone of voice and a unique flair, leveraging her extensive knowledge and expertise. In addition, she holds a First Class Bachelor's degree from Staffordshire University.

faq-icon

FAQ’s

Is Achieve the same as Freedom Financial Network?

Yes, Freedom Financial Network rebranded as Achieve in September 2022.

How much debt do I need for Achieve to work with me?

It depends on the type of debt you have and the solution that you are looking for. The best option is to contact Achieve for a free consultation.

How much does Achieve charge for debt relief services?

Typical fees are between 15-25% of the amount of enrolled debt.

Customer Support

Achieve has a well-regarded customer support team known for its quick response times. You can reach Achieve’s customer support via phone call or online form. We were interested in arranging a free consultation and called the specific helpline to discuss our situation. The call was answered quickly without being placed on hold, and we had our consultation arranged within minutes. The level of customer support we received lived up to the excellent reputation of Achieve’s customer service team.

Privacy & Security

Achieve is BBB-accredited with an A rating and 4.78 out of 5 stars. Under the Achieve banner, Lendage is also accredited with 4.51 out of 5 stars. Both websites use a secure encryption certificate to protect user data and transmit it safely.

Most online reviews are positive, with customers expressing satisfaction with the fast, hassle-free process. Many reviewers also indicate they successfully saved money on interest and lower monthly payments.

While Achieve does not have a history of privacy or security concerns, its predecessor Freedom Financial Network reached a settlement of $25 million in 2019. This resolution was due to a lawsuit by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which accused Freedom of deceiving customers. While not admitting guilt, Freedom paid $20 million in restitution to affected customers and $5 million as a civil penalty.

In Conclusion

Ultimately, we believe that Achieve is worth contacting if you are experiencing financial difficulties and would like to discuss your options with someone. Freedom’s expertise in addressing all levels of debt concern, from bankruptcy to smaller debts, is excellent, as you know that your particular circumstances will find the right experts to deal with your debt issues.

Brand Disclaimer

*The financial solutions for which you will be evaluated are offered by service providers with which we are affiliated and/or compensated by who participates on our website. Terms and conditions apply to each, and not all are available in every state.

Achieve.com, a d/b/a of Bills.com, LLC (NMLS ID #138464) operates as a marketing lead generator for affiliates and non-affiliates, and as a broker for loans and debt resolution services offered by its affiliates. We also offer certain mobile applications that allow consumers to view and analyze their finances. We may take applications for our affiliates, but we do not make credit decisions, originate loans, process consumer loans or bill payments, or provide any other financial services. We do not collect any fees or other compensation from consumers.

Personal loans are available through Achieve Personal Loans (NMLS ID #227977), originated by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank or Pathward® N.A., Equal Housing Lenders and may not be available in all states. All loan and rate terms are subject to eligibility restrictions, application review, credit score, loan amount, loan term, lender approval, credit usage and history. Loans are not available to residents of all states. Minimum loan amounts vary due to state specific legal restrictions. Loan amounts generally range from $5,000 to $50,000 (including the origination fee) and are offered based on underwriting conditions and loan purpose. APRs range from 7.99 to 35.99% and include applicable origination fees. Repayment periods range from 24 to 60 months.

A four-year $20,000 loan with an APR of 18.34% would have an estimated monthly payment of $561.60 and total cost of $26,956.80.

For example: A four-year $20,000 loan with an APR of 18.34% would have an estimated monthly payment of $561.60 and total cost of $26,956.80. To qualify for a 7.99% APR loan, a borrower will need excellent credit, a loan amount of $12,000.00 or less, and a term of 24 months.

Loan origination fees vary from 1.99% to 5.99%. Adding a co-borrower with sufficient income; using at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the loan proceeds to pay off qualifying existing debt directly; or showing proof of sufficient retirement savings, could help you also qualify for a lower rate. Average interest savings for personal loans range from 0% – 6% based on closed loans that qualified for one or more of our rate discounts in July 2022.

**In the event you submit an application a hard credit inquiry will be conducted that will temporarily effect your credit score.

†Times noted are estimates and can vary for a loan request from Achieve Personal Loans (NMLS#227977). Same day approvals assume that a fully completed application with all required supporting documentation is provided early enough on a day that our offices are open. Achieve Personal Loans consultants are available Monday–Friday 6AM to 8PM MST and Saturday–Sunday 7AM to 4PM MST.