# Riverstone Lending App > Riverstone Lending App (riverstonelendingapp.com) is a free U.S. online loan marketplace. It connects borrowers with lenders in its network for personal loans from $200 to $5,000. Riverstone is not a lender: it does not make credit decisions or fund loans. It also publishes independent, sourced guides on personal loan rates, credit scores, fees, Federal Reserve decisions and loan scams. Key facts: - Loan amounts: $200 to $5,000. Repayment terms: 3 to 36 months. Maximum APR shown by lenders in the network: 35.99%. - Representative example: a $1,000 loan over 12 months at 24.99% APR costs about $95.04 a month, $1,140.47 in total. - Using the marketplace is free. Riverstone never charges borrowers an upfront fee to request or receive an offer. - Rates, approval and terms are set by each lender and depend on credit, income, state and other factors. - Market data on the site comes from primary sources such as the Federal Reserve (G.19, FOMC), CFPB, FTC, NCUA, New York Fed and TransUnion, and each page lists its sources and its last update date. - Full text of every page for AI tools: https://riverstonelendingapp.com/llms-full.txt ## Apply - [Apply for a Personal Loan From $200 to $5,000](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/apply/): Request a personal loan from $200 to $5,000 in minutes. Free to use, no obligation. Compare APR, fees and terms from lenders in our network before you accept. ## Rates and market data - [Personal Loan Rates Today: October 2026 Averages](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/personal-loan-rates/): Average personal loan rates for October 2026: 11.90% at banks, 10.64% at credit unions, offers by credit score, small-loan costs and how the Fed's 2026 hike affects you. - [Personal Loan Rates by Credit Score (2026): APR for Every FICO Tier](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/rates-by-credit-score/): See average personal loan APRs for every FICO tier, from 12.15% at 800+ to 29.05% under 580, plus monthly costs on $500 to $5,000 loans and how to move up a tier. - [Credit Union vs. Bank Loan Rates (2026): Who Charges Less?](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/credit-union-vs-bank/): Credit unions averaged 10.64% vs. 12.00% at banks on a 36-month unsecured loan. Compare 7 loan rates, see the dollar savings, and learn how PALs and membership work. - [Fed Rate Tracker: Every FOMC Decision 2024–2026 and What It Means](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/fed-rate-tracker/): The Fed funds target is 3.75%–4.00% after the Sep 16, 2026 hike, and prime is 7.00%. See every decision since 2024, a rate chart, and how moves reach cards and loans. - [Personal Loan Calculators: Payment, APR, Payoff & DTI (2026)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/calculators/): Free loan calculators: monthly payment, true APR with fees, credit card payoff, debt consolidation, debt-to-income and payday vs. installment costs. ## Personal loans - [Personal Loans $200–$5,000: How They Work & How to Apply (2026)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/personal-loans/): How small personal loans from $200 to $5,000 work: costs, eligibility, documents, your rights and red flags, with worked examples and 2026 market data. - [Debt Consolidation Loans: When They Save Money (2026 Guide)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/debt-consolidation/): How a debt consolidation loan works, when it saves money and when it costs more, with worked $3,000 examples, fees, alternatives and 2026 rate data. - [Home Improvement Loans for Repairs: Costs & Options (2026)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/home-improvement-loans/): Pay for home repairs from $200 to $5,000: 2026 repair costs, personal loan vs. HELOC, card or contractor financing, payment examples and safe hiring tips. - [Personal Loans With Fair or Poor Credit: 2026 Options](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/bad-credit-loans/): Borrowing with a score under 670: what lenders check, 2026 APRs by credit score, credit union PALs, co-signers, loans to avoid and steps to improve your offers. ## Loans by purpose - [Emergency Loans: How to Cover a Surprise Bill in 2026](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/emergency-loans/): Need $200–$5,000 for an urgent bill? Compare payment plans, credit union PALs and personal loans, see real costs, and avoid payday loan traps. - [Car Repair Loans: 2026 Repair Costs & How to Pay](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/auto-repair-loans/): Average check-engine repairs hit $554 in 2025. Compare ways to pay for a $200–$5,000 car repair, see payment examples, and when an auto loan costs less. - [Medical Loans: Pay Medical Bills Without Overpaying (2026)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/medical-loans/): Before borrowing for a medical bill, check assistance, payment plans and credit rules. Then compare loans for a $200–$5,000 balance with real payment examples. - [Moving Loans: 2026 Moving Costs & How to Pay](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/moving-loans/): See 2026 moving costs, build a moving budget, and compare a $200–$5,000 moving loan with a credit card using real payment examples. - [Wedding Loans: Costs, Payments & Smarter Ways to Pay (2026)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/wedding-loans/): Weddings averaged $34,200 last year. See when a $200–$5,000 wedding loan makes sense, payment examples, and how it compares with a credit card or saving. ## Guides and reference - [Credit Scores Explained: Ranges, Factors and Loan Rates (2026)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/credit-scores/): How FICO and VantageScore credit scores work, what 580, 670 and 740 mean to lenders, how scores change personal loan APRs, and how to check, dispute and raise yours. - [Origination Fees Explained: How They Change Your Loan's APR](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/origination-fees/): What a personal loan origination fee is, how it's deducted, and how a 3%, 5% or 8% fee raises the APR on a $1,000 to $5,000 loan, with worked examples and tips. - [Loan Scams: Warning Signs and How to Protect Yourself (2026)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/loan-scams/): How advance-fee loan scams and fake lenders work, the red flags the FTC warns about, how to verify a lender, and what to do right away if you paid a scammer. - [Loan & Credit Glossary: 68 Terms Explained in Plain English](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/glossary/): Plain-English definitions of 68 loan and credit terms, from APR and amortization to origination fees, DTI, soft inquiries and the Military Lending Act. - [Personal Loan FAQ: 136 Straight Answers](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/faq/): Straight answers to 136 common questions about personal loans from $200 to $5,000: applying, APR and fees, credit scores, the Fed, scams and your rights. ## Blog - [Riverstone Blog: Personal Loan Rates, Fed News & Borrowing Tips](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/): Plain-English news and guides on personal loan rates, Fed decisions, credit scores, debt and loan scams, written from Federal Reserve, CFPB and credit bureau data. - [How to Spot an Advance-Fee Loan Scam (FTC Warning Signs)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/advance-fee-loan-scams/): Advance-fee loan scams promise approval, then ask you to pay first. Learn the FTC's warning signs, how to verify a lender, and what to do if you already paid. - [The Average FICO Score Holds Steady at 714 (2026 Report)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/average-fico-score-714/): The national average FICO Score held at 714 in FICO's Fall 2026 report. What's behind it, who gained and lost points, and what 714 means when you apply for a loan. - [Buy Now, Pay Later and Your Credit Score: What Changed](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/buy-now-pay-later-credit-reports/): FICO now offers scores that include buy now, pay later loans. What the change means, what FICO's study with Affirm found, and how to keep BNPL from hurting your credit. - [Credit Unions vs. Banks: Who Charges Less for a Personal Loan?](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/credit-union-vs-bank-loan-rates/): NCUA's latest survey shows a 36-month unsecured loan averaging 10.64% at credit unions versus 12.00% at banks. Who can join, and when a bank or online lender wins. - [Debt Consolidation Loans: When They Save Money (2026)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/debt-consolidation-when-it-saves-money/): Card APRs averaged 22.36% in August 2026. See worked examples of when a consolidation loan saves money, when it costs more, and a checklist before you apply. - [Could You Cover a $400 Emergency? How to Build a Fund](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/emergency-fund-400-dollar-test/): 63% of U.S. adults would cover a $400 emergency with cash, the Fed says. What the other 37% do, what borrowing $400 costs, and how to build a cushion. - [Fed Rate Hike September 2026: What It Means for Borrowers](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/fed-rate-hike-september-2026/): The Fed raised rates to 3.75%–4.00% on Sept 16, 2026, its first hike since 2023. What changes for credit cards, personal loans and HELOCs, and what to do now. - [FOMC Preview: What to Watch at the Oct 27–28, 2026 Meeting](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/fomc-october-2026-preview/): The Fed meets Oct 27–28 after a September hike to 3.75%–4.00%. What the minutes said, what a hold or another hike would mean for cards and loans, and key dates. - [U.S. Household Debt Slips to $18.77 Trillion in Q2 2026](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/household-debt-q2-2026/): Household debt fell $13 billion in Q2 2026 to $18.771 trillion, the New York Fed reports, while card balances rose to $1.263 trillion. What it means for you. - [Military Lending Act: The 36% MAPR Cap Explained (2026)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/military-lending-act-36-percent/): The Military Lending Act caps most consumer credit for active-duty servicemembers and dependents at a 36% Military APR. Who is covered, what counts and your rights. - [How a 5% Origination Fee Changes Your APR](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/origination-fee-apr/): A $5,000 loan at 19.99% costs $185.79 a month. Add a 5% origination fee and you get $4,750, so the true APR rises to 23.77%. See the math and how to compare offers. - [The Real Cost of a Payday Loan: Almost 400% APR](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/payday-loan-true-cost/): A $15-per-$100 payday fee works out to an APR of almost 400%. See what an $800 payday loan really costs over six months, and the cheaper options to try first. - [Personal Loan Balances Hit a Record $281 Billion (Q2 2026)](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/personal-loan-balances-record-281-billion/): TransUnion counts a record $281 billion in unsecured personal loan balances in Q2 2026, up 9.6% in a year. What's driving the growth and what it means for borrowers. - [Personal Loan Rates Today: October 2026 Averages & Trends](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/personal-loan-rates-october-2026/): The average 24-month personal loan at banks was 11.90% in August 2026. See rates by credit score and lender type, what moved since May, and how to get a lower APR. - [Soft vs. Hard Credit Checks: How Rate Shopping Affects Your Score](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/soft-vs-hard-credit-inquiry/): Prequalifying uses a soft check that doesn't affect your score. A full application triggers a hard inquiry, usually under 5 points. How to shop for a loan safely. - [Student Loan Delinquencies Are Dragging Down Credit Scores](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/blog/student-loan-delinquency-credit-scores/): FICO found 3.2 million consumers with a recent student loan delinquency lost 38 points on average, while on-time payers gained 6. What it means for loans. ## Company - [About Riverstone: How Our Loan Marketplace Works & Gets Paid](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/about/): Riverstone is a U.S. loan marketplace, not a lender. Learn how we match you with lenders, how we get paid, how we protect your data and our editorial standards. - [Contact Riverstone Lending App](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/contact/): Contact Riverstone Lending App about your loan request, our website or your data. Email support, find where to send lender or fraud complaints, and see our hours. ## Optional - [Privacy Policy](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/privacy/): How Riverstone Lending App collects, uses and shares personal information when you request a loan, and how to exercise your privacy rights, including California rights. - [Terms of Use](https://riverstonelendingapp.com/terms/): The terms that apply when you use riverstonelendingapp.com and submit a loan request through our marketplace. Riverstone is a loan marketplace, not a lender.