Ranked by our score for cost, access and how each one builds credit. Compare the real monthly cost, not just the APR — several charge a subscription that costs more than the interest.
#1Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)
Credit Builder Loan
Pay in, get savings backOpen to all via membership
5% APR fixed, no fees listed
DCU lends you $500–$3,000 and keeps it in your DCU savings, earning dividends, until the loan is paid off. No payments for the first 60 days.
View details →#2Patelco Credit Union
ScoreUp Credit Builder Loan
Pay in, get savings backOpen to all via membership
5.5% APR fixed, no fees of any kind
The loan goes into a locked ScoreUp savings account; you repay by autopay and get the savings when it is paid in full. No credit history needed.
View details →#3Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
Credit Builder Loan
Pay in, get savings backOpen to all ($25 to join)
6% APR fixed, no prepayment penalty
Up to $1,000 is deposited into your savings and frozen, still earning dividends, until you finish repaying. Reports to all three bureaus.
View details →#4University Federal Credit Union (UFCU)
Credit Builder Loan
Pay in, get savings backMembership required
3% APR, no application fee
UFCU holds the loan amount while you make monthly payments (at least $30), then releases it after the final payment. Reports to all three bureaus.
View details →Cash upfront + savingsMembership required
About 3.2% APR (savings rate + 3%), no credit check
Borrow against your BECU savings, which stay as collateral and keep earning. No credit check, and on-time payments are reported to build credit.
View details →#6BCU (Baxter Credit Union)
Credit Builder Loan
Pay in, get savings backMembership required
4.5% APR, no application or origination fee
After a session with a BCU financial coach, you make fixed monthly payments into a secured savings account and get the money back at the end.
View details →#7Ava
Save & Build Credit (Ava Secured Loan Account)
Pay in, get savings back
0% APR — $5–$10/month Ava membership
Pay $25 a month for 24 months into a secured loan and get $600 back at the end. Reports to all three bureaus.
View details →#8Brigit
Brigit Credit Builder
Pay in, get savings back
0% APR — the cost is the $8.99–$15.99/month subscription
You choose a monthly savings amount (from $1). The loan is held in a savings account you can withdraw from.
View details →#9MoneyLion
MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus
Cash upfront + savingsNot in every state
5.99%–29.99% APR plus a $19.99/month membership
Up to $1,000 over 12 months. Part of the loan may be held in a reserve account until it is repaid.
View details →#10Republic Bank & Trust Company
Credit Builder Program
Pay in, get savings backBranch or phone
7.5%–8% APR plus a $10 processing fee
The loan is placed in an interest-earning CD while you make monthly payments; after the last payment you can withdraw or reinvest it.
View details →#11Hope Credit Union
Borrow and Save Loan
Cash upfront + savingsAL, AR, LA, MS, TN
8.5%–18% APR, no monthly fee
Up to $1,000. Part of the loan goes to you, part into a savings account that is yours once repaid. Credit union membership required.
View details →#12Credit Strong (Austin Capital Bank)
Credit Strong Credit Builder Loan (Instal / MAGNUM)
Pay in, get savings back
About 10.6%–15.6% APR plus a $15–$25 one-time fee
The loan sits in a locked deposit account; you get it back when you finish paying. Long terms (48–120 months).
View details →#13Sunrise Banks, N.A.
Credit Builder Loan
Pay in, get savings backMinnesota bank
15%–21% APR
The loan is held in a Sunrise CD while you make monthly payments, then paid to you when you finish. Reports to all four bureaus, including Innovis.
View details →#14Self Financial
Self Credit Builder Account
Pay in, get savings back
About 15.5%–15.9% APR plus a small admin fee
Pay $25–$150/month for 24 months; the money is released at the end, minus interest and fees.
View details →#15USALLIANCE Financial
Credit Builder Loan
Pay in, get savings backMembership required
APR based on income and credit (not published)
The amount you borrow is held in your USALLIANCE account while you make small monthly payments, then released once the loan is paid.
View details →Credit account — not a loan
$10/month for 24 months ($240 total)
An installment plan tied to a purchase rather than locked savings. Reports to all three bureaus.
View details →#17Civic Federal Credit Union
Credit Builder Loan
Pay in, get savings backNC, SC, VA, GA, TN
APR is the savings rate + 4%
Civic puts the loan amount in your savings as collateral while you make fixed monthly payments. Reports to Equifax and TransUnion.
View details →#18Alternatives Federal Credit Union
Credit ScoreBuilder Loan
Pay in, get savings backMembership required
APR is 2% above the share-certificate rate; no monthly fee
$100–$2,500, secured by a share certificate you keep. Credit union membership required.
View details →#19Self-Help Credit Union
Credit Builder Loan
Pay in, get savings backMembership required
APR is the savings rate + 4%; no monthly fee
The loan is held in savings and released as you repay. No credit score required. Branches in 10 states; membership required.
View details →#20Navy Federal Credit Union
Savings Secured Loan
Cash upfront + savingsMilitary & families
APR is the savings rate + 2% (up to 60 months)
Borrow against your Navy Federal savings, which stay in place earning dividends as collateral. No credit check; repayment can help build credit.
View details →#21Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union (RBFCU)
Credit Builder Loan
Pay in, get savings backTexas membership
APR not published; no application fee
The loan is secured in your RBFCU savings while you pay monthly; dividends are released monthly and the principal after payoff.
View details →
What is a credit-builder loan?
A credit-builder loan is a small installment loan designed to create payment history. With most of them you don’t get the money upfront: it’s held in a savings account or certificate while you make monthly payments, and released to you at the end. Each on-time payment is reported to the credit bureaus.
Is a credit-builder loan better than a secured card?
They build credit in different ways. A secured card adds a revolving account and needs a deposit upfront; a credit-builder loan adds an installment account and you pay in over time. If you can afford both, having one of each improves your credit mix. If you can only choose one, a no-annual-fee secured card is usually cheaper.
How much does a credit-builder loan cost?
Look past the APR. Several providers charge a monthly subscription or membership that costs more than the interest, and credit union loans are often the cheapest because they have no monthly fee. Each product above shows its real cost.
Do credit-builder loans need a credit check?
Most don’t do a hard credit check, which is why they work for people with no credit or damaged credit. Credit union loans usually require membership, and some are only available in certain states.