How We Rank Lenders
365 Loans is a comparison marketplace, not a lender. The order in which we present lending options is determined by a combination of commercial factors and a formal editorial methodology — both are explained below.
Commercial disclosure: 365 Loans earns revenue when a borrower submits an application through our platform. This means lenders that pay higher referral fees may appear more prominently in certain default sorted views. However, our editorial scores and compliance checks are maintained independently and are not purchasable.
Our Five Ranking Criteria
Every lender in our network is evaluated against five criteria. The weights below represent our editorial scoring model applied when determining "Best Match" or editorially ordered presentations.
Regulatory Compliance
Weight: 30%Lenders must comply with all applicable laws in the United States. This includes state-level APR caps, TILA disclosure requirements, and CFPB regulations. Non-compliant lenders are removed from our network immediately.
APR Transparency
Weight: 25%Lenders are ranked higher when they clearly disclose their full APR range upfront — before a borrower completes an application. Hidden fees, buried rate disclosures, and bait-and-switch practices result in lower ranking or removal from the platform. All rates shown are USD and include all mandatory fees.
Speed and Reliability
Weight: 20%We measure how quickly lenders respond to applications, how reliably they fund approved loans, and how consistently they meet stated timelines. Lenders with poor follow-through rates are scored lower regardless of advertised speed.
Consumer Reviews and Complaints
Weight: 15%We monitor consumer complaints filed with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and publicly available reviews for patterns of misleading practices, poor customer service, or systemic problems. A lender with an unusually high complaint rate receives a lower ranking or is suspended from the platform.
Loan Product Range
Weight: 10%Lenders offering a broader range of loan amounts, credit score acceptance (including bad credit), and flexible repayment terms serve more borrowers and rank higher than highly restrictive lenders — all else being equal.
Lender Vetting Process
Before any lender joins the 365 Loans network, they pass a four-step vetting process:
- License verification: We confirm the lender holds all required provincial/state licenses and is in good standing with the relevant regulator.
- Rate compliance check: We verify that the lender's maximum advertised rate does not exceed state maximum APR for applicable state borrowers.
- Terms and disclosure review: We review loan agreements for clarity, mandatory disclosures, and the absence of predatory terms (e.g., automatic rollovers, balloon payments without disclosure).
- Complaint history review: We research the lender's complaint history with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and consumer review platforms. Lenders with unresolved systemic complaints are not admitted.
Ongoing monitoring continues after admission. Lenders are re-evaluated quarterly or whenever new complaint data or regulatory action is identified.
How "Sort by" Options Work
When borrowers use our platform, offers may be sorted in several ways. Here is what each means:
- Best Match (default): A blended score of our editorial methodology plus commercial factors. Compliant, highly-rated lenders with competitive rates tend to rank highest.
- Lowest APR: Re-sorts by advertised minimum APR, ascending. Note: your personal rate will depend on your credit profile and may differ from the displayed minimum.
- Fastest Funding: Re-sorts by lenders who most reliably fund within 24 hours based on our internal performance data.
Questions About Our Methodology?
If you have questions about how lenders are evaluated, want to report a lender concern, or believe a score is inaccurate, please contact us.
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