ATB personal loan and lines of credit review
- APR Range
- 7.20% - 14.20%
- Loan Amount
- N/A
- Loan Term
- 1 - 5 years
Our verdict
Get a competitive interest rate and a flexible repayment schedule, but keep in mind that you'll need strong credit to qualify.
ATB Financial provides fixed- or variable-rate personal loans and variable-rate lines of credit to residents of Alberta. It offers competitive interest rates, the ability to tailor a repayment schedule to suit your needs and the flexibility of early repayment without penalty. Enjoy peace of mind from dealing with a financial institution that is owned by the province of Alberta.
But you need good (or better) credit to qualify, and you'll have to look elsewhere if you're not an Alberta resident.
Best for: Residents of Alberta with good to excellent credit.
Pros
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Competitive rates
-
Flexible repayment schedule
-
Secure your loan to get a lower rate
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Early repayment allowed
Cons
-
Only for Alberta residents
-
Bad credit not accepted
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Some negative customer reviews
What is ATB?
ATB Financial is an Alberta-based financial institution that offers a wide range of personal and business banking products to Alberta residents. It is headquartered in Canada, employs over 5,000 people and serves more than 800,000 clients.
Is ATB legit?
It is. Founded in 1938, ATB Financial has over $60 billion in assets. It’s a Crown corporation that’s owned by the province of Alberta.
ATB Financial has over 280 locations across Alberta and is a member of organizations like Payments Canada and Interac Corp. You can review the regulatory framework ATB operates under on its website.
Finder Awards
In 2023, we completed the Finder: Personal Loan Consumer Satisfaction Awards — an annual ranking of personal loan providers in Canada based on customer satisfaction feedback. In 2024, we completed the Finder: Personal Loans Best-in-Class Awards, which recognizes the best personal loan brands in Canada based on our data-driven methodology.
Finalist: Best-in-Class
ATB Financial was a finalist in the Best Personal Loan Traditional Lender (Provincial) category in the Finder: Personal Loans Best-in-Class Awards 2024.
Features of ATB loans
| Feature | Personal loan | Personal line of credit |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | Not specified | $5,000 - $50,000 |
| Loan term | 1 - 5 years | Open |
| APR | 7.20% - 14.20% | 6.70% + amount that varies based on your financial situation |
| Serviced provinces | Alberta | Alberta |
| Eligibility requirements | Employment, income and credit score requirements apply | Employment, income and credit score requirements apply |
What are the interest rates of ATB loans and lines of credit?
ATB personal loan interest rates range from 7.20% to 14.20%. Rates can be fixed or variable and are based on ATB’s prime rate, with factors such as your credit score, income, employment history and loan amount determining the rate you ultimately get. Learn more about personal loan rates in Canada.
ATB lines of credit come with variable interest rates based on ATB’s prime rate (5.95%). You also have the option of qualifying for a lower rate by providing an eligible asset as collateral for your loan or line of credit. Learn more about line of credit rates.
What we like about ATB loans
- Competitive rates. APRs of ATB personal loans start at 7.2%.
- Secured or unsecured. While unsecured loans and lines of credit are available, you can also secure your loan or line of credit with an asset to qualify for a lower interest rate.
- Fixed or variable rate loans. Choose the security of a fixed rate or the flexibility of a variable rate with an ATB personal loan.
- Flexible repayment schedule. With an ATB personal loan, you can make monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly or weekly payments. If you have a line of credit, you only pay interest on the amount used.
- Early repayment allowed. Make extra payments towards an ATB unsecured personal loan any time, and pay it off early without penalty.
- Easy online application. It’s quick and easy to apply for an unsecured loan online.
What to watch out for
- Only for Alberta residents. ATB Financial loans and lines of credit are only available to residents of Alberta.
- Not suitable for bad credit borrowers. You’ll likely find it difficult to qualify for an ATB loan if you don’t have good to excellent credit.
- Negative customer reviews. Some customers report issues with poor customer service.
Alternatives to ATB personal loans
What do ATB reviews have to say?
ATB Financial reviews tend to be quite mixed. Positive reviews tend to focus on helpful and friendly customer service, particularly when visiting a branch. But ATB has picked up plenty of negative reviews too, with customers commonly complaining about online banking issues and long phone wait times.
Summary of ATB reviews
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 1.6 out of 5 stars based on 55 ATB Financial reviews |
| ATB Financial review score varies depending on the branch | |
| BBB accreditation | Not available |
| BBB rating | Not available |
| BBB reviews | Not available |
| Reviews as of | March 12, 2024 |
What are ATB’s loans?
- Personal loan. ATB personal loans offer a lump sum payment you can use for just about any purpose such as making a large purchase or consolidating debts. Loans can be secured or unsecured and come with either a fixed or variable interest rate. Repayment terms range from 1 - 5 years. Additionally, you can choose a repayment plan that suits your income frequency and pay off the loan early without penalty.
- Personal line of credit. An ATB personal line of credit provides flexible access to funds of up to $50,000 (potentially more if you provide collateral). The credit line is linked to your ATB chequing account for ease of access, and it comes with a variable interest rate. Make minimum monthly interest payments on the funds you use, or pay back more each month. It’s up to you.
Other loans offered by ATB include home equity lines of credit, investment loans, agricultural loans and mortgages.
Can I use an ATB personal loan for debt consolidation?
Yes. If you have multiple unsecured debts with high interest payments, you can use an ATB personal loan to consolidate those debts into one loan with a single monthly payment. Contact ATB to find out what information you need to provide when applying for an ATB consolidation loan.
Can I get ATB loans with bad credit?
No. While ATB doesn’t list any minimum credit score requirements online, you’ll typically need good to excellent credit to qualify for a personal loan or line of credit from a major financial institution.
If your credit history is a little checkered, you may want to compare lenders that offer bad credit personal loans.
Eligibility requirements of ATB loans
To qualify for a loan from ATB, you’ll need to satisfy the following requirements:
- Be a resident of Alberta
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Meet employment and income requirements
- Have a good to excellent credit score
During the application process you’ll need to provide the following:
- Your Social Insurance Number (optional)
- Valid photo ID such as your driver’s license or passport
- Proof of your residential address
- Employment details
How to get an ATB loan
If you want to apply for a secured personal loan or line of credit from ATB, you’ll need to contact the company to discuss which financial solution works best for your situation. Complete the following steps to apply online for an unsecured loan or line of credit:
- Go to the personal loans page of the ATB Financial website, and select Apply Now.
- Specify whether you already have any ATB Financial products. If you do, log in with your username and password. This will speed up the application process. If you don’t, enter your name and email address and create a password to set up a new profile.
- Enter the verification code sent to your email address.
- Upload proof of ID, and enter your personal details.
- Provide information about your assets and liabilities.
- Provide details of your desired loan amount and the purpose of the loan.
- Enter the details of your monthly payment and funding account.
- Set up a verbal password.
- Enter the relevant legal and tax information.
- Review all your details, and submit your application.
Bottom line
If you’re an Alberta resident with good to excellent credit, an ATB personal loan or line of credit is well worth considering. Rates are competitive and repayments can be tailored to your needs. Compare ATB Financial with other lenders to find the loan option that best suits your needs.
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