Updated October 14, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Ascent Funding vs Lendela
Ascent Funding vs Lendela: the differences
| Compare |  Ascent Funding |  Lendela |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 1.94% to 17.5% | up to 48% |
| Loan amount | $2,001 to $200,000 | SGD 1,000 to SGD 200,000 |
| Term | 60 to 180 monthsHigher | 3 to 72 months |
| Arrangement fee | 0 USD (no application, origination, disbursement, late or NSF fees on Ascent college loans) | SGD 0 |
| Credit check | Hard | None |
| Funding time | Tuition funds sent directly to the school after the school certifies the loan | Around 1-2 days from application to disbursement; some within hours |
| Representative example | $10,000 first-year single disbursement; undergraduate fixed rate, immediate 5-year repayment: 1.94% APR, 60 payments @ $175.02, total cost $10,501.11 | Personal loan: $20,000 at APR 6.95% over 5 years, total payable $26,940, monthly cost $449 |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Marketplace |
| Eligibility | Enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school; U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident or DACA status; cosigner must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident | Age 21 or older; Singapore citizen or PR (foreigners also considered, higher income threshold); min annual income SGD 20,000-30,000 citizens/PR |
| Loan types | Student | Personal, Debt consolidation, Business, Secured, StudentCovers more |
| Rate type | Fixed | Not confirmed |
| Free early repayment | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Origination fee (%) | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Same on both: Credit needed (Fair).
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Key differences
- Ascent Funding scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.5.
- Lendela is available in 1 more country.
- Term is higher at Ascent Funding: 60 to 180 months vs 3 to 72 months.
- Loan types: only Lendela offers Personal, Debt consolidation, Business.
Our verdict on each
Ascent Funding
Ascent Funding offers US college-loan routes for cosigned, non-cosigned and graduate borrowing. Its process includes eligibility and credit checks, school enrollment confirmation and tuition disbursement to the school.
Lendela
Lendela suits Singapore borrowers who want a fast loan without a credit check. The marketplace matches amounts of SGD 1,000 to SGD 200,000 over terms of 3 to 72, with an APR of up to 48% set by the lender you are matched to.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ascent Funding | Lendela |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5 | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 8.9Fees are SGD 0 to arrange a personal loan and SGD 0 on the mortgage side. |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 8.2 |
Which one suits you
Pick Ascent Funding if term matter most.
Pick Lendela if loan types matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Ascent Funding | Lendela |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Maryland 1761645 Connecticut SLC-1761645 Kansas SL.0026867 Louisiana 001364 Maine CSO14677 Nebraska ME1761645-IL New Jersey L0712256 New Mexico 002211 North Carolina 294 North Dakota MB103366 Ohio SL.400354.000 Oregon 0473-001-C Pennsylvania 68123 Rhode Island 20193720LB South Dakota 1761645.MYL Tennessee 173694 Texas 168180 Vermont LSO-1761645 West Virginia 540331 Wisconsin 164 Wyoming CL-4414 | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Ascent Funding: 1. Additional countries for Lendela: 2.
How they place
| Ranking | Ascent Funding | Lendela |
|---|---|---|
| Loans for bad credit | 82 of 276 | 42 of 276 |
| Private student loans | 15 of 167 | 6 of 167 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ascent Funding | Lendela |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Not confirmed |
| Features | Not confirmed | Same day funding, Credit line |
| Legal entity | Ascent Funding, LLC | Lendela Pte. Ltd. |
| Headquarters | United States | Singapore |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2018 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Mortgages
| Fact | Ascent Funding | Lendela |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | Not confirmed | 2.4% |
| Product fee | Not confirmed | SGD 0 |
| Purpose | Not confirmed | Purchase, Remortgage |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ascent Funding | Lendela | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 1.94% to 17.5%lowest quarter | up to 48%highest quarter | 8.99 |
| Term | 60 to 180 monthshighest quarter | 3 to 72 monthsabove the median | 60 |
| Origination fee (%) | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
Median across 1148 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Ascent Funding
Pros
- Cosigned, non-cosigned and graduate-loan routes.
- The process includes credit and eligibility review and school enrollment confirmation.
- Tuition is sent to the school.
Cons
- Eligibility varies by student and cosigner; the process includes a hard credit check.
Lendela
Pros
- No credit check at all, and a fair credit profile is enough to apply.
- The range covers personal, debt consolidation and business lending under one roof.
- Funding is quick, with disbursement within hours on some applications.
Cons
- A marketplace model (marketplace) means the matched lender sets the rate, so up to 48% is a ceiling.
- That ceiling is steep next to 10% to 23% at Monzo Flex.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, with no live chat listed.
Who each suits
Ascent Funding
Who it suits
- US students comparing college-loan routes and application steps.
Lendela
Who it suits
- Singapore citizens and permanent residents with a steady income who need money quickly.
- Borrowers with fair credit, or who would rather avoid a credit check altogether.
- Anyone funding home improvement work, its named use case: home improvement.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for lowest rate seekers: Monzo Flex runs at 10% to 23%.
- Not for shoppers after a cost free product: Cashspace ES lists 0%.
- Not for borrowers outside Singapore: Cashspace serves the Philippines at PHP 12 to PHP 36.
Country by country
| Country | Ascent Funding | Lendela |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | No | Yes |
| Singapore | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Lendela
What APR does Lendela charge?+
The published APR runs to up to 48% on personal loans, and that figure is a ceiling rather than a rate every borrower pays. Because Lendela is a marketplace, the rate depends on the matched lender and on your own credit standing.
Are there fees to arrange a loan?+
The origination fee on personal loans is SGD 0, and the product fee on the mortgage side is SGD 0, so arranging a facility itself costs little. Interest remains the main price of the money, and the representative example shows how instalments add up.
Does Lendela run a credit check?+
No credit check is required, and the credit standing expected is fair. Applicants must be adults and Singapore citizens or permanent residents, with foreign applicants considered against a higher income threshold. A minimum annual income applies to citizens and permanent residents.
How much can I borrow and over what term?+
The amount range is SGD 1,000 to SGD 200,000 and terms run 3 to 72. The range covers personal, debt consolidation and business lending, so the same facility handles personal, consolidation or business borrowing. Home improvement is the named use case.
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