Editorial policy and rating methodology
This policy explains how the BigPictureLoanApply Editorial Team researches, writes, rates and updates content.
Sourcing standards
- Lender terms come from the lender’s own published disclosures, rechecked at least monthly.
- Legal history comes from official settlement websites and court-related records.
- Regulatory facts come from agencies such as the CFPB and NCUA.
- Customer sentiment is summarized from public rating platforms and labeled by source. Company-reported ratings are labeled as company-reported.
- Every article lists its sources at the bottom.
Rating methodology
Each lender is scored from 1 to 5 on six fixed criteria. We never add, remove or reweight criteria for an individual lender.
| Criterion | Weight | What we measure |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of borrowing | 25% | APR range and total of payments on representative examples |
| Borrower protections | 20% | Governing law, dispute process, regulatory oversight, litigation history |
| Speed of funding | 15% | Published funding methods and timing |
| Eligibility | 15% | Accessibility for borrowers with poor or limited credit |
| Price transparency | 15% | Whether rates, examples and fees are published clearly before applying |
| Customer experience | 10% | Support availability and patterns in public ratings and complaints |
How we fact-check
- Every number is traced to a named source and the source is listed on the page.
- Figures are compared against a second source where possible, such as a regulator or court record.
- Scaled or estimated figures are labeled as illustrations, with the method explained.
- Significant changes are recorded in the update log on this page.
How we handle company claims
Statements that only the company can verify, such as its own customer ratings or approval rates, are labeled “company-reported.” We don’t repeat marketing language as fact.
Testimonials and ratings
We don’t publish invented testimonials, ratings or expert quotes. Customer sentiment is summarized from public platforms in our own words, with links to the originals. Guidance from agencies is summarized and linked, and those agencies have not checked or endorsed this site.
Source priority
- The lender’s own disclosures, rate pages and FAQ
- Court opinions, dockets and official settlement sites
- Federal regulators such as the CFPB and NCUA
- Established consumer finance publications
- Public rating platforms, for sentiment only
Independence
Business relationships never influence scores or conclusions. Writers don’t see partner compensation data.
Updates and corrections
We recheck pricing pages at least monthly and after any major news. If you spot an error, email us through the contact page. Corrections are made promptly and recorded in the update log.
Update log
| At launch | Full fact-check of lender rates and FAQ; added articles on complaints, legitimacy, login, funding time, pre-approved letters and OppLoans; expanded existing articles. |
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Use of tools
We may use software tools to help draft or format content. Every fact is checked against the cited source by our team before publication.