Marlette Holdings
Best Egg helps consumers access personal loans and credit products online instantly.
Best Egg (formerly Marlette Holdings) is a financial services technology company that streamlines personal lending through its online platform, enabling consumers to consolidate debt, finance home improvements, and cover medical expenses. The company partners with FDIC-insured banks to originate loans, offering fast approval and funding in as little as one day. Beyond personal loans, Best Egg has expanded into credit cards and financial wellness tools, serving nearly 3 million customers with over $30 billion in originated loans. Note: As of October 2025, Best Egg was acquired by Barclays Bank and is no longer an independent startup.
Problem solved
Traditional personal lending involves lengthy approval processes, opaque terms, and friction—Best Egg simplifies borrowing through an online platform with instant loan offers and same-day funding.
Target customer
Consumers seeking personal loans for debt consolidation, home improvement, medical expenses, and general financing needs; primarily individuals with good to excellent credit seeking streamlined online lending.
Founders
J
Jeffrey Meiler
Founder & CEO
25 years in consumer finance and banking with expertise in unsecured consumer lending; previously held roles at NRG, Barclays Bank, Citigroup, and The Associates, with 7 years of international experience in UK and Europe.
O
Other Juniper Bank Veterans
Co-Founders
Founding team comprised 80% of former Barclays employees with deep expertise in consumer credit sector.
Funding history
Series A
$75M
2015
Led by Invus
· Unknown
Series B
$205M
August 2016
Led by Unknown
· Unknown
Series E
$225M
March 10, 2022
Led by Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
· Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP, unnamed large international bank
Total raised:
$1.462B
Industries
Pricing
Not publicly available; company operates through bank partnerships for loan origination with variable terms based on creditworthiness and loan amount.
Notable customers
350,000+ individuals financed through platform; 2.9 million total customers; specific named customers not publicly disclosed
Integrations
Cross River Bank, Blue Ridge Bank, First Bank & Trust of Brookings South Dakota (banking partners for loan origination and credit card issuance)
Website
Competitors
Upgrade
Similar personal loan platform; Upgrade also offers credit cards but has different underwriting and approval criteria.
SoFi
Broader financial services platform offering student loans, investing, and insurance alongside personal loans; larger brand presence.
Upstart
AI-powered lending platform with different risk assessment approach; focuses on broader lending marketplace rather than direct consumer origination.
Avant
Serves subprime lending market; Best Egg targets prime and near-prime borrowers with better credit profiles.
Discover
Established legacy bank offering personal loans; Best Egg differentiates through speed and digital-first experience.
Why this matters: Best Egg scaled to become a top 5 online lender with $1.46B in total funding and $30B+ in originated loans, demonstrating strong product-market fit in personal lending. The October 2025 acquisition by Barclays—a major global bank—validates the digital lending platform model and reflects the fintech consolidation trend where incumbents acquire proven digital-first competitors.
Best for: Consumers with good to excellent credit seeking fast, transparent personal loans for debt consolidation or major purchases without traditional bank friction.
Use cases
Debt Consolidation
Borrowers with multiple high-interest credit cards or debts use Best Egg to consolidate into a single, lower-rate personal loan. The streamlined process allows them to see loan offers instantly and access funds within 24 hours, reducing monthly payments and interest burden significantly.
Home Improvement Financing
Homeowners needing capital for renovations or repairs can obtain personal loans through Best Egg without home equity extraction or lengthy appraisals. Fast approval and funding enables them to start projects immediately while maintaining flexibility in repayment terms.
Medical Expense Coverage
Individuals facing unexpected medical costs access Best Egg's personal loans to cover procedures, treatments, or medical bills without depleting savings or triggering long approval delays from traditional lenders.
Alternatives
SoFi Personal Loans
Larger, more diversified fintech with additional products (investing, insurance); Best Egg has faster funding in some cases and lower credit minimums.
Upstart
AI-driven underwriting platform targeting broader credit spectrum; Best Egg focuses on prime borrowers with more transparent terms.
LendingClub
Peer-to-peer lending model with investor participation; Best Egg uses bank partnerships for more stable funding and pricing.
FAQ
What does Best Egg do? +
Best Egg is an online lending platform that provides personal loans for debt consolidation, home improvement, medical expenses, and other needs. The company partners with FDIC-insured banks to originate loans, offering fast application reviews, instant loan offers, and funding in as little as one business day. Best Egg also offers credit cards and financial wellness tools.
How much does Best Egg cost? +
Best Egg's pricing varies based on creditworthiness, loan amount, and term. Interest rates and fees are not publicly listed but borrowers can see loan offers instantly on the platform without hard credit inquiries. Contact Best Egg directly or visit their website for personalized rate quotes.
What are alternatives to Best Egg? +
Alternatives include SoFi (broader fintech with investing and insurance), Upgrade (similar personal loan platform), Upstart (AI-powered lending), LendingClub (peer-to-peer model), and Discover Personal Loans (legacy bank offering).
Who uses Best Egg? +
Best Egg serves consumers with good to excellent credit seeking personal loans for debt consolidation, home improvement, medical expenses, and major purchases. The platform has served nearly 3 million customers and originated over $30 billion in personal loans since launch.
How does Best Egg compare to Upgrade? +
Both are online personal loan platforms targeting prime borrowers, but Best Egg emphasizes speed (24-hour funding) and streamlined approval. Upgrade offers credit cards alongside loans but Best Egg's digital-first approach and fast funding are competitive advantages for borrowers prioritizing speed.
Tags
personal loans
debt consolidation
online lending
fintech
consumer finance
credit cards
financial wellness