Rize Credit Union Partners with Upstart to Expand Access to Personal Loans in California

Rize Credit Union has entered a new partnership with Upstart to use its AI-powered lending platform and Referral Network to offer more personal loans to consumers across California.​

What the partnership does

• Rize will use Upstart’s AI lending marketplace and Referral Network to originate unsecured personal loans for qualified borrowers throughout California.​

• Applicants who meet Rize’s credit criteria on Upstart.com are routed into a Rize-branded online experience to complete membership, underwriting, and closing fully digitally.​

Who Rize Credit Union is

• Rize Credit Union is a mission-driven, member-owned credit union with over $1.2 billion in assets and a 70‑year history, focused on Southern California and Southern Nevada.​

• It is certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), emphasizing expanded access to affordable credit in underserved communities and long-term financial security for members.​

How it expands access

• The partnership is designed to help Rize approve more borrowers at affordable rates, including “prime” borrowers and those in Upstart’s T‑Prime program who may be overlooked by traditional credit models.​

• By using Upstart’s mostly automated underwriting (over 90% of loans are fully automated), Rize can scale digital lending, grow its loan portfolio, and reach more members without adding comparable manual processing capacity.​

Timeline and geography

• Rize began participating on the Upstart Referral Network for personal loans in May 2024 and is now expanding this effort with a formalized partnership highlighted in the January 21, 2026 announcement.​

• The initiative specifically targets consumers across California, aligning with Rize’s primary regional focus and Upstart’s presence in the state.​

About Upstart

• Upstart is a U.S.-based AI lending marketplace that connects consumers with more than 100 banks and credit unions using its credit models and cloud software.​

• Its platform spans personal loans, auto loans, home equity lines of credit, and small-dollar “relief” loans, with headquarters in San Mateo, California.​