# LenderWiki MCP Server

A [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) (MCP) server that gives AI assistants access to LenderWiki's database of **13,000+ US consumer lenders**. Search, compare, and analyze personal loan providers with real data on rates, fees, eligibility, customer reviews, and regulatory history.

<div align="center">

[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-blue.svg)](LICENSE)
[![MCP](https://img.shields.io/badge/MCP-1.0-green.svg)](https://modelcontextprotocol.io)
[![Node](https://img.shields.io/badge/node-%3E%3D18-brightgreen.svg)](https://nodejs.org)

</div>

## What It Does

This server exposes four tools that any MCP-compatible AI client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, etc.) can use to query LenderWiki's live database:

| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `find_lenders` | Search lenders by state, type, credit score, ITIN acceptance, cosigner, loan amount, product type, APR, and credit check type |
| `get_lender_profile` | Get a comprehensive lender profile — products, rates, eligibility, reviews, regulatory status |
| `compare_lenders` | Side-by-side comparison table for 2–5 lenders |
| `check_eligibility` | Preliminary eligibility check based on a user's financial profile |

### Example Prompts

Once connected, you can ask your AI assistant things like:

- *"Find lenders in California that accept ITIN"*
- *"Show me Upstart's full profile — rates, fees, who can apply"*
- *"Compare SoFi vs LendingClub vs Avant side by side"*
- *"I have a 620 credit score, $45k income, and I'm in Texas. Check if I'm eligible for Oportun"*
- *"What lenders accept applicants with no credit history?"*
- *"Find online lenders with loan amounts between $5,000 and $20,000"*
- *"Which lenders allow cosigners and don't do a hard credit pull?"*

## Quick Start

### 1. Get a Free API Key

Sign up at [lenderwiki.com](https://lenderwiki.com) for a free API key (1,000 requests/day).

### 2. Install

```bash
npm install lenderwiki-mcp-server
```

Or clone and build from source:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/lenderwiki/mcp-server.git
cd lenderwiki-mcp-server
npm install
npm run build
```

### 3. Configure Your MCP Client

#### Claude Desktop

Add this to your Claude Desktop config (`~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` on macOS, `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` on Windows):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lenderwiki": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/lenderwiki-mcp-server/dist/index.mjs"],
      "env": {
        "LENDERWIKI_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Cursor

Add to your Cursor MCP settings (`.cursor/mcp.json`):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lenderwiki": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/lenderwiki-mcp-server/dist/index.mjs"],
      "env": {
        "LENDERWIKI_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Windsurf

Add to your Windsurf MCP config (`~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lenderwiki": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/lenderwiki-mcp-server/dist/index.mjs"],
      "env": {
        "LENDERWIKI_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### npx (No Installation)

If published to npm, you can use it directly:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lenderwiki": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["lenderwiki-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "LENDERWIKI_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}
```



  ## Hosted HTTP Endpoint (Smithery / Remote MCP)

  LenderWiki also hosts the MCP server over HTTP so you can connect without running anything locally.

  ### Streamable HTTP (Recommended)

  **Endpoint:** `https://lenderwiki.com/api/mcp`

  This implements the [MCP Streamable HTTP transport](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/2025-03-26/basic/transports#streamable-http). Use this for Smithery, remote MCP clients, and any tool that supports HTTP-based MCP.

  ```
  POST https://lenderwiki.com/api/mcp
  Content-Type: application/json
  Accept: application/json, text/event-stream
  ```

  ### Legacy SSE

  For clients that only support the older SSE transport:

  - **SSE endpoint:** `GET https://lenderwiki.com/api/sse`
  - **Message endpoint:** `POST https://lenderwiki.com/api/messages?sessionId=<id>`

  ### Smithery Configuration

  When submitting to Smithery, use:

  - **Transport:** Streamable HTTP
  - **URL:** `https://lenderwiki.com/api/mcp`
  - **Authentication:** None required (rate-limited by IP)
  
## Tools Reference

### `find_lenders`

Search the lender database with optional filters.

**Parameters:**

| Parameter | Type | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| `state` | string | Two-letter US state code (e.g. `"CA"`) — filters to lenders available in that state |
| `lender_type` | enum | `online`, `bank`, `credit_union`, `cdfi`, `nonprofit`, `tribal`, `fintech`, `consumer_finance`, `traditional` |
| `accepts_itin` | boolean | Filter for ITIN-accepting lenders |
| `cosigner` | boolean | Filter for lenders that accept cosigners |
| `max_apr` | number | Maximum APR to filter by |
| `min_amount` | number | Minimum loan amount the borrower needs — filters to lenders that offer at least this amount |
| `max_amount` | number | Maximum loan amount — filters to lenders with a minimum at or below this |
| `credit_score` | number | Filter to lenders accepting this score |
| `product_type` | string | Product type (e.g. `"personal_loan"`, `"credit_builder"`, `"line_of_credit"`, `"debt_consolidation"`) |
| `credit_check` | enum | `none`, `soft`, `hard` — `"none"` returns lenders with no hard pull |
| `limit` | number | Max results, 1–50 (default 10) |

**Example tool call:**

```json
{
  "name": "find_lenders",
  "arguments": {
    "state": "CA",
    "accepts_itin": true,
    "min_amount": 5000,
    "limit": 5
  }
}
```

**Response format:** Markdown text listing each matching lender with display name, type, headquarters state, data confidence, editorial verdict, BBB and Google ratings, CFPB complaint count, ITIN acceptance, customer praise/warnings, website URL, and LenderWiki profile link.

### `get_lender_profile`

Retrieve a complete lender profile.

**Parameters:**

| Parameter | Type | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| `slug` | string | Lender identifier (e.g. `"upstart"`, `"sofi"`) |

**Example tool call:**

```json
{
  "name": "get_lender_profile",
  "arguments": {
    "slug": "upstart"
  }
}
```

**Response format:** Markdown document with sections: About, Key Facts (legal name, type, NMLS ID, headquarters, website, data confidence), What It Costs (per-product APR ranges, origination fees, terms, funding speed, estimated monthly payment), Who Can Apply (credit score, income, employment, ITIN/SSN, bankruptcy restrictions, prequalification), What Customers Say (Google/BBB ratings, praise, warnings, editorial verdict), Customer Complaints (CFPB data), and Regulatory Status.

### `compare_lenders`

Generate a side-by-side comparison.

**Parameters:**

| Parameter | Type | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| `slugs` | string[] | 2–5 lender slugs to compare |

**Example tool call:**

```json
{
  "name": "compare_lenders",
  "arguments": {
    "slugs": ["upstart", "lending-club", "sofi"]
  }
}
```

**Response format:** Markdown with a comparison table per lender showing: type, headquarters, APR range, loan amount range, max term, origination fee, funding speed, min credit score, credit check type, ITIN acceptance, no-credit acceptance, prequalification, BBB rating, Google rating, CFPB complaints, warnings, and data confidence.

### `check_eligibility`

Assess likely eligibility for a specific lender.

**Parameters:**

| Parameter | Type | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| `slug` | string | Lender slug |
| `credit_score` | number | Applicant's score (300–850) |
| `annual_income` | number | Gross annual income in USD |
| `state` | string | Two-letter state code |
| `employment_type` | enum | `W2`, `self_employed`, `1099`, `gig`, `unemployed`, `retired`, `student` |
| `has_itin` | boolean | Uses ITIN instead of SSN |
| `loan_amount` | number | Desired amount in USD |
| `has_bank_account` | boolean | Has a bank account |
| `has_bankruptcy` | boolean | Has bankruptcy on record |

**Example tool call:**

```json
{
  "name": "check_eligibility",
  "arguments": {
    "slug": "oportun",
    "credit_score": 620,
    "annual_income": 45000,
    "state": "TX",
    "employment_type": "W2",
    "loan_amount": 5000
  }
}
```

**Response format:** Markdown with an overall assessment (✅ Likely Match / 🟡 Possible Match / ❌ Unlikely Match / ❓ Insufficient Data), followed by sections for match reasons, things to verify, potential issues, and a product snapshot with estimated monthly payment.

## Environment Variables

| Variable | Required | Default | Description |
|----------|----------|---------|-------------|
| `LENDERWIKI_API_KEY` | Recommended | — | Your free LenderWiki API key |
| `LENDERWIKI_API_URL` | No | `https://lenderwiki.com/api/v1` | API base URL (for self-hosting or development) |

## Data Coverage

LenderWiki tracks **13,000+ US consumer lenders** across these categories:

- Online lenders & fintechs (Upstart, SoFi, LendingClub, etc.)
- Banks & credit unions
- CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions)
- Nonprofit lenders
- Tribal lenders

Each lender profile may include:

- **Products** — APR ranges, loan amounts, terms, origination fees, funding speed
- **Eligibility** — Credit score minimums, income requirements, employment types, ITIN/SSN, bankruptcy restrictions
- **Customer Feedback** — Google ratings, BBB ratings, common praises and warnings
- **Regulatory** — CFPB complaint counts/trends, active warnings, enforcement actions
- **Editorial** — LenderWiki's editorial verdict and data confidence score

Data is sourced from lender websites, NerdWallet, Bankrate, CFPB, BBB, and regulatory databases. Each record includes a `data_confidence` score (0–100%) and `last_verified_at` timestamp.

## Development

```bash
git clone https://github.com/lenderwiki/mcp-server.git
cd lenderwiki-mcp-server
npm install
npm run build
```

Test locally:

```bash
LENDERWIKI_API_KEY=your-key node dist/index.mjs
```

The server communicates over stdio (stdin/stdout) using the MCP protocol. It does not start an HTTP server.

## Disclaimer

LenderWiki data is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always verify eligibility requirements directly with the lender before applying. Data accuracy varies by lender — check the `data_confidence` score on each profile.

## License

[MIT](LICENSE)

---

Built by [LenderWiki](https://lenderwiki.com) — the comprehensive database of US consumer lenders.