No, Upgrade is not a direct lender and does not handle the complete loan process. Instead, it partners with several banks, including Cross River Bank, Blue Ridge Bank, and Sutton Bank, to originate loans through its online lending platform and fund the loans. If your loan is approved, you will make monthly payments through Upgrade, the loan servicer. Upgrade facilitates lending by connecting borrowers with their partner banks and providing a platform for managing and servicing the loans.