Carol Pope
Senior Writer
5years covering personal finance
137+ articles on LendingTree
Licensed insurance agent (2-20 General Lines) for 16+ years
Specialties
Personal loans
Auto loans
Credit scores
Auto insurance
Education
Bachelor of Arts, University of Michigan - Flint
Carol is a senior staff writer for LendingTree, where she primarily covers personal loans and auto loans. Her favorite pieces highlight consumer issues like using AI for financial advice and choosing the best auto refinance loan.
Before joining LendingTree, Carol was an in-house insurance writer for Bankrate. She also spent more than a decade as a licensed insurance agent for Geico before pivoting to writing.
Her work has been cited in NPR’s "All Things Considered," and she’s been quoted as a subject matter expert by Newsweek and Kiplinger. She is also the author of "Credit 101", published by Adams Media/Simon & Schuster in Spring 2026.
Carol focuses on giving readers data-driven information that they can use to save. Having grown up with limited resources, she brings a practical, real-world perspective to the financial decisions her readers face.
Carol's credit-building tip
I applied for my first card at 18, with the goal of building credit. I was instantly denied. Honestly, it was for the best. But if I could go back, I'd try for a secured card instead. A secured credit card requires a deposit, which serves as your credit line and helps keep new borrowers from overspending. With responsible use, it can be a safe way to establish credit history."
