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Taking out a personal loan could be a good option if you need to pay medical bills, consolidate debt, or cover another expense. But before you borrow, it’s important to understand how personal loans work and how to find the right one for your needs.
Here’s what you should know about how personal loans work (and how to get one):
- How personal loans work
- Types of personal loans
- How to apply for a personal loan
- What can you use a personal loan for?
How personal loans work
A personal loan is a type of installment loan offered by a few types of financial institutions, such as online lenders, banks, and credit unions. You’ll pay this loan back in equal installments with interest over a period of time.
Most personal loans are unsecured, which means you don’t have to worry about collateral. Instead, your credit, income, and other factors will determine if you qualify and what your interest rate will be.
Before you take out a personal loan, here are some important points to consider:
- Will you qualify? Each lender has its own set of requirements to qualify for a personal loan. However, lenders typically look for borrowers who have a steady income and good credit history (or who have a cosigner who meets these conditions).
- What rates can you expect? Terms and rates vary by lender and what you’re planning on using your personal loan for. To get a good interest rate, you’ll typically need good to excellent credit — in general, the higher your credit score, the better your rate will be. Keep in mind that with Credible, you can compare your prequalified rates from multiple lenders to find the right loan for you.
- Are there fees? Some lenders charge fees on personal loans, such as origination fees or late fees. Make sure to do your research so you know exactly how much the loan will cost you. Also note that if you take out a personal loan with one of Credible’s partner lenders, you won’t have to worry about prepayment penalties.
- How long will it take to get funds? The time to fund for a personal loan is usually about one week — though some lenders will fund loans as soon as the same or next business day after approval.
Learn More: What Is a Personal Loan?
Types of personal loans
While most personal loans are unsecured, there are also some lenders that offer secured personal loans. Here’s how both types of personal loans work:
- Secured personal loans: This kind of personal loan requires the borrower to provide collateral, such as a car or jewelry. Because there’s less risk for the lender, secured loans sometimes have lower interest rates compared to unsecured loans. You might also have an easier time qualifying for this type of loan if you have poor or fair credit. Just keep in mind that if you can’t keep up with your payments, you risk losing your collateral.
- Unsecured personal loans: Unlike secured loans, unsecured loans don’t require collateral. Because these loans are riskier for lenders, they tend to come with higher interest rates as well as more stringent credit requirements. However, while missing payments will damage your credit, you won’t be in danger of losing your property.
Ultimately, the right choice between a secured vs. an unsecured personal loan will depend on your individual circumstances. For example, if you have poor credit, it could be easier to get approved for a secured loan.
But if you have good credit, then it could be better to take out an unsecured loan that doesn’t require you to provide collateral.
How to apply for a personal loan
If you’re ready to get a personal loan, follow these four steps:
- Check your credit. When you apply for a loan, the lender will perform a hard credit check to determine your creditworthiness — so it’s a good idea to check your credit beforehand to see where you stand. You can use a site like AnnualCreditReport.com to review your credit reports for free. If you find any errors, dispute them with the appropriate credit bureaus to potentially boost your credit score.
- Compare lenders and pick a loan option. Be sure to shop around and compare as many lenders as you can to find the right loan for your situation. Consider not only interest rates but also repayment terms, any fees charged by the lender, and eligibility requirements. After you’ve done your research, pick the loan option that best suits your needs.
- Complete the application. Once you’ve chosen a lender, you’ll need to fill out a full application and submit any required documentation — such as tax returns or pay stubs.
- Get your funds. If you’re approved, the lender will have you sign for the loan so the funds can be released to you. You can typically expect to get your funds within one week or so — but you might get your money as soon as the same or next business day with some lenders.
Tip: Be sure to borrow only what you need so you can keep your repayment costs as low as possible. You can use our personal loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments as well as how much you’ll pay over the life of the loan.
Before you apply for a loan, remember to consider as many lenders as you can to find the right loan for you. Credible makes this easy — you can compare your prequalified rates from multiple lenders in two minutes.
| Lender | Fixed rates | Loan amounts | Min. credit score | Loan terms (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.99% - 29.99% APR | $10,000 to $50,000 | Not disclosed by lender | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 9.95% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $35,000** | 550 | 2, 3, 4, 5* |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.99% - 15.19% APR | $10,000 to $50,000 | 700 | 3, 4, 5, 6 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 8.99% - 35.99% APR | $5,000 to $35,000 | 600 | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 6.99% - 24.99% APR | $2,500 to $35,000 | 660 | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.99% - 29.99% APR | $5,000 to $40,000 | 600 | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 8.3% - 35.89% APR | $1,000 to $40,000 | 600 | 3, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.99% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $36,500 | 580 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 5.99% - 23.99% APR | $5,000 to $100,000 | 660 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (up to 12 years for home improvement loans) |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 18.0% - 35.99% APR | $1,500 to $20,000 | None | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.74% - 17.99% APR | $600 to $50,000 (depending on loan term) | 660 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 6.99% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $50,000 | 640 | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.99% - 23.43% APR10 | $5,000 to $100,000 | Does not disclose | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 11.69% - 35.93% APR7 | $1,000 to $50,000 | 560 | 3 to 5 years 8 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 8.49% - 35.97% APR | $1,000 to $50,000 | 560 | 2, 3, 5, 6 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 5.4% - 35.99% APR4 | $1,000 to $50,0005 | 580 | 3 to 5 years4 |
|
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Check Out: Best Personal Loan Lenders
Will applying for a personal loan impact my credit score?
When you apply for a personal loan, the lender will perform a hard credit check to determine your creditworthiness. This could lead to a slight drop in your credit score — but this effect is usually only temporary, and your score will likely bounce back within a few months.
Additionally, getting a personal loan might actually help your credit in the long run. For example, if you make all of your payments on time or are able to diversify your credit mix with a personal loan, you could see an improvement in your score. Ultimately, the benefits to your credit from a personal loan could end up far outweighing any initially negative impact.
Keep in mind: Shopping around and comparing lenders before you take out a loan generally won’t hurt your credit — so long as the lenders allow you to see your personalized loan options with just a soft credit pull.
For example, checking your prequalified rates from Credible’s partner lenders involves only a soft credit check that won’t impact your credit score.
What can you use a personal loan for?
You can typically use a personal loan for almost any personal expense — though there are some lenders that restrict the use of their loans for certain purposes.
Here are a few reasons why you might get a personal loan:
- Debt consolidation: You can use a personal loan to pay off multiple bills at once (like high-interest credit card debt) and then pay your personal loan back in installments every month. This process is known as debt consolidation.
- Home improvement projects: Whether you have huge renovations or minor repairs, a personal loan could help you get the exact funds you need to cover the costs.
- Major life events: Getting married, expanding your family, or laying a loved one to rest can be expensive. A personal loan could be a good option to pay for these life events, whether expected or unexpected.
If a personal loan seems like the best fit for your needs, remember to take the time to shop around and consider as many lenders as possible before you borrow. This way, you can find the right loan for your situation.
This is easy with Credible: You can compare your prequalified rates from multiple lenders in two minutes — without affecting your credit.
Ready to find your personal loan?
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Keep Reading: HELOC vs. Home Equity Loan: How to Decide
Ashley Harrison contributed to the reporting of this article.
