Whatever the reason is, getting a personal loan can give you the money you need. A personal loan — usually unsecured — can provide you with a little extra cash to help you meet your goals.
Actually securing that personal loan can be a bit difficult, though. Many people find the process scary, and they don’t know where to begin.
But I can help you navigate the process and offer a few ways on how to get your personal loan approved.
And if that doesn’t work, we have some other options, too.
Easily Compare Loans
Credible
There are several places where you can get rates for personal loans. One of my favorite sites for comparing quotes is Credible. Their form is quick and easy to fill out, and you’ll be comparing loan rates in no time.
You only have to input what type of loan you want, the amount, your zip code, and a bit of other basic loan information, and then they provide multiple loan options for you.
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Guide to Lenders
Guide to Lenders has been offering its free quoting services to customers in need for over 10 years, granting users access to quotes from more than 150 lenders. In just 5 minutes, you can see a wide array of options for your personal or home loan with Guide to Lenders.
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Qualifying Through Your Bank Or Credit Union
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to qualify for a personal loan through your bank or credit union, especially if you want a larger amount, but it is possible to get a reasonable loan if you meet the requirements.
Unsecured Personal Loans
Unsecured personal loans are great if you lack the collateral needed for a secured loan. Due to the enhanced risk the lender takes on, unsecured loans come with higher interest rates and steeper credit score requirements. You can also expect to find short loan terms and smaller amounts of funding available.
Once again, LendingTree can unlock all of your options, presenting you with a comparison of your top options for unsecured personal loans. It will give you access to banks, but also online lending sources.
If you are a good customer and have good credit, you could get a “signature” loan for $3,000 to $5,000. These loans, also called “character loans,” are offered through banks. To give you an idea, you’ll probably need above 700 if you want to even be considered for an unsecured personal loan).
Not sure how your credit looks? Use services from Credit Sesame, Credit Karma and Transunion to figure that out first.
Secured Bank Loans
Most personal loans are going to be unsecured; however, there are a number of unsecured loans available for personal financing needs. If you want a bigger loan, you’ll need a personal one, and you will need to jump through some hoops.
You will need to fill out a loan application and designate collateral. The collateral you offer for a personal loan might be your car or a savings account.
While secured loans typically come in the form of auto loans or mortgages, you can find a number of secured loans from banks, credit unions, and lending companies.
A secured loan will likely give you access to bigger loans and far better interest rates, and the credit score requirements might be less stringent.
Other Options For Personal Loans
If you have poor credit or don’t think you can receive an affordable loan from a bank or credit union, don’t worry. There are other options for personal loans, beyond your bank or credit union. Some of your other options include:
Peer to Peer (P2P) Lending
One increasingly popular option right now is P2P lending. Whether you are financing a business, paying for college, or trying to buy a motorcycle, P2P lending can help.
You will have to apply for the loan, and your credit will be checked. BUT, a good story and business plan can help get the funding you need — and at a competitive rate.
Interested in learning more? Check out:
These are leaders in the P2P lending space with solid processes for loan origination, repayment, and tracking.
My Lending Club review can help you get a better feel for how peer-to-peer lending works and whether it might be a good option for you.
Unsecured Personal Loans
Unsecured personal loans can provide a path towards your financing needs if you lack the collateral needed for a secured loan from a bank.
Since you aren’t putting up a savings account, CD, or purchase as collateral, you’ll find different terms with an unsecured loan.
Due to the enhanced risk the lender takes on, unsecured loans come with higher interest rates and steeper credit score requirements. You can also expect to find short loan terms and smaller amounts of funding available.
If you have a solid credit score and only need a small amount for a short period of time and either lack the means to or prefer to hold off on putting up your possessions and investments as collateral, an unsecured personal loan could be a viable alternative to a secured one.
Once again, LendingTree can unlock all of your options, presenting you with a comparison of your top options for unsecured personal loans.
Credit Cards
Many of us don’t think of credit cards as loans, but, in reality, your credit card constitutes a personal loan. If you have good credit, and you are hoping for a larger limit, you can apply for a new credit card. You can boost your available credit, and then draw on that for your personal use.
However, credit cards usually have relatively high interest rates, and if you carry a balance, you could wind up paying quite a bit. Try to get a new card with an introductory period, and you will have an interest-free personal loan.
Here are some of the best credit cards you can get with a 0% introductory rate for either purchases or balance transfers:
- Chase Freedom®
- 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
- Earn 1x points on all purchases, plus 5x points on the first $1,500 spent in categories that rotate every quarter
- Earn a $150 signup bonus when you use your card for just $500 in purchases during the first 90 days
- No annual fee
- Citi Diamond Preferred® Card
- 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 21 months
- No annual fee
- Access to Citi® Private Pass® travel program
- Worldwide Travel Accident Insurance
- Travel & Emergency Assistance
Family and Friends
If you have family members or friends who can help you out with the personal loan you need, you can often get the best loan terms.
However, you want to make sure that you are positive that you can repay the loan; you don’t want to risk your relationship. Have a contract so that you are accountable, and so that your friend or relative knows that you are serious. Be sure to include the loan term and the interest rate in the contract.
While I wouldn’t recommend using friends or family for a loan, sometimes it’s the best (or only) option.
Editor’s note: We generally don’t recommend borrowing from family or friends as it can lead to unnecessary tensions and complications.
Before Getting A Personal Loan: What To Know
We are going to be honest, getting a personal loan isn’t easy. There are a lot of things you need to consider before you apply for a personal loan.
Loan Amount
The first, and most obvious, is to decide how large a loan you actually need. This might seem like a ridiculous tip to include, but it’s important enough to reiterate.
Before you apply for your loan, sit down and calculate how much money you will need. That amount will impact the type of loan you pursue.
Secured vs Unsecured Personal Loans
Understanding the differences between these two types of loans is critical as you decide your goals and shop for rates.
A secured loan will usually give you lower interest rates, but you have to put something up as collateral. If you don’t pay back the loan, they take your collateral. While unsecured loans don’t require any collateral, they will have higher interest rates.
Personal Loan Requirements
Just about every loan is going to require basic information like address, birthday, and social security number. You will also need employment information, like your work history and pay stubs to verify your income. You will need to provide other sources of income like alimony.
Depending on the loan type and amount, the lender may ask for other documents like a copy of your W-2 and tax information, as well as proof of address, bank statements, and your mortgage or rent statements.
The Terms
Once you understand the basics, you should spend some time researching the different loan types, examining which might work best for you. There are several different ways to get a personal loan, and not every type will be a good fit for your situation.
Fully understand the type of loan you are getting, the loan period, the payment methods, payment amounts, and any other important information.
Final Thoughts On Personal Loans
If you are looking for a personal loan, there are a number of options.
From payday lenders (which you should avoid as much as you can), to credit cards, to friends and family, to random strangers via P2P lending, chances are that you can find a personal loan. But, depending on your situation, you might have to pay a lot for it.
Whichever path to a personal loan you select, make sure you track your finances well using a budgeting tool like Mint or Manilla. Both of these apps sync up with your financial accounts and are easy to use.
They can show you all of your bills in one place, making sure you don’t forget any debts. You don’t want to have to take a personal loan out during a pinch and end up paying thousands in interest and late fees from mismanaging your money.
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Good Financial Cents, and author of the personal finance book Soldier of Finance. Jeff is an Iraqi combat veteran and served 9 years in the Army National Guard. His work is regularly featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Inc.com and Entrepreneur.