Personal loans can be used for almost any expense, including debt consolidation, home improvement projects, large purchases and emergencies. Personal loans may be advertised specific to their use — home improvement loans, travel loans or medical loans — but they function the same way.
Personal loan money generally cannot be used for college tuition and other post-high school education expenses, investing and anything illegal.
A $20,000 loan at 5% for 60 months (5 years) will cost you a total of $22,645.48, whereas the same loan at 3% will cost you $21,562.43. That's a savings of $1,083.05. That same wise shopper will look not only at the interest rate but also the length of the loan.
Check Your Credit Score
However, when applying for a larger amount of $20,000 and up, you may need a higher score. A score of around 670 or more will increase your chances of being approved for a larger loan amount at the lowest rates available.
Requirements for a $5,000 Personal Loan
Requirements for a $5,000 loan vary by lender. But in general, you should have at least Fair credit, which is a score of 580 or above. Lenders may also look at other factors, such as your income and your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), during the application process.
The main factor in determining if you qualify for a $10,000 personal loan is your credit history. A higher credit score will give you access to loans with better terms and lower interest rates. A low credit score means you may not even qualify at all, or you could receive a personal loan with higher interest rates.
For example, the interest on a $30,000, 36-month loan at 6% is $2,856. The same loan ($30,000 at 6%) paid back over 72 months would cost $5,797 in interest. Even small changes in your rate can impact how much total interest amount you pay overall.
You can generally use a personal loan for almost anything, including a wedding, a vacation, a medical bill, an emergency circumstance and more. However, there are also some expenses a personal loan usually can't be used to cover.
Higher Interest Rates for Poor Credit
While personal loans can be a great way to get financial relief, they may come with higher interest rates, especially for those with lower credit scores. Lenders set these rates to compensate for the increased risk, which could make the loan more expensive for you.
It's possible to obtain a personal loan for a wide range of purposes, including paying rent. However, it's important to weigh the pros and cons of getting a loan for rent before you do so. You'll owe interest (and possible fees), and you could do harm to your credit if you're not timely about repayment.
You should avoid using a personal loan to pay for college tuition, investments, basic living expenses, vacation, discretionary purchases and gambling, as well as a down payment and the costs associated with starting a business.
A lender will also check your Social Security number or Tax Identification number to confirm your identity. Misrepresented purpose: There are often requirements regarding how a loan may be used. For example, you generally cannot use a personal loan for college expenses.
Unless you can pay cash, you are probably like most buyers and will need to finance a vehicle. However, an auto loan isn't your only option. Personal loans can be used for almost any purpose, including buying a car, and it might make more sense than borrowing an auto loan.
Hardship personal loans are a type of personal loan intended to help borrowers overcome financial difficulties such as job loss, medical emergencies, or home repairs. Hardship personal loan programs are often offered by small banks and credit unions.
Most lenders state that their maximum personal loan amount is $50,000, though some will go as high as $100,000. Some borrowers, usually wealthy and with high credit scores, might be able to borrow more.
Those with a 640 or higher credit score are likely to find a number of options for a $10,000 personal loan; those with higher scores may have more options as well as more favorable terms.
Some of the easiest loans to get approved for if you have bad credit include payday loans, no-credit-check loans, and pawnshop loans. Before you apply for an emergency loan to obtain funds quickly, make sure you read the fine print so you know exactly what your costs will be.
You can buy a $300,000 house with only $9,000 down when using a conventional mortgage, which is the lowest down payment permitted, unless you qualify for a zero-down-payment VA or USDA loan. Different lenders have different rules, but typically they require a 620 credit score for conventional loan approval.
For a $500,000 home, you'll likely need a good to excellent credit score: 760+: Best rates and terms. 740-759: Slightly higher rates. 720-739: Higher rates, may require larger down payment.
While Chase Bank is one of the largest U.S. banks with a wide range of financial services and products, it does not offer personal loans. If you're looking for a personal loan, you'll need to skip Chase and apply for one of the best personal loans available with another bank, credit union, or online lender.
Yes, you can pay off your loan early by making larger monthly payments or settling the full balance at once. This can save you money on interest and reduce debt, but it's important to investigate potential downsides first.
OneMain makes personal and auto loans from $1,500 - $20,000. Not all applicants will qualify for larger loan amounts or most favorable loan terms. Larger loan amounts require a first lien on a motor vehicle no more than ten years old, that meets our value requirements, titled in your name with valid insurance.