Personal Loans: The Complete Guide (2024)

FAQs

Is it ever a good idea to take out a personal loan? ›

If you owe a substantial balance on one or more high-interest-rate credit cards, taking out a personal loan to pay them off could save you money. For example, the average interest rate on a credit card is 23.99%, while the average rate on a personal loan is 11.48%.

Generally, you need a good to excellent credit score of 670 or above to qualify for a $10,000 loan. However, some lenders specialize in working with borrowers with fair or poor credit.

The typical minimum credit score needed to qualify for a personal loan is from 560 to 660, according to lenders surveyed by NerdWallet, but credit score requirements for personal loans vary across lenders and some may require a higher score.

When evaluating personal loan lenders, you can choose from traditional banks and private online lenders. Bank lenders typically offer better rates and the added security of working with a well-established lender, but loans from private online lenders are often quicker and easier to get.

Interest rates can be higher than alternatives

This is especially true for borrowers with poor credit, who might pay higher interest rates than credit cards or a secured loan requiring collateral. Why this matters: The lower your credit, the more likely a lender will charge you a high interest rate.

HDFC Bank customers can get Personal Loans with minimal or no documentation. In fact, if they are pre- approved for a Personal Loan, they can easily apply for it. Lower interest rates: Interest rates on Personal Loans are lower than other sources.

Example 1: A $10,000 loan with a 5-year term at 13% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) would be repayable in 60 monthly installments of $228 each. The actual payment amount and year-end balance will vary based on the APR, loan amount, and term selected.

You may be eligible to get a bad credit personal loan with a score below 580. Personal loan lenders specializing in bad credit loans may scrutinize your income and employment history more closely. Bad credit personal loans usually come with higher APRs and shorter terms, so you'll need to qualify for a higher payment.

Requirements for a $25,000 Personal Loan

They will consider your credit score, income and current debts before making an approval decision. Typically, a desirable credit score for a $25,000 personal loan is around 670 and above, but some lenders work with those who have scores from 580 and up.

With FICO, fair or good credit scores fall within the ranges of 580 to 739, and with VantageScore, fair or good ranges between 601 to 780. Many personal loan lenders offer amounts starting around $3,000 to $5,000, but with Upgrade, you can apply for as little as $1,000 (and as much as $50,000).

What is a disadvantage of a personal loan? ›

Understanding the pros and cons of personal loans is important when shopping for a lender and deciding whether to apply for financing. While personal loans may be helpful in several situations, they can also come with high interest rates and major repercussions for your credit score.

Your credit score can dip a few points when you formally apply for a personal loan, but missed payments can cause a more significant drop. Getting a personal loan will also increase the amount of debt you owe, which is one of the factors that make up your credit score.

A loan application can temporarily lower your credit score due to the required hard credit check. Though this drop is temporary, it isn't the only way a personal loan can hurt your score.

Most banks will not accept a personal loan as a down payment on a house because it indicates that you might not be the most reliable borrower. Taking out a personal loan also increases your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI. To get this number, divide your gross monthly income by your monthly recurring debt.