What is a Personal Loan and Should You Get One?

A personal loan is an amount of money loaned to an individual typically without any collateral, though some lenders do require collateral depending on your credit situation. Personal loans used to be seen as a solution for people in dire financial straits, today the options and terms are better than ever and more and more everyday people are taking out personal loans. 

A personal loan can be a great idea if you have outstanding credit debt and a less than stellar credit score. If you use the personal loan to pay off the credit card, you can improve your credit score by making on time payments of your personal loan. 

Even if you don’t have credit debt, taking out a personal loan and repaying it is a good way to establish positive credit, which will help you down the road when you apply for a car or house loan. 

If you have multiple outstanding debts - or just one - at a high interest rate that’s taking a real bite out of your paycheck each month, then a personal loan could really help out. Find a lender that can give you a personal loan with a friendlier interest rate, and then use that to pay off the other debts. 

A personal loan can help you pay for home renovations, which can significantly improve the value of your home. This can really pay off if you’re looking to sell the house in the near future, or if you’d like to increase the value of your home in order to borrow against the equity.

Things don’t always go as planned, and sometimes we need a little extra help. A personal loan can help you handle unexpected medical bills, home repairs following a flood or a fire, or a sudden expense like a funeral. When hard times come, having some financial peace of mind can make things a little bit easier, and that’s no small thing.

What to Know Before Applying For a Personal Loan

1. What’s my credit score?

Your credit score is calculated based on your loan repayment history, credit card usage, and other financial markers that can give lenders a rough guide of how responsible you are with money and how much of a default risk you are. Even though all lenders don’t use credit scores to qualify you for a lone, it is still a good thing to keep track of. 

Typically, the higher your credit score the more likely you will be to receive loans. Also, because with high credit you are considered less of a risk, your interest rates will tend to be lower.

That doesn’t mean that less than great credit is a deal-breaker, but it's good to know what the numbers mean:

*Rates as of November 2024

Having no debt history is not a good thing when it comes to your credit score. Most of the leading personal loan companies like to see that you’ve had debts in the past and that you’ve made your payments, and can be trusted to do so again.

2. What if I have bad credit?

Many lenders can provide loans even if you have bad credit, though you will face tougher interest rates and less leeway with the loan amount and repayment terms.

Typically anything under 630 is considered a bad credit rating, and even when people in this range do get loans, they tend to have a 28.5% - 32.0% APR on average. If you have collateral to put up, this can help you secure a loan despite a low credit rating.

In addition, many lenders allow cosigned loans. These are loans where someone with better credit co-signs the loan with you. While this is a way for you to get a loan that you’d be shut out from otherwise, there are some caveats. Mainly, the person who cosigned for the loan is on the hook too so if you default on the payment, it could wreck their credit as well as your own.

3. How do interest rates work?

The interest rate is how much the lender charges in interest to a borrower for a loan. It is normally expressed as a percentage of the amount borrowed. If you’re consolidating debt and the interest rate is still lower than your earlier loan, then you’re in good shape. If not, you need to examine if the interest rate makes the loan worthwhile for you.

The interest rate is going to be one of the most important things to look at when considering a personal loan. It adds a significant amount to the overall repayment terms, and even just one percentage point here or there can make a big difference.  You also need to consider the APR which includes fees and charges.  APR is discussed below. 

4. What affects interest rates?

• Variable vs fixed rate loan - With a variable rate loan, the interest rate can fluctuate as the market changes, and typically has lower interest rates than a fixed loan, which stays at the same rate throughout the repayment of the loan. 
• The length of the repayment - The longer the repayment term the more interest you will pay over the lifetime of the loan. If you can keep up with a higher monthly payment over a shorter period of time, then you can find loan terms that will save you money on interest. It's crucial though that you first look at your monthly budget and determine how big of a loan you can stay ahead of, so you don’t dip further into debt paying off the new loan.
• Your credit score - A better credit score may help you get a lower interest rate.  Though some lenders don’t use credit score when considering you for a loan.  Lenders will also look at your past financial history to look for any delinquent loans, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and other red lights that could make you a high-risk borrower before they determine the interest to assign you. Your income - or lack thereof - will always be a central factor in determining your interest rate.

5. What is an APR?

APR is an acronym for annual percentage rate. It combines the charges, fees, and payments to tell you the grand total of what your loan will cost you per year. The lower the APR, the less you are going to pay in the long run.

The APR calculation on personal loans will vary depending on your lender, but it will typically be lower than what you would receive from a payday or short-term loan – usually starting at 3% and capping at 35.99%. It is not ideal to owe any money, but if you require a loan, then a personal loan could certainly be a viable option.

APR rates mentioned include associated fees.

Full repayment for the loans displayed range between 61 days to 180 months.

Representative example: assuming a loan of $10,000 over 60 months at a fixed rate of 3.1% per annum and fees of $60.00. This would result in a representative rate of 3.3% APR, with monthly repayments of $180.80, for a total amount paid of $10,868.00.

6. How much can I get approved for?

There isn’t a clear right or wrong answer to this question - it all depends on your needs, your income and your abilities. If you’re trying to consolidate debt, your loan should be the same or larger than the outstanding loans you’re covering, and if you need to cover an expense like medical bills or home renovations, then it should meet your needs, so you don’t have to go through the hassle or expense of securing another loan.

At the same time, you need to make sure that the payments aren’t too heavy for you to keep up with. After all, there’s no sense taking out a loan to cover another debt, only to find yourself unable to keep up with the payments on the new loan.

7. What loan term should I take?

This is a pretty simple calculation, but what works for you can be anything but simple. If you decide to go for a lender that offers short term loans you will have higher monthly payments but will pay less interest over the life of the loan. If you spread it out over a longer loan term, your monthly payments will be lower, but the overall interest you pay will be higher.

Paying more interest isn’t a bad idea if it means that you can lock down a monthly payment that you know you can make.

The Types of Personal Loans

• Unsecured vs. secured loans 

The main difference between an unsecured and secured loan is that an unsecured one doesn’t require you to put up any collateral. That’s the good news. The bad news is that because the loan is “unsecured” (no collateral), the lender is taking a bigger risk on you, and typically will assign you a higher interest rate. Lenders will also give you a lower ceiling on the loan, as well as a shorter repayment term. 

These loans typically appeal to borrowers who don’t have assets like a car or a house, but still want some financial assistance. 

A secured loan requires the borrower to put up some form of collateral. While it’s more risky for you in that you have to put up an asset that the bank can seize if you default on the debt, you stand to enjoy an easier interest rate, a higher borrowing ceiling, and a longer repayment period.

• P2P loans 

Peer-to-Peer lending has become a major industry in recent years, and provides all types of opportunities for borrowers who may have had less options in the past. Often called “social lending” or “crowd lending,” P2P sidesteps the banks and connects borrowers and lenders directly with one another online. It’s a solid option if you have less than great credit or lack assets to put down as collateral. That said, there are some costs, including origination fees which can range from 0.5% to 5% of the loan. Late fees can also be expensive if you don’t make your payments on time. In addition, as unsecured loans, the interest rates tend to be around 15% or so. 

• Fixed rate vs. variable rate loans 

With a fixed rate loan the interest rate stays constant throughout the life of the loan, which will help you budget every month and stay on top of your payments. With variable rate loans, the interest rate fluctuates in accordance with the market. You may get a lower initial rate than you would with a fixed rate loan, but because the market can be unpredictable, it can be harder to know for certain what your future payments will be. 

• Lines of credit

These are loans that are given as a line of credit that you can use for any purpose. They are typically unsecured, so the interest rates tend to be high, though not as high as a credit card. Also, these loans give you the freedom to draw from the credit line as needed, so you only owe what you spend. 

• Signature loans 

These are sometimes called character loans or good faith loans. This is an unsecured loan that only requires you to put down your signature. Because there is no collateral and the lender is taking a risk, these loans come with higher interest. 

• Cash advances and balance transfers

A cash advance is taken against the credit line on your credit card, and typically comes with fees in addition to the interest on repaying the money. With a credit card balance transfer you move the money you owe on one card to another credit card with a lower interest rate. This typically includes a fee.

• Installment loans

This is just a term to refer to a loan that is repaid over a set period of time with set payments. A mortgage and a car loan are good examples of installment loans.

Applying for an Online Personal Loan

The best online lenders usually have an easier loan application process than banks: 

• Stage 1: This generally consists of an online questionnaire where you are asked to provide information including the amount of the loan, the purpose of the loan, and your personal information. You will also probably be asked to provide your income level and housing status. 
• Stage 2: This involves a soft credit pull, which won’t affect your credit rating like a hard credit pull. Based on the credit score and other details you provided the lender, they will determine how much to loan you and under what terms and interest rate. 
• Stage 3: Once your application has been pre-approved, you will then complete your application and a hard pull will occur that may impact your credit score. You should have all relevant paperwork on hand and ready to send, including your driver’s license or passport, proof of residence (utility bills, rent contract, etc), and pay stubs from your place of work. 

Types of Lenders

• Direct lenders

This is a company that directly loans money to borrowers and doesn’t merely facilitate lending between lenders and borrowers. 

• Marketplaces 

These are companies that don’t lend out money themselves, rather, they facilitate loans between borrowers and lenders, by creating an online marketplace where borrowers can apply to all types of lenders at the same time, typically with one simple application. 

• Peer-to-Peer lenders

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lenders refers to private lenders and borrowers which are connected to one another online. P2P lending is a way for lenders to invest some money in small-scale loans, typically spread out across a large number of borrowers in order to offset the default risk. For borrowers without collateral who have less than ideal credit, these can be a great option, despite the origination fees and often high interest rates. 

• Banks

This is the most traditional, tried-and-tested way to attain a loan. That said, banks tend to be more cautious, and if you’re credit isn’t in good shape, or you don’t have any collateral, you might have real trouble finding a loan through a bank. 

Applying for a Loan With a Cosigner 

Most of the best lenders allow cosigner loan. Find one that allows co signers with your level of credit, and get an idea of what type of fees or other terms they require, and then look for a cosigner.

True, money and loved ones don’t always mix, but sometimes you have to count on the people close to you for help. Your cosigner will have to be someone with better credit than you, but also ideally, with some good collateral to put up. If the person has a spotless financial record, it could really help you get a loan with good terms. That said, you need to keep in mind that if you default, it will also affect the financial record of your cosigner. Make sure it’s someone who won’t hold this over you, and who you can work with to pay off the debt.

Read here to find out more about attaining a loan with a cosigner.

How to Choose a Lender

Shop around: Compare several top lenders

This may go without saying, but don’t settle on the first lender you find. Make sure to cast a wide net and really invest your time in reading online reviews and comparing the best personal loan companies so you can get the most competitive rates and save money in the long run. If the terms the company is offering you aren’t to your liking, feel free to look elsewhere and remember - you're the customer, they’re looking for your business, and are likely to try to meet you in the middle.

Make sure the lender is legitimate

Does the lender have a good reputation? Do you find a high number of complaints online? What about customer service, are they responsive? Make sure to take a long look at the company’s pedigree to see if they are legitimate, how long they’ve been in business and whether or not they’ve built a good reputation with their clients.

Check the fees and charges

The cost of your loan isn’t merely a matter of the interest or how much you took out - there are also often origination fees at the start of the loan, as well as late fees, processing fees, and the like. Make sure that the fees are not going to be too much of a burden, and add it to your list of considerations.

In order to choose the best personal loan provider for you, you must first determine what your needs are as a borrower, compare lenders and then see which one can fulfill those needs at the best rate possible.

Some of the key criteria that you should check when comparing loan providers are:

• Maximum Loan Amount: Some online loan providers offer loans up to $20,000, while others will offer loans as high as $100,000.
• APR: Different lenders will give you differing APRs so it’s important to find rates that you know you will be able to keep up with.
• Loan Term: These vary from months to years, so it is advisable to check with your lender when your loan must be paid off.
• Qualifications: Some lenders will require you to have an excellent credit score in order to get a loan, while others will be more forgiving. You may be required to provide proof of employment or income as well. It is advisable not to waste your time applying for a loan before you check the lender’s basic requirements.
• Simplicity and Speed: A major advantage that online lenders have over banks is that they generally cut out a lot of the bureaucracy from the process. This means an easier and quicker process for the borrower. Some lenders can transfer funds to you in as a little as a few days.

† Credible Terms and Conditions:

Credible is so confident in the personal loan rates you’ll find on Credible, we’ll give you $200 if you find and close with a better rate elsewhere. See full terms and conditions

* LightStream Terms and Conditions: 

*Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay may be higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 4.99% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $299.66. SunTrust now Truist is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2020 Truist Financial Corporation. SunTrust®, Truist, LightStream®, the LightStream logo, and the SunTrust logo are service marks of Trust Financial Corporation. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by SunTrust now Truist Bank. You can fund your loan today if today is a banking business day, your application is approved, and you complete the following steps by 2:30 p.m. Eastern time: (1) review and electronically sign your loan agreement; (2) provide us with your funding preferences and relevant banking information; and (3) complete the final verification process. After receiving your loan from us, if you are not completely satisfied with your experience, please contact us. We will email you a questionnaire so we can improve our services. When we receive your completed questionnaire, we will send you $100. Our guarantee expires 30 days after you receive your loan. We reserve the right to change or discontinue our guarantee at any time. Limited to one $100 payment per funded loan. Truist teammates do not qualify for the Loan Experience Guarantee.

‡ Upgrade Terms and Conditions:

Personal loans made through Upgrade feature Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of 9.99%-35.99%. All personal loans have a 1.85% to 9.99% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay and paying off a portion of existing debt directly. Loans feature repayment terms of 24 to 84 months. For example, if you receive a $10,000 loan with a 36-month term and a 17.59% APR (which includes a 13.94% yearly interest rate and a 5% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,500 in your account and would have a required monthly payment of $341.48. Over the life of the loan, your payments would total $12,293.46. The APR on your loan may be higher or lower and your loan offers may not have multiple term lengths available. Actual rate depends on credit score, credit usage history, loan term, and other factors. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. There is no fee or penalty for repaying a loan early. Personal loans issued by Upgrade's bank partners. Information on Upgrade's bank partners can be found at https://www.upgrade.com/bank-partners/.

* Best Egg Terms and Conditions:  

*Trustpilot TrustScore as of December 2022. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender or Blue Ridge Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. The Best Egg Credit Card is issued exclusively by First Bank & Trust, Member FDIC, Brookings SD pursuant to a license by Visa International. Visa is a registered trademark, and the Visa logo design is a trademark of Visa International Incorporated. “Best Egg” is a trademark of Best Egg Technologies, LLC. Offers may be sent pursuant to a joint marketing agreement between Cross River Bank, Blue Ridge Bank, N.A. and/or First Bank & Trust and Marlette Marketing, LLC, a subsidiary of Best Egg, Inc.

The term, amount, and APR of any loan we offer to you will depend on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, loan amount, credit history and other factors. Your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. About half of our customers get their money the next day. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. Loan amounts range from $2,000– $50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,500 ; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001. For a second Best Egg loan, your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 8.99%–35.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0.99%– 9.99% of your loan amount, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. The origination fee on a loan term 4-years or longer will be at least 4.99%. Your loan term will impact your APR, which may be higher than our lowest advertised rate.

You need a minimum 700 FICO® score and a minimum individual annual income of $100,000 to qualify for our lowest APR. For example: a 5‐year $10,000 loan with 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81, and a 3‐year $5,000 loan with 7.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $155.12. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Best Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories.

TO REPORT A PROBLEM OR COMPLAINT WITH THIS LENDER, YOU MAY WRITE OR CALL– Operations Manager, Email: crt-resolutions@bestegg.com, Address: P.O. Box 42912, Philadelphia, PA 19101, Phone: 1-855-282-6353. This lender is licensed and regulated by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division, P.O. Box 25101, 2550 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504. To report any unresolved problems or complaints, contact the division by telephone at (505) 476-4885 or visit the website https://www.rld.nm.gov/financial-institutions/

* Achieve Terms and Conditions:  

1. Home Equity loans are available through Achieve Loans (NMLS ID #1810501), Equal Housing Lender. All loan requests are subject to eligibility requirements, application review, loan amount, loan term, and lender approval. Product terms are subject to change at any time. Home loans are a line of credit.

Loans are not available to residents of all states and available loan terms/fees may vary by state where offered. Line amounts are between $15,000 and $150,000 and are assigned based on debt-to-income ratio and loan-to-value ratio. Minimum 640 credit score applies for debt consolidation requests, minimum 670 applies for cash out requests.

Fixed rate APRs range from 10.25% - 16.50% and are assigned based on underwriting requirements and offer APRs include a .50% discount for automatic payment enrollment (autopay enrollment is not a condition of loan approval).

Example: average HELOC is $57,150 with an APR of 12.75% and estimated monthly payment of $951 for a 15-year loan. 10-year and 15-year terms available. Both terms have a 5-year draw period with the remaining term being a no draw period. Payments are fully amortized during each period and determined on the outstanding principal balance each month. Closing fees range from $750 to $6,685, depending on line amount and state law requirements and typically include origination (2.5% of line amount) and underwriting ($725) fees if allowed by law.

Property must be owner-occupied and combined loan-to-value ratio may not exceed 80%, including the new loan request. Property insurance is required and flood insurance may be required if the subject property is located in a flood zone. You must pledge your home as collateral.

Average funding time is between 15 to 18 days from submitted application and documentation and includes rescission. Contact Achieve Loans for further details.

* Reach Financial Terms and Conditions:  

All loans are subject to eligibility criteria and review of creditworthiness and history. Terms and conditions apply. All loans advertised are unsecured personal loans issued by either Metabank® National association, member FDIC, or FinWise Bank, a Utah chartered commercial bank, member FDIC, as creditor, on the Liberty Lending platform. If you are approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your credit profile, your application, and the loan term you select. Fixed Annual Percentage Rates (APR) range from 5.99% to 35.99%. You could receive a loan of $10,000 with an interest rate of 8.93%, an origination fee of $200, for an APR of 9.80%, which would result in total payment of $12,435 with 60 monthly payments of $207.20. Your actual rate may differ and depends on your credit history, loan amount, and term. Total approved loan amount reflects origination fee, which ranges from 0% to 5%. *Within 24 hours of your loan approval, loan proceeds will be available to pay the creditors named on your Truth-In-Lending Disclosure.

* Universal Credit Terms and Conditions:  

Personal loans made through Universal Credit feature Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of 11.69%-35.99%. All personal loans have a 5.25% to 9.99% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay and paying off a portion of existing debt directly. Loans feature repayment terms of 36 to 60 months. For example, if you receive a $10,000 loan with a 36-month term and a 28.47% APR (which includes a 22.99% yearly interest rate and a 7% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,300 in your account and would have a required monthly payment of $387.05. Over the life of the loan, your payments would total $13,933.62. The APR on your loan may be higher or lower and your loan offers may not have multiple term lengths available. Actual rate depends on credit score, credit usage history, loan term, and other factors. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. There is no fee or penalty for repaying a loan early. Personal loans issued by Universal Credit's bank partners. Information on Universal Credit's bank partners can be found at https://www.universal-credit.com/bank-partners/.

* LendingClub Terms and Conditions:

A representative example of loan payment terms is as follows: you receive a loan of $13,411 for a term of 36 months, with an interest rate of 12.16% and a 5.30% origination fee of $711, for an APR of 15.99%. In this example, you will receive $12,700 and will make 36 monthly payments of $446.46. Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $40,000 and loan term lengths are 36 months or 60 months. Some amounts and term lengths may be unavailable in certain states. APR ranges from 8.05% to 35.89% and is determined at the time of application. Origination fee ranges from 3% to 6% of the loan amount. Lowest APR is available to borrowers with excellent credit. Advertised rates are subject to change without notice. Loans are made by LendingClub Bank, N.A., Member FDIC (“LendingClub Bank”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of LendingClub Corporation, NMLS ID 167439. Loans are subject to credit approval and sufficient investor commitment before they can be funded or issued. Certain information that we subsequently obtain as part of the application process (including but not limited to information in your consumer report, your income, the loan amount that your request, the purpose of your loan, and qualifying debt) will be considered and could affect your ability to obtain a loan from us. Loan closing is contingent on accepting all required agreements and disclosures at Lendingclub.com. “LendingClub” is a trademark of LendingClub Bank.

* OneMain Financial Terms and Conditions: 

You must complete a loan application and continue to meet any criteria used to select you for a loan offer. Not all applicants are approved. Loan approval and actual loan terms depend on applicant’s state of residence and ability to meet OneMain Financial credit standards such as a responsible credit history, sufficient income after monthly expenses, and if applicable, availability of eligible collateral. 

Not all approved applicants qualify for larger loan amounts, lower APRs, or the most favorable loan terms. For example, larger loan amounts typically require a first lien on a motor vehicle that is no more than ten years old, meets our value requirements, and is titled in applicant’s name with valid insurance. APRs are generally higher on loans not secured by a vehicle. Example Loan: A $6,000 loan with a 24.99% APR that is repayable in 60 monthly installments would have monthly payments of $176.07.

OneMain charges origination fees allowed by law. Depending on the state where the loan is opened, the origination fee may be either a flat amount or a percentage of the loan amount. Flat fees vary by state, ranging from $25 to $500. Percentage-based fees vary by state, ranging from 1% to 10% of the loan amount subject to certain state limits on the fee amount. For information about these fees and minimum and maximum loan sizes available in certain states, visit omf.com/loanfees.

Current OneMain Customers: Loan offers presented to a consumer assume the individual has no active loan with OneMain or one of its affiliates. If a customer applies for a new loan offer, a OneMain representative will discuss available options.

Active-duty military, their spouse or dependents covered by the Military Lending Act (MLA) may not pledge any vehicle as collateral. If you are covered by the MLA, you are not eligible for secured loans.

Loan proceeds cannot be used for postsecondary educational expenses as defined by the CFPB’s Regulation Z such as college, university or vocational expense; for any business or commercial purpose; to purchase cryptocurrency assets, securities, derivatives or other speculative investments; or for gambling or illegal purposes.

Time to Fund Loans: Funding within one hour after loan closing through SpeedFunds® must be disbursed to a bank-issued debit card. Disbursement by check or ACH may take up to 1-2 business days after closing.

* Splash Financial Terms and Conditions:  

Terms and Conditions apply. Splash reserves the right to modify or discontinue products and benefits at any time without notice. Rates and terms are subject to change at any point prior to application submission. The information you provide is an inquiry to determine whether Splash’s lending partners can make you a loan offer.

*Splash marketplace loans offer fixed rates between 10.95% to 24.51% APR as of April 7, 2024. Personal loans have an origination fee of 3.99% to 7.49% which may be deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates are reserved for the highest qualified borrowers. Lowest rates may require autopay and may require paying off a portion of existing debt directly. The autopay reduction will not be applied if autopay is not in effect. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. Not all applicants will qualify for the full amount. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,000.

To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or other eligible status and meet lender underwriting requirements. Splash does not guarantee that you will receive any loan offers or that your loan application will be approved. If approved, your actual rate will be within a range of rates and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, creditworthiness, income and other factors.

¹ To check the rates and terms you qualify for, Splash Financial conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, the lender will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.

² Loans feature repayment terms of 36 to 60 months depending on the lender and your qualifications. For example, if you are approved for a $10,000 loan with a 36-month term and a fixed APR of 17.98% (which includes a 14.32% yearly interest rate and a 5% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,500 in your account and would have a monthly payment of $343.33.

³ While funding may be as soon as one to two business days, at times it could take up to two weeks.

Splash Financial, Inc. (NMLS #1630038), NMLS Consumer Access. Equal Housing Lender. Splash Financial, Inc. is licensed by the Department of Financial Protection & Innovation under the California Financing Law, license number 60DBO-102545. Splash® is a registered trademark of Splash Financial, Inc.

* Santander Bank Terms and Conditions

Personal Loans are subject to individual approval and meeting our credit standards. Your primary residence must be located in AZ, CA, CT, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NH, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, VT, or WA. The fixed loan Annual Percentage Rate (APR) will depend on your creditworthiness and use of automatic payments (ePay) from any deposit account. The APR on a Personal Loan will increase by 0.25 percentage points and the payment will increase, if ePay is not elected or is discontinued. Fixed loan APRs (with ePay) range from 7.99% to 24.99% and are subject to change without notice. Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $50,000. Loan repayment terms range from 36 months to 84 months. All terms are subject to change without notice. Personal Loans cannot be used to finance post-secondary educational expenses.

Personal Loan Monthly Payment Example: For a personal loan of $20,000 with a 60-month term at 15.49% APR, the monthly payment amount is approximately $480.96 to repay your loan in 60 payments. This example is an estimate only and assumes all payments are made on time.

Based on the time your application is received, same-day funding is available in many cases, depending on your creditworthiness and the funding instructions you provide.

Santander Bank, N.A. is a Member FDIC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander, S.A. ©2024

Santander Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Santander, Santander Bank and the Flame logo are trademarks of Banco Santander, S.A. or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their owners.