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Personal loans can be either secured or unsecured. A secured personal loan has collateral that backs the borrower’s promise to repay the loan. An unsecured personal loan does not require collateral, and the only thing backing the borrower’s promise to repay is their creditworthiness.

The collateral requirement is the main difference between secured and unsecured personal loans, but there are other differences that may inform your decision about which type of loan is best for your financial needs.

What Is a Secured Personal Loan?

A secured personal loan is a loan for which the borrower pledges collateral that the lender can take possession of if the borrower fails to repay the loan. Put in simpler terms: If you default on your car loan, for example, the bank can repossess your car. For the lender, collateral equals a certain level of security.

Collateralized loans are common for mortgage and auto loans. A home is collateral for a mortgage, and a vehicle is collateral for an auto loan. They are somewhat less common for personal loans, though.

A personal loan isn’t tied to a particular asset in most cases, so there’s not an obvious item to pledge as collateral. The asset pledged must be owned by the applicant, and the lender will evaluate its value to be sure it’s equal to the amount of money being loaned. In some cases, a physical asset such as a vehicle is put up as collateral, but the collateral could also be an asset like a savings account or certificate of deposit.

Pros of Secured Personal Loans

While it may seem like the lender benefits more with a secured personal loan, there may also be advantages for the borrower.

•   Lenders typically see secured personal loans as less risky than their unsecured counterparts because there is an asset to back the loan if the borrower defaults.

•   Borrowers may get a lower interest rate on a secured personal loan than they might on an unsecured personal loan.

•   Secured personal loans can be a good way for borrowers to build credit, as long as they make regular, on-time payments.

Cons of Secured Personal Loans

Things that a borrower might see as a drawback to a secured personal loan might be a benefit to the lender. But each party to the loan agreement takes risks.

•   The lender is able to recoup its losses by seizing the collateral if the borrower defaults on their secured personal loan. However, it may take a while to liquidate that asset. If the collateral is a physical asset, such as a vehicle, it may take some time to find a buyer willing to pay the price the lender has set.

•   For the borrower, the main drawback to a secured personal loan is the possible loss of the asset pledged as collateral if they default on their loan.

•   The application and approval process may include more steps for a secured personal loan than an unsecured one because the asset’s worth will need to be valued.

💡 Quick Tip: Before choosing a personal loan, ask about the lender’s fees: origination, prepayment, late fees, etc. SoFi personal loans come with no-fee options, and no surprises.

What Is an Unsecured Personal Loan?

A personal loan that is backed mainly by the creditworthiness of the borrower is an unsecured personal loan. Sometimes called a signature loan, an unsecured loan does not require any collateral to guarantee the loan.

Defaulting on an unsecured personal loan can certainly have a negative effect on the borrower’s credit, but there wouldn’t be an asset to lose in addition.

Pros of Unsecured Personal Loans

Like their secured counterparts, unsecured personal loans can have benefits for both lender and borrower.

•   Lenders may be able to charge a higher interest rate on an unsecured personal loan because there isn’t any collateral to secure the loan. (This is a drawback for the borrower — see below.)

•   The borrower won’t lose an asset if they default on an unsecured personal loan.

•   The application process for an unsecured personal loan is generally much quicker than for one that’s secured because there is no asset to be valued.

•   Funds may be disbursed the same day or within a week, depending on the lender.

Cons of Unsecured Personal Loans

It may be relatively easy to find lenders who offer unsecured personal loans, but there are aspects that may be considered drawbacks.

•   Interest rates on unsecured personal loans may be higher than for secured personal loans because there is no asset backing the loan.

•   Some lenders may have minimum credit score requirements for approval of an unsecured loan, so applicants with poor credit may not qualify.

•   If the borrower defaults, their credit score may be negatively affected.

•   Applicants with lower credit scores may not qualify for loan amounts as high as those with higher credit scores.

Recommended: Personal Loan Calculator

Choosing Between Secured and Unsecured Personal Loan

There are lots of reasons for considering a personal loan in general, but choosing between a secured and an unsecured personal loan means taking some specifics into account.

Do You Have Collateral?

One of the main things to consider when thinking about applying for a secured personal loan vs. an unsecured personal loan is whether you have an asset of value that you’d be willing to risk.

If you do have such an asset, you may want to compare lenders who offer secured personal loans. Some online lenders offer secured loans, but they’re more commonly available through banks or credit unions.

Lenders may offer higher loan amounts for a loan backed by collateral than for one that isn’t, so if you need to borrow a large amount, it might be worth looking into a secured personal loan.

What Are You Planning to Use the Funds For?

Personal loan funds can generally be used for a wide variety of things, like debt consolidation, unexpected medical expenses, home improvement costs, and more.

If you need funds to pay multiple vendors or contractors — common in the case of wedding or home improvement costs — or you plan to consolidate other high-interest debt, an unsecured personal loan might be the right choice for you.

If you plan to purchase a specific item that might be considered an asset, however, the lender may want to attach that asset as collateral on the loan, thus making it a secured loan. Examples of this might be a secured personal loan to purchase land or to buy a boat.

What Type of Lender Is Right for the Loan You Need?

Another factor to consider when choosing between a secured or unsecured personal loan is the type of lender you’d rather work with.

Unsecured loans may be available through banks, credit unions, or online lenders. Not every financial institution offers unsecured loans, however.

Secured loans are more commonly offered by banks and credit unions — it’s less common to find one through an online lender.

If you have a savings account or certificate of deposit at your bank that you’d be willing to put up as collateral, it might be worth looking into a secured loan with your current bank.


💡 Quick Tip: Generally, the larger the personal loan, the bigger the risk for the lender — and the higher the interest rate. So one way to lower your interest rate is to try downsizing your loan amount.

Qualifying For a Personal Loan

There are different factors that go into qualification for a personal loan.

Each lender may have its own credit score, income, or debt-to-income ratio requirements, in addition to other factors. If you’re applying for a secured personal loan, each lender may have its own requirements for valuation of collateral.

It’s a good idea to compare lenders so you’ll have an idea of what they commonly require for an applicant to qualify for a personal loan. With that knowledge, you can better evaluate your own credit for the likelihood of being approved — or not.

Reviewing Your Credit Report

You can get a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax™, Experian™, and TransUnion™. It’s a good idea to check all three because not all lenders report payment history to all three bureaus. The credit bureaus don’t share information with each other, so getting a complete picture of your credit may mean looking at all three reports.

Your credit report contains personal information about you and information about past and current credit accounts in your name.

Personal information includes:

•   Name, current as well as any other names you may have gone by in the past

•   Addresses, current and previous

•   Birthdate

•   Social Security number

•   Employer

Lenders typically report:

•   The total amount of the installment loan or line of credit

•   Your record of on-time payments

•   Any missed payments

If you’ve had any bankruptcies, foreclosures, or repossessions, they will likely be included on your credit report as well.

If there is missing, incomplete, or incorrect information on your credit report, you can file a dispute with the credit bureau. It’s a good idea to clear up any errors before you start applying for a loan so you don’t have any unexpected roadblocks on the way to qualification.

If, in the process of reviewing your credit report, you find that you don’t have much of a credit history or your credit isn’t up to qualification standards, you may decide to take some time to work on improving your credit situation. That could mean increasing your income, lowering your expenses, paying down or consolidating existing debt, or just learning how to better manage your overall finances.

Recommended: How to Get Approved for a Personal Loan


The Takeaway

There are situations where an unsecured personal loan might be the right financial tool for you, and there may be others that would be better suited to a secured personal loan. The main difference between the two types of loans is that one requires collateral — a secured personal loan — and the other doesn’t — an unsecured personal loan. Deciding between the two depends on the borrower’s willingness to risk the loss of collateral, as well as their overall creditworthiness.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOPL0623018

Almost everyone needs to finance car repairs sooner or later. It might be a breakdown on the highway, a fender bender at the supermarket parking lot, or perhaps (ugh) someone steals your catalytic converter.

Whatever the case, car repair bills can be significant and arrive without warning, stretching your budget to the max. If you’re in this situation, consider these five strategies to pay for urgent repairs and get back on the road again.

Strategies to Pay for Car Repairs

If you get hit with a large car repair bill or are thinking ahead and know a big-ticket item is coming up, consider the following ways to pay for the work that needs to be done.

1. Dip Into Your Emergency Fund

You may have heard it said that you should keep an emergency fund easily accessible for precisely this situation — an unexpected expense. But should you really use your emergency fund to pay for car repairs?

Dipping into your emergency fund might be a solution if you don’t have other cash available to pay for repairs. And, for many people, having a vehicle up and running is vital to their work and personal lives. In this way, it is a valid reason to tap your emergency fund.

What’s more, using your emergency savings instead of reaching for your credit card could save money on interest and other applicable costs.

Of course, if you dip into your emergency fund, you may need to spend time building it back up so you’re prepared for any other emergencies.


💡 Quick Tip: Some lenders can release funds as quickly as the same day your loan is approved. SoFi personal loans offer same-day funding for qualified borrowers.

2. Use Your Insurance

Is your car repair related to an accident? If so, your car insurance may help. It’s designed to protect you financially by covering some of the repair costs for vehicle damage and the medical bills related to any injuries.

The type of coverage and circumstances can vary.

•   For example, comprehensive insurance may help with some costs even if the accident didn’t involve another car or if the damage was caused by an unexpected event, like a tree falling on your hood.

•   Collision insurance doesn’t typically cover damage caused by normal wear and tear. This means that your coverage may not include things like theft, vandalism, or weather damage.

•   There is one type of insurance — what’s known as mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) — that covers some types of repairs. Therefore, if you have damage caused by routine use of the vehicle and you have an MBI policy, you may want to check to see if the repair is covered.

Before going this route, consider whether using your insurance will actually be cheaper than paying out of pocket. Making an insurance claim could cause your insurance rates to rise.

It’s wise to understand how your car insurance works. The specific instances that your insurance will cover should be laid out in your insurance policy. The amount of your policy deductible as well as the repair and type of coverage will likely be some factors you review with your insurance carrier.

3. Try to Negotiate

Whether you have to replace multiple tires after driving over road debris or you have to install new brakes due to normal wear and tear, you may be looking at a hefty repair bill.

The good news is that car dealerships aren’t the only places where you can haggle over your car. Local car repair shops might be willing to cut you a deal to win your business.

•   Consider asking the repair shop for a written quote explaining precisely what is wrong with your vehicle, how the mechanic plans to fix it, and what the cost will be.

•   Once you have this written estimate in hand, you may want to get a second opinion. Sometimes auto mechanics will offer you a discount on a quote from another shop to get your business.

•   You could also ask the mechanic to limit their quote to only the essential repairs to ensure that they don’t try to upsell you on prematurely replacing all your tires when the problem you need addressed is your power steering.

4. Put It on a Credit Card

It can be important to protect yourself against excessive credit card debt, but if you need to shell out hundreds, or even thousands of dollars for a quick car repair, you may find yourself reaching for that plastic lifeline.

You may feel as if you don’t have options, but proceed with caution. Using a credit card may come at a high price. Credit cards can carry high-interest rates that, if not paid off in a timely manner, can drive up the original cost of the car repair. If you can’t pay off your credit card debt right away, you may end up spending much more for your repairs by the time you make your final payment.

5. Consider a Personal Loan

Another option for paying for car repairs when you have no cash on hand may be taking out a personal loan. Personal loans are sometimes overlooked as a way to come up with cash fast, but in the right circumstances, a personal loan can come in handy.

A personal loan can often offer lower interest rates vs. options such as using your credit card. This could help you save money when facing unexpected car repairs.

•   A personal loan is typically an unsecured installment loan, which means that you borrow a set amount and pay it back in equal monthly installments over a fixed period. “Unsecured” means that the loan is not tied to any physical piece of property through a lien, but instead offered to borrowers based on factors like creditworthiness.

•   Another benefit of using a personal loan to pay for car repairs is the relatively quick application process. While you’ll need to meet certain qualifications set by your chosen lender in order to secure financing on a personal loan, some lenders disburse loan funds within a few days.

Depending on your situation, a personal loan might be the right option when it comes to helping you get back behind the wheel and onto the road.

Recommended: Smarter Ways to Get a Car Loan

The Takeaway

If you need to pay for car repairs, you have a few options to consider, from tapping your insurance (if appropriate) to using your emergency fund to taking out a personal loan. If the latter seems like the right move for you, shop around to find the offer that’s the right fit for you.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOPL1223020

Credit card churning describes when you open and then close a credit card to snag sign-up rewards. Given how much competition there is for your business as a card holder, there are many enticing offers out there of cash, points, miles, and more. Some people may be tempted to try to grab those freebies and bonuses, but this practice comes with pros and cons.

Read on to learn about credit card churning and whether it’s something you should ever try.

What is Credit Card Churning?

Credit card churning occurs when you open and close credit cards for the sole purpose of earning a sign-up bonus. The trick is to do it over and over again, with several credit cards. The end goal is to earn as many rewards as you can. In other words, maximizing your eligibility for points and prizes.


💡 Quick Tip: Some lenders can release funds as quickly as the same day your loan is approved. SoFi personal loans offer same-day funding for qualified borrowers.

Types of Sign-up Bonuses

Of course, there is no such thing as a free lunch or a free reward. Being rewarded usually costs you. In order to earn the credit card rewards, you are typically required to spend a certain amount of money on that credit card, and it has to be done within the first few months (in most cases, three months).

The way you’re lured into a sign-up bonus is by earning a large amount of rewards by spending only a small amount. This usually happens only with a new credit card as a “welcome” offer. If you are careful about what and where you spend, you may be able to save money and get rewarded in the meantime. However, as you’ll learn below, this practice can also have its downsides.

Can You Win at Credit Card Churning?

If you want to try to get rewarded via credit card churning, there are some important best practices to be aware of.

Pay Off Your Balance in Full Each Billing Period

This is a good tip even if you’re not gunning for reward points. If you don’t pay off your balance at the end of the month, the rewards you earn will wind up being a net loss as interest rates take their toll. There is no bigger credit card churning buzzkill than taking months or even years to pay off the debt you accumulate racking up charges to earn a sign-up bonus.

While on this subject, remember that paying off your credit card balance in full every month will keep away the interest charges that accrue when you don’t make a full monthly payoff.

Look at it this way: When it comes to credit card churning, it’s you against the credit card companies. You want to reap their rewards but not open yourself up to suffocating debt and high-interest charges.

Credit card churning can work if the consumer hits the rewards thresholds, but practice responsible spending. If you’re someone who doesn’t manage credit card debt well or tends to overspend just to cash in on the rewards, it might be better to steer clear of credit card churning.

Make Your Credit Card Payment on Time

Don’t be even a day late. Late fees can be a budget buster, and they can damage the credit rating you’ve worked so hard to keep strong. If other credit providers see a pattern of late payments, and they may not be so fast to offer you their credit card, which means no rewards, or give you their best rates.

An excellent way to avoid late payments is to schedule automatic payments through your debit card, or checking or savings accounts. This way, you just set it and forget it!

Have a Plan for Your Rewards

Enjoying the rewards you earn may mean so much more to you when you have a short-term goal for how to use them. Perhaps the points are for airline miles or a vacation destination. Maybe you can use them toward a new wardrobe or the latest electronics. Keeping your eyes on the prize will prevent you from squandering your reward points on something forgettable or regrettable. Stay strong.

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Fight the temptation to get greedy. New credit cards with amazing reward offers are a dime a dozen. They’re like buses: another one will come along soon.

Think about where you may be in a few short months if you take on too many credit cards and too much debt. That won’t be worth any amount of reward points. Only use the number of cards that you can tolerate without sinking yourself.

Focus on Credit Card Fees

Credit card companies tend to be selective about what they promote to you. The reward offer may come with annual fees, transfer fees, and other charges. If your card requires an annual fee, ask yourself if acquiring it is worth the reward points.

Shop Around

Be extremely selective in choosing your rewards-based credit cards. The competition among credit card companies for your business is intensely competitive. Take your time and wait for the best offer.

Be Wary of No-Interest Credit Cards

It certainly sounds tempting to get a credit card that charges zero interest, and as long as you plan to pay off your balance in full every month, you’re already ahead.

However, this type of offer for a balance transfer credit card can bite you on the back end with extremely high-interest rates when the period expires or a “transfer charge” when transferring your high-interest credit cards.

Charges like that could equal the same amount of money you would be paying in the interest you thought you were passing by. Be sure you’re aware of the pros and cons of no-interest cards.

Read the Fine Print

Always read the fine print. That amazing offer may have some exclusions and exceptions and other unpleasant surprises. The credit card company may be looking for a certain kind of cardholder, too; after all, they’re in business to make money. You may not be the customer the credit card company is looking for; you may have too many credit cards, to begin with, or have a credit rating that may not be acceptable.

Find out which of the reward rules are subject to change, and if there are any expiration dates or winning rewards. If you are not great at reading the fine print, find somebody who is, or call the credit card customer service line and get your answers.

Protect of Your Credit Score

A credit score is an overview of your credit history and payback behavior. Making timely monthly payments and not defaulting on any of your credit cards or loans, and you’ll be on the right path. It also helps to keep your debt utilization ratio (how much your balance is versus your credit limit) low; no more than 30% at most.

Always consider your credit score before you consider credit card churning. Recognize that if you apply for new credit cards, a hard credit inquiry will be conducted. This will temporarily lower your credit score a bit.

Be Organized

When it comes to credit card churning, always stay organized and aware. Know exactly what the offer is, and what you need to do to get it. Know the deadline for spending the money that will make you eligible for the rewards.

Keep up on your progress toward your rewards goal; how much more do you have to spend and how much more time do you have before the offer expires? Again, avoid the pitfall of impulse spending just to get your reward.

When to Avoid Credit Card Churning

Think of credit card churning possibly as a privilege you have to earn rather than a right that doesn’t require prior deliberation. If you fall into any of these following categories, think twice before opening another credit card.

The biggest takeaway here is if you have credit card debt, it doesn’t make sense to continue to rack up debt in the name of credit card churning. Instead, it’s best to make a plan to get out of credit card debt ASAP.

If Your Credit is Bad

Credit card rewards are meant for customers with good-to-excellent credit, not for customers with late payments or delinquent accounts. Think of this as an opportunity to work up your credit score. Once you do, you may be eligible for some offers.

If You’re About to Take on More Debt

Are you about to sign a mortgage or are on the verge of a car or school loan? Applying for extra credit cards for the sake of their rewards will more than likely affect your credit score, as noted above. Each hard credit inquiry will lower your score temporarily. The constant nature of credit card churning can possibly stand in the way of your loan request or result in you being offered a higher interest rate than you would be with a higher score.

If you’re thinking about credit card churning, wait until after you secure that all-important loan or at least wait until your loan is approved, your payments are underway, and your monthly budget adjusts to the debt increases.

If You Don’t Use a Credit Card That Often

Not over-using a credit card shows reserve, discipline, and smarts. However, your lack of credit card usage may not make sense for a credit card churn. In some cases, credit cards will only grant you rewards if you spend a certain amount of money, which means increasing your spending (and your debt). You might feel “obligated” to use plastic more than you would otherwise.

If You’re Already Earning Rewards on Your Credit Cards

Some credit cards offer travel points and other rewards, without you having to get into a spending contest.

If you are pretty disciplined about your monthly spending and careful about avoiding too much debt, you’ll probably already steadily earn points and rewards on the credit cards you have. Call customer service and ask what you are eligible for.

If This is Your First Credit Card

Usually, getting your first credit card is a chance to prove that you are responsible with credit. You can use that first card to spend wisely and prudently and pay your balance in full each month. This can build your credit score and keep your finances on the straight and narrow.

If you get involved with credit card churning right off the bat, it could lead to trouble that you don’t need when you’re first establishing credit. Fixing credit once it is broken takes a long time and can stand in the way of the things you may want and need to buy. Wait until you’re further along in the credit game, and when you’re earning money to handle a bit more debt.

If You Tend to Overspend

Know yourself. If you’re the type who tends to overdo it when using plastic and can’t resist BOGO sales and the like, proceed with caution. Getting a large number of credit cards can leave you open to running up a tab on many of them and accruing too much debt. In other words, if you are in the habit of overspending, think twice.

Too Much Credit Card Debt?

Credit card churning can be more harmful than it appears on the surface. It can lead to confusion, missteps, and more unmanageable debt. If you do find yourself with considerable credit card debt, you might look into a balance transfer credit card, debt counseling, or repaying the debt with a lower-interest personal loan.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOPL1223018

There are a variety of ways to borrow money when cash is needed. A few common places to start might be traditional banks or credit unions, or maybe a friend or family member who’s willing and able to consider lending.

If none of those options sound appealing, another option might be to borrow money online. Online lenders are becoming a more mainstream, acceptable alternative to traditional banks. What’s behind this increase in online lending, and what are some ways to borrow money online?

Why Have Online Lenders Grown in Popularity?

When lockdowns started in response to Covid-19 in 2020, people had to find different ways to do things they might have been accustomed to doing in person. Banking and other financial transactions were among those things. Brick-and-mortar banks limited access to branches or hours they were open, and retailers were hesitant to accept physical money. But transactions needed to keep happening, so consumers began moving online to complete them.

Familiarity, for Some Customers

A growing proportion of consumers is accustomed to using computers for many aspects of daily life, and making online financial transactions is no different. More people may be looking for things like:

•   Online applications.

•   Streamlined underwriting processes.

•   Automated funds transfers.

A Different Kind of Personal Service

Whereas in the past, personalization meant having a face-to-face relationship with a banker, personalization in today’s world can mean information that is relevant to an individual’s financial needs. This might look like things that can be more quickly accessed online, such as:

•   Personalized financial trends in a portfolio so they can make informed decisions about their financial goals.

•   Insights about their spending and saving so they can budget monthly income and expenses to meet their needs.

Time Saving

Customers may also want an experience that saves time. Automating tasks is a timesaver that can easily be done with online financial tools. In the case of online lending, the option to set up automatic bill payments and automate other tasks are likely to be considerations when a customer is choosing an online financial company.


💡 Quick Tip: Some lenders can release funds as quickly as the same day your loan is approved. SoFi personal loans offer same-day funding for qualified borrowers.

Where to Borrow Money Online

When looking for an online lender, you may want to consider the reputation of the lender, safety precautions the lender has in place, or types of loan products offered. In addition, each person should determine their individual comfort level of doing business with or without personal interaction.

Banks

A traditional bank may be a good option for someone who is more comfortable sharing private financial information at an in-person meeting or who doesn’t know how to borrow money online.

Applying for a loan through a traditional bank might include a visit to a brick-and-mortar branch of the bank along with online components, making this a hybrid approach. Since traditional banks have upkeep costs related to physical locations, their fees or interest rates might be higher than other lending options.

Recommended: How to Get Approved for a Personal Loan

Credit Unions

Similar to banks, credit unions generally have physical locations, but may also have online services. Financial services offered by credit unions are similar to banks and other financial institutions. There are usually specific requirements to be a member of a credit union, such as employment-related or residence in a particular region, or membership in a particular group. Credit unions may offer member benefits such as low fees, high savings rates, and low loan rates.

Peer-to-Peer Lending

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending is akin to matchmaking. A prospective borrower submits an application with an online marketplace, which matches the applicant with investors. Some online marketplaces for P2P lending are Prosper, Upstart, and Peerform. P2P lending may be a good place to look for an online loan for someone who isn’t able to qualify for a loan from a conventional lender, or if an alternative funding source is preferred.

Recommended: What Are Personal Loans Used For?

Online Lenders

The lack of brick-and-mortar branches might deter some customers but attract others. The deciding factor for some customers might be how well the process works for them, with less emphasis on having a face-to-face interaction.

Another factor in choosing online lending over in-person may be the speed of the process. Online loans and other financial transactions can sometimes be completed faster than going into the physical location of a traditional lender. This may be important for people looking to borrow money online instantly.

Options to Think Twice About

Along with favorable options for lending that are available, there are some that may not bring about the best financial outcomes.

Credit Cards

At its core, a credit card is a short-term loan — specifically, a line of credit. If the account balance is paid in full before each month’s due date, it’s a no-interest loan. Financial drawbacks arise, however, when that balance is not paid in full each month, carrying over a balance due.

Credit card interest rates tend to be high, and they accrue on any unpaid balance, compounding what is owed in the next billing cycle. The average credit card annual percentage rate (APR) is currently 24.45% for new credit card offers. Even for existing customers, the APR is high, at an average of 20.68% currently. It’s easy to see how this can lead to a cycle of debt. Paying off a loan over time is probably more efficiently done with other financial tools.

Recommended: Personal Loan Calculator

Predatory Lenders

When people look for fast cash, there is probably someone out there who is willing to lend it to them — at a cost. If it seems like there is no other choice available, some people may take on a loan that can be difficult to pay off. Repeat borrowing is common with these types of loans.

•   Payday loans are short-term loans, typically to be paid off in the borrower’s next payday. Interest rates are extremely high, often 400% or more.

•   Title loans or pawn loans use a borrower’s vehicle or other item of value as collateral. The APR on a title loan can be as much as 300%, and lenders often charge additional fees.

💡 Quick Tip: Just as there are no free lunches, there are no guaranteed loans. So beware lenders who advertise them. If they are legitimate, they need to know your creditworthiness before offering you a loan.

The Takeaway

Choosing a lender depends on different factors for different people. Traditional lenders, online lenders, alternative lenders — each can be a valid choice for different financial needs. With online lenders becoming more commonplace, with established reputations in the financial marketplace, looking at options among them might be a good choice.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Your personal finances can be an important but challenging aspect of your life to manage. Even if you are brilliant at math, computing things like the payoff amount on student loans or the optimal goal for retirement savings can be complicated.

That’s where financial calculators can swoop in and help you. These tools can make it simple to see how much you are spending in, say, credit card interest or what a mortgage payment might look like on your dream house.

Here’s a resource with a variety of financial calculators. Read on to learn what kind of assistance is out there to help you take control of your money and your goals.

1. Student Loan Calculator

There are plenty of student loan calculators out there that can help you estimate your monthly payment and total interest cost.

In addition, you are likely to find student loan refinancing calculators to get a basic idea of how refinancing might affect your bottom line.

Typically, you enter your current loan information, then adjust the term “slider” to see how your monthly payment and total savings amount could be impacted by refinancing.

You could see valuable information like how much you might be able to save every month by refinancing or how much you could potentially save over the lifetime of a loan if you were to refinance. (Calculated payments and savings are only estimates, and don’t factor in your current credit picture or financial situation.)

Just keep in mind that refinancing isn’t necessarily the right choice for everyone. If you have federal student loans and refinance, you will forfeit federal protections and benefits. Also, if you refinance for an extended term, you may pay more interest over the life of the loan.


💡 Quick Tip: A low-interest personal loan from SoFi can help you consolidate your debts, lower your monthly payments, and get you out of debt sooner.

2. Retirement Calculator

It’s almost impossible for one online retirement calculator to take into account all the variables that retirement planning requires. But a calculator could still be useful to give you a general idea of how much money you may want to be saving and how big your retirement nest egg could grow.

It might also give you some insight into how much you’re contributing now, and if you might want to think about adjusting your IRA (individual retirement account), 401(k), or other retirement investment.

One online tool that may be helpful is AARP’s Retirement Calculator . It asks for quite a bit of information, including information about your age, income, current savings and lifestyle expectations in retirement (i.e., will you need more, less, or the same amount of money as you now spend).

The calculator then gives an estimate of how much wealth you’re likely to accumulate and changes you could make — like working longer or saving more — that might help improve your outcomes. Understanding when to retire and what your expenses will be like at that life stage can be an important part of your future planning.

3. Budgeting Calculator

Making a budget — and sticking to it — is one important step on the road to financial security. By making a budget and sticking to it, you might be able to save some extra cash and even be able to gain some new insight and understanding about how you’re currently spending your money.

Setting up a budget might have a snowball effect, potentially empowering you to save even more money once you have a holistic view of current spending. By tracking your finances with a budgeting tool, you can get a better sense of how your earnings, spending, and savings are tracking. It can also help you course-correct if, say, you get hit with a big unexpected bill or move to an area with a different cost of living.

4. & 5. Credit Card Debt Payoff Calculator

Various tools can be helpful if you’re focused on paying down some credit card debt.

•   You might want to use this debt snowball calculator to figure out how long it could take you to completely pay down your balance. In this method, you eliminate your smallest debt first, which can build your motivation. You may want to see how increasing your monthly payments could affect your debt and help you save on interest, which might help keep you motivated in your payoff goals.

You could also use a calculator to see how much faster you could pay off your debt with the debt avalanche method. With this technique, you go after your highest interest-rate debt first.

•   Additionally, to take a look at debt in terms of your credit card interest rate, you might spend some time using a credit card interest calculator. Since credit card debt can be one of the most challenging debts to pay off, you might want to understand how much you are paying overall.

This kind of calculator shows roughly how much interest you could end up paying on your credit card debt. It can give a broad estimate of when that debt could be paid off in full if you continue to make the same payments. Equipped with that information, you might decide to opt for a different way to pay down your debt, such as looking for a lower-interest personal loan.

6. Student Loan Payoff Calculator

If you’re budgeting for your student loans, you could try working with a student loan payoff calculator. Simply add your basic information, and it calculates when your estimated payoff date could be. Plus, you can often click through and discover additional information and tips you could use to potentially shorten that payoff period.

Some of these ideas might include things like seeing if you can find a lower interest rate or making additional payments. Plugging these two data points into the calculator might give you a basic estimate of how much sooner you could pay off your loans.

7. Housing Costs Calculator

Is your attention focused on buying a home? Are you all about mood boards for the primary bedroom and vegetable garden you’ll plant? Then you’re in the right place.

A home affordability calculator can help you look at how much house you can afford. It will help you factor in such considerations mortgage amount, interest rate, property taxes, and so forth. It can be a great way to get a handle on just how much homeownership might cost you.

Additionally, a mortgage calculator can help you get a sense of how much you can save on your monthly payment by changing your down payment. This intel can help you decide whether to start bidding soon or wait until you have a bigger chunk of cash to put down.

These tools can help you decide whether to rent or buy in the near future, as well as (when buying) how to determine the right balance of down payment and financing to suit your budget.

Get Started on Your Goals With These Tools

Your goals are probably pretty unique to you and where you’re at career-wise, with money, and maybe even with outstanding loans. So there’s probably not one end-all, be-all financial calculator to help you achieve all of your financial goals. But there are an array of tools that can help you track your money and determine good options as you move forward.

As you evaluate where your finances stand, you may want to consider ways to pay down debt, such as using a personal loan to eliminate high-interest debt and lower your monthly outlay of funds.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

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