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The personal lending industry has grown tremendously in recent years. Unsecured personal loans can help people get out of debt faster and finance personal expenses without using credit cards. But what is an unsecured loan? Here's a rundown of what you need to know about unsecured personal loans.
There are many types of unsecured loans -- but when people talk about "unsecured loans," they're usually talking about unsecured personal loans. These loans are issued by financial institutions (like your bank) to individuals (you). The term "unsecured" simply means that the lender won't seize your car or house if you can't pay -- in other words, no collateral is used to secure the loan. An unsecured loan can be used for virtually any purpose, and it has a fixed number of payments until it's paid in full.
Many borrowers use their loan funds to consolidate other debts, such as credit card debt. Others use unsecured loans to pay for other expenses, like financing medical bills or home improvement projects.
It's easy to see if you qualify for an unsecured loan -- most lenders have a quick personal loan pre-qualification process. If you qualify, you'll be able to see what interest rate, maximum loan amount, and other terms you can expect to receive. If you're not interested in accepting the terms of the unsecured loan, you can walk away.
TIP
When you're ready to pre-qualify for a personal loan, start by checking our list of best unsecured personal loans. Our experts reviewed and rated countless lending companies to help you find the lender with the best interest rates, loan terms, application process, customer service, and more.
When you apply for an unsecured personal loan, you'll have to fill out a form with some important personal information about yourself. You'll probably be asked to provide supporting documentation.
Here are some types of documentation you may be asked to bring when applying to an unsecured personal loan:
Get the best rates and terms to fit your needs. Here are a few loans we'd like to highlight, including our award winners.
Lender | APR Range | Loan Amount | Min. Credit Score | Next Steps |
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Apply Now for Discover Personal Loan
Powered by Credible
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
7.99% - 24.99%
|
$2,500 - $40,000
|
660
|
Apply Now for Discover Personal Loan
Powered by Credible |
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
7.80% - 35.99%
|
$1,000 - $50,000
|
None
|
|
Apply Now for Best Egg
Powered by Credible
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
8.99% - 35.99%
|
$2,000 - $50,000
|
550
|
Apply Now for Best Egg
Powered by Credible |
Interest rates for unsecured loans can vary dramatically: One lender might offer unsecured loans with interest rates ranging from 7% to 36%. Unsecured loans can offer a lower interest rate than you'd get with a credit card, but only if you can get a loan with a low interest rate.
These factors that will determine your interest rate when applying for an unsecured loan:
Many personal loan lenders pride themselves on charging no fees whatsoever, while others do have various costs associated with them. Here are some fees you may encounter while shopping for an unsecured personal loan:
Origination fees: This is a fee that is charged when you obtain a personal loan. Many lenders with origination fees deduct it from the loan's proceeds. In other words, if you borrow $10,000 with a $200 origination fee, you can expect $9,800 to show up in your bank account.
Prepayment penalties: Although these are quite rare, prepayment penalties do exist. These are fees that a lender charges you if you decide to pay your loan back early. The rationale is that by making a loan, the lender is expecting a certain amount of interest income. Since your lender won't get all of its interest income if you pre-pay, a prepayment fee is designed to somewhat offset that.
Late payment fee: Many personal lenders charge an additional fee when payments are late. Late payments can also lower your credit score. Getting stuck with a late fee and dinging your credit score is a double whammy, so only take on an unsecured loan if you are absolutely sure you can make the monthly loan payment.
No. There are several personal loan lenders that specialize in loans to consumers with average credit scores. For example, personal loan lender
Avant accepts borrowers with poor credit and higher. Other lenders such as Upstart and Lending Point also accept borrowers with so-so credit scores.
To be clear, you aren't likely to get a single-digit interest rate on your unsecured loan unless you have good credit. However, personal loans can still be great financial tools for borrowers with less-than-excellent credit scores.
Yes, an unsecured loan can boost your credit score. Usually, credit bureaus see personal loans as "better" than credit card debt. So shifting your debts from credit cards to personal loans can significantly boost your credit score. If you're using an unsecured loan to consolidate credit card debt, you might see your credit score improve.
As a personal example, I obtained a personal loan a few years ago to consolidate a few credit card balances. Although the dollar amount of my debt didn't change, my FICO® Score shot up by 30 points shortly after the loan was completed.
An unsecured loan can be a smart way to consolidate credit card debt and pay for personal expenses. However, it's not your only option. For example, there are several credit cards on the market that offer promotional 0% intro APR periods of 18 months or more.
So, what is an unsecured loan? It's a loan that allows you to pay for projects that need to be completed, to consolidate debt, and -- if you're careful about how you use it -- to help you build your credit score.
Looking for a personal loan but don’t know where to start? Our favorites offer quick approval and rock-bottom interest rates. Check out our list to find the best loan for you.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
*Upstart Loan Disclaimer
The full range of available rates varies by state. The average 3-year loan offered across all lenders using the Upstart platform will have an APR of 21.97% and 36 monthly payments of $35 per $1,000 borrowed. For example, the total cost of a $10,000 loan would be $12,646 including a $626 origination fee. APR is calculated based on 3-year rates offered in the last 1 month. There is no down payment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application.