Personal Loans
Learn more about how personal loans work & what you can use them for, see our picks for the best personal loan lenders, and read reviews of the top lenders in the industry.
Featured post
See our editorial team’s picks for the best personal loans.
How personal loans work
Personal loans don’t often seem complicated, but you should understand several specific terms before you apply for one.
Personal loan uses
You can use personal loans for almost anything, including paying off debt and home improvements.
Personal loans by credit range
Your credit score is critical in determining eligibility for a personal loan. Before applying, check your credit score to determine whether your credit is excellent, good, fair, or poor. Compare companies that lend to borrowers in your credit range to boost your chances of approval.
Personal loan reviews
If you’re considering applying for a personal loan through a specific company, you should understand how that company operates and the repayment terms.
- SoFi Personal Loans Review
- LightStream Personal Loans Review
- Upgrade Personal Loans Review
- Upstart Personal Loans Review
- List of Personal Loan Companies
All personal loan articles
-
Personal Loans to Pay Bills
Struggling to pay your bills can be stressful, so personal loans—funds you can borrow for almost any purpose—may seem to offer a way out. It’s true that you can use…
-
Personal Loans for Veterans With Bad Credit
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported in 2020 that a sizable percentage of servicemembers struggle with delinquent debts shortly after they leave active duty. A FINRA Investor Education Foundation study…
-
Best Personal Loans for Excellent Credit
If your credit score is between 740 and 850, that’s often considered great to excellent credit. Some lenders with more stringent underwriting requirements may reserve an “excellent” designation for scores above…
-
How to Qualify for a $15,000 Personal Loan With Good or Bad Credit
A $15,000 personal loan can help you pay off high-interest debt, cover emergency expenses, or finance a big purchase. And whether you have excellent or less-than-perfect credit, several lenders may…
-
Personal Loans for a Credit Score of 550
Getting a personal loan with a 550 credit score can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Some lenders specialize in helping borrowers with poor credit, offering options to cover expenses…
-
Do You Need a Down Payment for a Personal Loan?
A down payment is an upfront payment you make when making a purchase with credit, such as a car or house. It helps shrink the total loan amount. Down payments…
-
How to Get a $2,000 Personal Loan
Many personal loans range from $5,000 to $50,000, so a $2,000 loan is smaller than most. But that’s excellent news for your finances: Because you pay interest on the amount…
-
How to Pay Off a Personal Loan Early
Many individuals seek ways to pay off their personal loans early to save on interest, improve their debt-to-income ratio (DTI), or achieve financial freedom sooner. We’ll explore whether it’s possible…
-
Income-Based Personal Loans
Lenders that offer income-based personal loans focus more on your income than your credit score. This option might be an excellent choice if you have a steady income but a…
-
How to Get Self-Employed Personal Loans Without Hassle
When you’re self-employed, applying for a personal loan can be more challenging than when you earn a steady paycheck from an employer. You may need to provide additional proof of…