Low Interest Personal Loans: What to Expect and How You Can Get One
Are you searching for low interest personal loans? We have shortlisted some of the best ones for you. These loans don’t require collateral, and their interest rates are lower than most credit cards. They also offer a fixed interest rate throughout the repayment term, providing you with some stability.
But first, let us understand what personal loans and interest rates are. Understanding the costs of borrowing a loan is essential. By knowing these basics, you can keep your finances under control.
We believe this guide will help you narrow down and ultimately decide if personal loans can meet your needs.
Understanding Low Interest Personal Loans
In simple terms, banks, credit unions, or online lenders lend individuals lump sums of money called personal loans.
People usually take affordable personal loans to cover expenses such as home renovations, debt consolidation, or weddings. They borrow the money and are expected to repay the original loan amount plus an annual interest rate on the due date.
Lenders calculate this as the APR (Annual Percentage Rate). Essentially, the APR is just the interest rate plus the fees for processing your loan. The lower this percentage is, the less you’ll pay overall for your loan.
Let’s say you take out a $1000 loan with an APR of 9 percent per year to be repaid in 2 years. You will have to pay back a total of $1092 over the course of two years. This cost will be divided into easy monthly installments including the interest.
Several low APR personal loans are available online. In the following sections, we will tell you the factors to consider when choosing a personal loan.
Factors that Influence Interest Rates
The interest rates for personal loans range from 8-30% this year. The best installment loan rates fall below 7 percent so far.
Many factors determine whether you can enjoy low interest personal loans:
- Credit Score
Your credit score, which ranges from 300-850, influences the interest rates on personal loans. Lenders calculate it based on your credit report (payment history, amount of debt, and length of credit history) to assess your likelihood of repaying the loan. The higher this score is, the lower will be the APR for your personal loan.
Your Credit Score | APR | |
Poor | 300-629 | 27-32% |
Fair | 630-689 | 18-22% |
Good | 690-719 | 14-18% |
Excellent | 720+ | 10–14% |
- Your Income
If you have a higher income, lenders will trust that you can repay the loan amount during the tenure, making you a good candidate for low interest personal loans.
- Loan Amount & Repayment Term
Higher loan amounts translate to higher interest rates understandably. Alternatively, choosing a longer repayment term will compound the APR, making the total amount you owe even higher.
- Debt-to-Income Ratio
Add up all of your monthly debt payments, divide it with your total monthly income, and multiply by 100 to calculate your DTI percentage. Lenders will consider you a high-risk borrower if this ratio is on the high end. It determines if your debt surpasses your income.
- Repayment History
Having a good history of making timely repayments increases your chances of scoring loans at a lower interest rate. This includes repaying other loans and your credit card debt. Lenders view gaps in your credit history, known as defaults, as making you a greater risk, resulting in immediate rejection of your application.
- Employment Record
Lenders also consider your employment history. If you have a past of stable employment, they will take that into account and confidently offer you lower rates.
- The Lender & Your Country’s Economy
The country’s economy, inflation, and available lenders collectively contribute to factors beyond your control. High APRs will naturally result from a bad economy and high inflation rates for everyone. However, you can control choosing a transparent, reliable lender that offers lower interest rates. MyPayDayLoansOnline, for example, offers APRs as low as 5.99 percent. Try out instant approvals without a collateral here: https://mypaydayloansonline.com/
How to Qualify for the Best Personal Loan Rates
For cheap personal loans that have the best personal loan rates, you can have a try at:
- An excellent credit score
- Consistent income
- Low debt-to-income ratio
- Compare different lenders and their offers
Tips for Finding Low-Cost Loans
Finding affordable personal loans is not that hard. Here are a few simple tricks for cutting down to low cost loans.
- Use online comparison tools and marketplaces.
- Check for any member-exclusive deals you can get with your current bank.
- Avoid loans with hidden fees. Often, some loans offer a low interest rate only to charge even more in origination fees. Check carefully and rely only on the APR.
Where to Look for Low Interest Personal Loans
We compared who offers cheap personal loans the most—banks, credit unions, or online lenders. And from the results, we are definitely siding with online lenders for their low APR personal loans.
Banks | Credit Unions | Online Lenders | |
Application Process | Complex process, and you’ll need to visit their branch during business hours to apply. | Also requires an in-person visit. You may also need to be a member to apply. | No in-person visit is required. The application process is quick and can be completed online. |
Approval Time | Several days to weeks. | It may take longer if membership verification is being performed. | Fast approval, often within an hour, same day or next business day. |
Interest Rates | 8.74-24.99 percent | 8.99-18 percent | 7.99-35.99 percent |
Loan Amounts | $250-200,000 | Up to $100,000 | $1000-100,000 |
Flexibility | Less | Personalised service | More options for borrowers with different credit profiles |
Fees and Penalties | High origination, processing, and late payment fees | Lower fees, but you may want to consider paying to join. | Lower fees and flexible terms for repayment |
Customer Service & Support | Excellent in-person customer service during business hours by appointment | Community-focussed support | 24/7 customer support via chat, email or phone with faster responding times |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
For getting the best personal loan rates, here are some mistakes you should avoid:
- Overlooking the loan terms before signing is highly unrecommended.
- Don’t ever avoid APR considerations. Always compare your options before choosing.
- Never rush into loans without ample research. It can cause a strain to your financial health.
To Sum Up…
We hope that you could gain something on how to land low interest personal loans. We highly recommend that you start researching your options right away to give you enough room until you absolutely have to decide.