Overall representative example
If you borrowed $20,000 over a 5-year term at 9.50% APR (variable), you would make 60 monthly payments of $420.04 and pay $25,202.23 overall, which includes interest of $5,202.23. The overall cost for comparison is 9.50% APR representative.
How to apply for a personal loan
1. Figure out how much money you need

Crunch some numbers to figure out how much you need to borrow and how much you can afford to pay back each month. Also, compare different types of loans to find the one that suits your needs best.
2. Shop around

Look for lenders that offer the type of loan you need with eligibility requirements you can meet. Then, compare factors like rates, fees and terms.
3. Prequalify

If the lender offers it, fill out a quick pre-application with a few different lenders to learn which rates and terms you might get. Prequalifying usually doesn’t affect your credit.
4. Finish the application

After you decide on a lender, follow the steps to complete the full application and submit documents like pay stubs to verify your income.
What rates can I expect on a personal loan?
Personal loan rates typically range from 6.99% to 35%. The rate you get depends on the following factors:
- Credit score. You need near-perfect credit to qualify for the lowest advertised rate.
- Income. Lenders will likely check if you have enough regular cash flow to easily afford your monthly repayments.
- Debts. The lowest rates go to borrowers with a debt-to-income ratio (DTI) below 20%.
- Collateral. Securing your loan makes it less risky to the lender and gets you lower rates.
- Loan amount and term. Some lenders may offer different rates depending on how much you want to borrow and how long you need to repay.
The cost of your loan depends on the loan term and your rate.
What goes into a personal loan APR?
Most lenders’ annual percentage rate (APR) tells you how much you’ll pay in interest and fees over one year. This makes it easier to compare the cost of loans with the same term.
The APR often includes an origination fee, which lenders charge after you sign your loan contract. But it doesn’t include penalties like late fees, nonsufficient funds (NSF) fees or prepayment penalties – which can all be avoided by paying your loan back on time and in full.
How to find the right personal loans lender
Ask yourself the following questions when comparing lenders:
- Does it offer what I need? Check if the amount you need falls into a lender’s range and if it offers the type of loan you’re looking for.
- Am I eligible? Make sure you meet the lender’s minimum credit score, income, age and other requirements before you apply.
- What’s the APR? This gives you a quick snapshot of the loan’s total cost per year.
- How long will I be in debt? Look at the loan terms available to make sure you’ll be out of debt in time to meet other financial goals, like buying a house or a car.
- Will repayments fit my budget? Use the available loan terms and APR to figure out how much you might owe each month.
- Are there any fees? Many lenders charge up to a 5% origination fee, which they take out of or add to the loan balance. This affects how much you need to borrow and your monthly cost.
- Is it legit? Read customer reviews to look out for personal loan scams and red flags, and make sure its website is secure.
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