
You can find signature loans, or unsecured personal loans, from:


Unlike a credit card or a line of credit, there’s no temptation to keep racking up a balance over time because you get all of the money upfront. You know exactly when a signature loan will be paid off, because it’s in the loan agreement. Signature loans are also a good choice when you want a steady, predictable payment in your budget. If your credit score is good, though, the cost of a signature loan might not be that much higher than with a secured loan. You pay for this with a higher cost, however.Įven if your credit score is good, you often can still get a lower interest rate by applying for a secured loan instead with collateral, if you have it. Many signature loan lenders even offer same-day approvals, and possibly even same-day funding if you apply early enough in the day. Since lenders don’t require collateral, it’s often just a matter of checking your credit and your financial details to make a decision. Signature loans are good for when you want a simple, quick loan to apply for without too much hassle. However, prepayment penalties are usually rare or nonexistent with reputable lenders. You may also see “prepayment penalties” mentioned to pay your loan off early on other sites. They may also have certain other fees, such as for rolling your current loan into a new loan if you can’t afford it. Most lenders will charge a late fee if you make a payment past the due date.

This is important to take into account when calculating how much you need to borrow. This fee is taken out of your loan proceeds as a percentage.įor example, if you apply for a $10,000 loan with a 3% origination fee, you’ll only actually get $9,700 from the lender because the origination fee is $300. Not all signature loans charge them, but if your credit is poor or you’re taking out a very large amount of money, it’s more common. Origination FeesĪnother big cost is an origination fee. More money will also go toward paying down the loan, so this is why it’s so important to focus on the signature loan interest rate. The smaller your interest rate, the less you’ll pay to the lender with each payment. When you send the money in each month, it’ll be split up into a “principal” portion that goes toward paying down the loan balance, and an “interest” portion that goes to the lender. Your total loan cost is reflected in your annual percentage rate (APR). Interest Rateįor most loans, the biggest cost is interest. Signature personal loans come with a few costs, some of which you may pay upfront, while others are included in your monthly loan payments. Signature loans generally last from one to seven years, although three- or five-year term lengths are most common. You’ll then make steady, even payments each month until the loan is paid off. Signature loans limits can vary drastically, from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

They’re “secured” by nothing other than your signature on the loan agreement, hence their alternate name, signature loans.Īfter you sign your name on the dotted line, your lender will give you the entire lump sum in a single payment, either by a deposit into your account or by writing you a check. Unsecured loans don’t have any collateral per se. Secured loans get their name because they’re “secured” by some sort of collateral-i.e., something of value that you pledge, like a car or a savings account, that the lender can repossess if you don’t pay. Loans generally come in two types: secured and unsecured.
