1. Rates aren’t everything

The interest rate of a personal loan is only one factor and may not actually give you the full picture of what your loan costs. The fees and type of interest rate should also be considered alongside the rate percentage so that you can see how much the loan will actually cost throughout the term.

The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) gives you a better idea of the total cost of your loan, but keep in mind that penalty fees for things like early or late repayments usually aren’t included in the APR. If you think that you’ll be able to pay off your loan early, consider looking for a loan with no early repayment fees.

A personal loan calculator is a great tool to help you visualize how much your loan could cost. You can put in different values to compare costs and ount and terms you can ultimately afford.

2. Lenders consider personal factors

A lender might find itself in hot water if it were to deny a loan application based on age alone – this would be a clear case of age discrimination. However, your life stage can often play a role in whether you’re approved or not, which means older or younger individuals may have a harder time finding a loan.

At the end of the day, lenders are primarily interested in the odds of being repaid in full. When a lender’s historic experience says that certain age groups can’t be trusted as readily as others to repay the loan, they may approve and decline applications accordingly.

It can be more difficult for an 18-year-old or a retiree to find a personal loan. You can’t suddenly change your age, but you can compensate by showing other indications of financial reliability, such as a low debt-to-income ratio and a high credit score.

3. Credit score vs credit history

What’s the difference between your credit score and credit history? They’re not quite the same thing and many lenders will consider both.

If you’re looking for a loan, you should probably know your credit score. This is a 3-digit number that lenders use to get a snapshot of your financial strength.

For a more in-depth look at your needs, lenders also consider your credit history. This is a detailed record of relevant transactions, including open credit accounts, recent inquiries, bankruptcies, defaults and more. Repairing an imperfect credit report can be more difficult than improving your credit score, but both are important.

4puter approvals

Sometimes your application might be declined by a “robot” without a human ever setting eyes on it. This is often more prevalent with online lenders, because it’s one of the ways they can offer fast approval.

Banks and lenders often use their own algorithms to check loan applications, automatically sorting the low-risk applications from the high-risk applications to preapprove strong applicants. It can be a way of weeding out prospective borrowers who don’t meet the initial eligibility criteria. If you’re considering applying with a lender that offers preapproval, it’s often worth reviewing their eligibility requirements to avoid wasting time on applications that go nowhere. You’ll 24 hour pawn shops in Hawaii also save your credit score a few points by preventing unnecessary hard pulls by lenders.

Personal loans can be useful when you’re looking to consolidate debt or pay for a big expense upfront, but that doesn’t mean they’re always the best idea. Consider avoiding a personal loan when:

• You’re making a large purchase. Some things are better saved up for. Events like weddings and large vacations can be costly, and many financial experts advise against borrowing money for something that has no resale value.