What you need to know about personal or cash loans
When you take out a personal loan, the lender will charge interest as a fee for lending you money. Effectively, you will be repaying the amount you borrowed plus interest through monthly repayments over a set time period. Because personal loans are unsecured, interest rates often go as high as those for credit cards. (However, some lenders may offer lower rates under certain conditions, e.g. if you already have a savings account with that particular bank).
- Advantages: they are easier to apply for than auto loans or a mortgage, and you get the cash upfront as a lump sum in a matter of days—handy if you need cash quickly
- Disadvantages: spreads the cost of a purchase over several months or years
To know your eligibility as a borrower, lenders usually look at your income, credit score, and other standing debts. The amount you can borrow usually depends on your income and your existing account with the institution (if applicable). To get the best offers on personal loans, it’s best to have a history of on-time payments, a steady income, and a low income-to-debt ratio.