{"id":2380,"date":"2023-02-28T23:08:36","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T23:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/?page_id=2380"},"modified":"2024-04-05T22:06:05","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T22:06:05","slug":"how-to-apply-for-a-personal-loan","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/how-to-apply-for-a-personal-loan","title":{"rendered":"How To Apply For A Personal Loan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"\">Even if you\u2019ve researched and checked your eligibility, applying for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/what-is-a-personal-loan\">personal loan<\/a> can still feel overwhelming. But learning how the process works and what lenders are looking for can help you approach it more confidently while boosting your chance of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>\u00bb MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/how-to-get-a-personal-loan\">How to choose a loan suitable for your needs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-how-to c-block-how-to\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/HowTo\"><p class=\"hidden\" hidden itemprop=\"name\">How To Apply For a Personal Loan<\/p><h2 class=\"c-block-how-to__jump-links--title\">STEPS TO TAKE WHEN APPLYING FOR A PERSONAL LOAN<\/h2><div class=\"c-block-how-to__jump-links close\"><ul class=\"c-block-how-to__jump-links--list\"><li class=\"c-block-how-to__jump-links--item active\"><a class=\"js-scroll-to\" href=\"#decide-how-you-want-to-apply-for-the-loan\">Decide how you want to apply for the loan<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-block-how-to__jump-links--item \"><a class=\"js-scroll-to\" href=\"#gather-your-paperwork\">Gather your paperwork<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-block-how-to__jump-links--item \"><a class=\"js-scroll-to\" href=\"#complete-the-loan-application-form\">Complete the loan application form<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-block-how-to__jump-links--item \"><a class=\"js-scroll-to\" href=\"#review-and-sign-the-loan-agreement\">Review and sign the loan agreement<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-block-how-to__jump-links--item \"><a class=\"js-scroll-to\" href=\"#get-funded-and-start-repayments\">Get funded and start repayments<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-how-to-item c-block-how-to-item\" itemprop=\"step\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/HowToStep\"><link itemprop=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/how-to-apply-for-a-personal-loan#decide-how-you-want-to-apply-for-the-loan\"\/><h3 itemprop=\"name\" id=\"decide-how-you-want-to-apply-for-the-loan\" class=\"c-block-how-to-item__title\">Decide how you want to apply for the loan<\/h3><div itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/HowToDirection\"><div itemprop=\"text\">\n\n<p>There are usually three ways to apply for a loan \u2014 over the phone, in person, or online \u2014 but not all lenders will offer all these options. While online loan applications are typical these days, bear in mind some banks or finance companies still require you to confirm your identity in person, either at a branch or at an Australia Post outlet.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-how-to-item c-block-how-to-item\" itemprop=\"step\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/HowToStep\"><link itemprop=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/how-to-apply-for-a-personal-loan#gather-your-paperwork\"\/><h3 itemprop=\"name\" id=\"gather-your-paperwork\" class=\"c-block-how-to-item__title\">Gather your paperwork<\/h3><div itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/HowToDirection\"><div itemprop=\"text\">\n\n<p>One of the first things you\u2019ll need to do when getting ready to apply for a loan is to gather documents that prove your identity, residency status and financial situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Typically, you\u2019ll need to provide the following:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>Identification documents to confirm you\u2019re aged over 18 and an Australian resident, such as your driver licence, passport, visa or Medicare card.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Bank statements to show your incomings and outgoings, as well as your savings.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Payslips from your employer to verify how much you earn.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Current and past employment details to establish that you\u2019re in a stable work situation.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>Your lender may request fewer forms of ID if you\u2019re an existing customer, but make sure you have your customer or account number on hand.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll probably also need to list the value of your assets, liabilities and expenses to give the lender a clearer picture of your overall financial health. Below are some things you might include:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>Assets or items of value that you own, such as a vehicle, property, boat, term deposits, savings and other investments.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/personal-finance\/good-debt-vs-bad-debt\">Debts<\/a> you have, such as other personal loans, outstanding credit card debts, buy now, pay later (BNPL) balances or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-a-mortgage-home-loan\">home loans<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>General living expenses like rent, groceries, utilities, transport, school fees, mobile and streaming services.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re taking out a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/personal-loan-vs-car-loan\">personal loan to buy a car<\/a>, you\u2019ll likely have to provide additional paperwork, such as a tax invoice and evidence of comprehensive car insurance.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-how-to-item c-block-how-to-item\" itemprop=\"step\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/HowToStep\"><link itemprop=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/how-to-apply-for-a-personal-loan#complete-the-loan-application-form\"\/><h3 itemprop=\"name\" id=\"complete-the-loan-application-form\" class=\"c-block-how-to-item__title\">Complete the loan application form<\/h3><div itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/HowToDirection\"><div itemprop=\"text\">\n\n<p>With your personal and financial details easily accessible, you can start to fill out the loan application form.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>While forms vary between lenders, they\u2019ll typically ask for the following information:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n<li><strong>Loan details.<\/strong> You\u2019ll need to specify the loan amount, the number of years or months you\u2019d like to repay it, and whether you\u2019ll make weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments. In addition, many lenders will also want to find out why you\u2019re borrowing.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Personal information.<\/strong> This might include your name, title, date of birth, driver licence, marital status, number of dependants, and residency status.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Living arrangements.<\/strong> Lenders generally want to know where you live now, your previous addresses, and whether you own your home or are renting or boarding.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Contact details.<\/strong> This can be either your mobile or your email address.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Employment details.<\/strong> Lenders are interested in who you work for, what you do and whether you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/personal-finance\/types-of-employment\">working full-time or part-time<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Income, expenses, assets and liabilities.<\/strong> You can use your lists from the previous step to share details about what you own and owe and how you estimate your monthly income and expenses.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re applying online, you may be required to upload identification and supporting documents electronically.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Finally, lenders might try to establish your financial stability by asking whether you\u2019re behind in any loan or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/credit-cards\/guide-for-credit-card-payments\">credit card payments<\/a>, if you\u2019ve ever been bankrupt, and what upcoming changes you expect with your income or employment.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-how-to-item c-block-how-to-item\" itemprop=\"step\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/HowToStep\"><link itemprop=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/how-to-apply-for-a-personal-loan#review-and-sign-the-loan-agreement\"\/><h3 itemprop=\"name\" id=\"review-and-sign-the-loan-agreement\" class=\"c-block-how-to-item__title\">Review and sign the loan agreement<\/h3><div itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/HowToDirection\"><div itemprop=\"text\">\n\n<p>Most lenders will let you know promptly whether your loan application has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/what-is-personal-loan-pre-approval\">conditionally approved<\/a>. You\u2019ll receive your indicative interest rate and repayment amount, and once the lender successfully verifies the information on your form, they\u2019ll send you a formal offer and a loan agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>A loan agreement is a legally binding contract that sets out all the borrowing conditions. Reviewing it carefully lets you decide whether the arrangement fits your situation and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/personal-finance\/financial-goals-definition-and-examples\">financial goals<\/a>. Remember, you don\u2019t have to take up a loan just because you\u2019ve been approved.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>In particular, look out for clauses relating to:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n<li>The principal or how much you\u2019re borrowing, and whether there are any restrictions on the use of loan funds.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Costs such as interest rate, fees, and the annual percentage rate (APR), a rate that helps you work out the true cost of a loan.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>The loan term or when it must be fully repaid.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Your repayment schedule, as well as payment amount and method.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>What happens if you miss a payment.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>How you and your lender can resolve legal disputes.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a good idea to fully understand and feel comfortable with your obligations under the agreement before signing it. Once signed, you\u2019re deemed to have accepted the loan offer.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-how-to-item c-block-how-to-item\" itemprop=\"step\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/HowToStep\"><link itemprop=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/how-to-apply-for-a-personal-loan#get-funded-and-start-repayments\"\/><h3 itemprop=\"name\" id=\"get-funded-and-start-repayments\" class=\"c-block-how-to-item__title\">Get funded and start repayments<\/h3><div itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/HowToDirection\"><div itemprop=\"text\">\n\n<p>Loan funds usually arrive soon after final approval and offer acceptance \u2014 typically within one or two business days \u2014 sometimes even within 60 minutes. The money is generally deposited into your nominated account, though funds may go straight to the car dealership or private seller for car loans.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Your repayment schedule begins when you\u2019ve received the funds. For example, if you choose to pay off your loan fortnightly, your first repayment is due a fortnight after loan settlement.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to do if your loan application is rejected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If your loan isn\u2019t approved, it\u2019s crucial to find out why before trying again. Making multiple loan applications quickly can work against you as lenders will see you\u2019re struggling to get credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/personal-finance\/how-to-check-credit-score\">check your credit report<\/a> to make sure it\u2019s correct, pay off some debts to get them under control and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/personal-finance\/what-is-a-budget\">create a budget<\/a> to grow your savings. As your financial health improves, so will your chances of securing a loan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-faq c-block-faq\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><div class=\"c-block-faq__wrapper\"><div class=\"c-block-faq__header\"><h2 class=\"c-block-faq__title\"><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"c-block-faq__section-list\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-faq-section\"><div class=\"c-block-faq-section c-block-accordion-wrapper\"><div class=\"c-block-accordion__header\"><h3 class=\"c-block-accordion__title\">Frequently asked questions about applying for a personal loan<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"c-block-accordion-list\">\n<div class=\"c-block-faq-item c-block-accordion-item c-block-accordion-item--active\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__header\"><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__title\" itemprop=\"name\">Can I apply for a personal loan online?<\/div><\/div><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__content\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-faq-item\" itemprop=\"text\">\n<p class=\"\">Yes. Almost all lenders will allow you to apply online, but some may require you to verify your identity in person.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-block-faq-item c-block-accordion-item\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__header\"><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__title\" itemprop=\"name\">Does applying for financing affect your credit score?<\/div><\/div><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__content\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-faq-item\" itemprop=\"text\">\n<p class=\"\">Yes. When you apply for credit, the lender submits a request to the credit rating agency to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/personal-finance\/what-is-a-credit-check\">view your credit report<\/a>, which can lead to a short-term drop in your credit score.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__more-link\"><strong>\u00bb MORE: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/personal-finance\/what-affects-your-credit-score\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">What affects your credit score?<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nwb-authors nwb-authors__footer wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-authors-card\">\n\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__wrapper\">\n\t\t<h4 class=\"nwb-authors__title\">\n\t\t\tAbout the Author\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/kristie-kwok\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"nwb-authors__image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/KristieKwok-150x150.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"120\" height=\"120\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Kristie Kwok photo\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/kristie-kwok\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Kristie Kwok<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__bio\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Kristie Kwok is a personal finance expert and former contributing writer at NerdWallet Australia. She has covered personal and business finance for almost 10 years. She is a qualified chartered&hellip;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/kristie-kwok\" title=\"Read more about Kristie Kwok\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Read more about Kristie Kwok and explore their articles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t<section class=\"c-block-card-grid container\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"c-block-card-grid__title\">\n\t\t\t\tDIVE EVEN DEEPER\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll column-four\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-2062\" class=\"c-block-card post-2062 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-personal-loans topic-small-personal-loans cluster-small-personal-loan-basics\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/no-interest-loan-scheme\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"435\" height=\"290\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/nils-loan-435x290.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"No Interest Loans (NILs) Explained\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/no-interest-loan-scheme\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tNo Interest Loans (NILs) Explained\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>The No Interest Loans Scheme allows some Australians to borrow up to $3,000 with an interest-free loan.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/kristie-kwok\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/KristieKwok-150x150.jpg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Kristie Kwok<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/georgia-rose\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img alt='Georgia Rose profile photo' decoding=\"async\" src='https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6b9e515bc45988c863ac8ac39e7bdd34?s=32&#038;d=mm&#038;r=g' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' \/>Georgia Rose<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-2062 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-1533\" class=\"c-block-card post-1533 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-personal-loans topic-guide-to-personal-loans cluster-about-personal-loans\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/what-is-a-loan\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"435\" height=\"290\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/What-is-a-loan-435x290.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"What Is A Loan?\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/what-is-a-loan\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tWhat Is A Loan?\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>A loan is a sum of money borrowed from a creditor that you pay back with interest. Loans can be secured or unsecured.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/katia-iervasi\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/katia-40x40.jpeg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Katia Iervasi<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-1533 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-2373\" class=\"c-block-card post-2373 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-personal-loans topic-guide-to-personal-loans cluster-applying-for-personal-loans\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/how-to-get-a-personal-loan\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"434\" height=\"290\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/02\/How-to-get-a-personal-loan-434x290.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"How To Get A Personal Loan In 7 Steps\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/how-to-get-a-personal-loan\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tHow To Get A Personal Loan In 7 Steps\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>Getting a loan starts with assessing your borrowing needs and capacity to repay, then comparing offers to find the best deal.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/kristie-kwok\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/KristieKwok-150x150.jpg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Kristie Kwok<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-2373 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-1392\" class=\"c-block-card post-1392 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-personal-loans topic-guide-to-personal-loans cluster-about-personal-loans\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/personal-loan-vs-credit-card\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"244\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/loan-vs-credit-card-e1723151009498-460x244.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Personal Loan Vs. Credit Card: What\u2019s The Difference?\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/loans\/personal-loan-vs-credit-card\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tPersonal Loan Vs. Credit Card: What\u2019s The Difference?\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>Personal loans give you a lump sum for large purchases. Credit cards work better for smaller, everyday expenses.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/katia-iervasi\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/katia-40x40.jpeg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Katia Iervasi<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-1392 -->\n<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Applying for a loan can be quicker and easier if you\u2019re prepared and know what to expect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2381,"parent":351,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/article-sidebar.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"[]","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","_nw_pros_cons_block_schema":""},"content-classification":[282],"topic":[297],"cluster":[390],"pp_author":[92],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.1 - 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