What Is a Loan?
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Loan terminology to know
How do loans work?
Types of loans
Type of loan | Typical interest rate | Typical terms |
---|---|---|
Used to buy a home or borrow against home equity. | 5% to 7%. | 10 to 30 years. |
Finances a vehicle purchase. | 5% to 28%. | 2 to 7 years. |
Money you borrow from the federal government or a private lender to pay for higher education. | 4% to 15%. | 10 years. |
A lump sum you borrow and use for almost any purpose, including debt consolidation or a major expense. | 6% to 36%. | 2 to 7 years. |
A high-interest, small-dollar loan that doesn’t require a credit check and is due in full on your next payday. | 400%. | 2 to 4 weeks. |
Secured loans
Unsecured loans
How to get a loan

Article sources
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- 2. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Finance Rate on Personal Loans at Commercial Banks, 24 Month Loan. Accessed May 23, 2025.
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- 4. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Truth in Lending Act (TILA) examination procedures. Accessed May 2, 2025.
- 5. Experian and Oliver Wyman. Financial Inclusion and Access to Credit. Accessed Jan 23, 2025.
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- 8. Center for Responsible Lending. Payday and Other Small Dollar Loans. Accessed May 2, 2025.
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- 7. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What is a payday loan?. Accessed May 2, 2025.
- 12. Angi.com. How Much Does It Cost to Make My Home Accessible?. Accessed Nov 12, 2024.
- 13. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What are the costs and fees for a payday loan?. Accessed Jun 6, 2025.
- 14. Internal Revenue Service. Home energy tax credits. Accessed Mar 6, 2024.
- 15. Center for Responsible Lending. Unsafe Harbor: The Persistent Harms of High-Cost Lending. Accessed Jun 6, 2025.
- 16. Solar Energy Industries Association. Solar Power Purchase Agreements. Accessed Mar 7, 2024.
- 10. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Consumer Use of Buy Now, Pay Later and Other Unsecured Debt. Accessed Jan 27, 2025.
- 18. SolarReviews.com. Homes with Solar Sell for 6.8% More [2024 Zillow Data Study]. Accessed Dec 10, 2024.
- 19. Internal Revenue Service. Retirement Topics - Plan Loans. Accessed Apr 8, 2025.
- 7. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What is a payday loan?. Accessed Apr 4, 2025.
- 21. The Pew Charitable Trusts. Payday Loans Cost 4 Times More in States With Few Consumer Protections. Accessed Apr 4, 2025.
- 22. Federal Reserve. Military Lending Act. Accessed Apr 4, 2025.
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- 24. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Bankruptcy Basics. Accessed Apr 8, 2025.
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