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Personal Loans

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Personal Loan vs. Auto Loan: What’s the Difference?

Auto loans are for new and used vehicle purchases and tend to have lower rates than personal loans, which can be used for almost any large expense.

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Nicole Dow, Jackie Veling

10 Ways to Pay Off Credit Card Debt

You can get out of credit card debt with strategies ranging from DIY for smaller balances to relief programs for more serious situations.

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Lauren Schwahn, Kate Ashford, WMS™, Jackie Veling

Family Loans: How to Borrow From and Lend to Family

Family loans can be a cheap way to borrow money — but they can also risk your relationship. Carefully weigh the pros and cons.

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Nicole Dow, Annie Millerbernd

Top 5 Reasons to Get a Personal Loan

You can use a personal loan to pay for almost anything, including debt consolidation and home improvement projects.

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Nicole Dow, Jackie Veling

How Does Personal Loan Deferment Work? Understanding Your Options and Costs

Deferring a personal loan payment can relieve financial stress for a month or two, but the total cost could go up.

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Annie Millerbernd, Robin Hartill, CFP®

Should You Apply for a Loan Online vs. In Person? How to Choose

Consider what's more important to you: speed and convenience or talking face-to-face with a loan officer.

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Nicole Dow, Kevin Voigt

How to Manage Your Personal Loan

You got the loan — now make a plan to successfully pay it off. Start by adjusting your budget to cover monthly loan payments.

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Annie Millerbernd

How Many Personal Loans Can You Have at Once?

In many cases, you can have more than one personal loan at a time, but consider how you'll manage the extra debt.

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Annie Millerbernd, Ronita Choudhuri-Wade

What Credit Score Do You Need for a Personal Loan?

Your credit score is one — but not the only — factor that lenders use to decide your rate and loan amount.

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Annie Millerbernd, Nicole Dow

DTI Calculator: How to Find Your Debt-to-Income Ratio

Lenders use your debt-to-income ratio to assess your ability to repay a loan.

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Jackie Veling, Nicole Dow

Chase Bank Personal Loan Alternatives

Chase doesn't offer personal loans. Alternatives include other banks, credit unions and online lenders.

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Amrita Jayakumar, Robin Hartill, CFP®

How Do Bank Loans Work?

Bank loans work similarly to loans from other lenders but often require good or excellent credit to qualify.

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Nicole Dow, Ronita Choudhuri-Wade

What Is Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)?

"Buy now, pay later" divides your total purchase into a series of equal installments, with the first due at checkout.

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Jackie Veling

Should You Get a Loan on Your Credit Card?

A loan on a credit card is cheaper than a cash advance, but it won't benefit your credit score and may be more expensive than alternatives.

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Steve Nicastro, Jackie Veling

3 Steps to Personal Loan Pre-Qualification

Pre-qualification gives you a preview of the potential terms of your personal loan. Learn how to pre-qualify.

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Nicole Dow, Jackie Veling

What Happens If I Default on a Personal Loan?

Defaulting on a personal loan can have serious consequences, including a damaged credit score.

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Ronita Choudhuri-Wade, Robin Hartill, CFP®

What Is an Unsecured Personal Loan?

An unsecured loan lets you borrow money without having to pledge items you own as collateral.

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Jackie Veling

What Is a Loan?

A loan is a sum of money borrowed from a creditor that you pay back with interest. Loans can be secured or unsecured.

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Amrita Jayakumar, Robin Hartill, CFP®

How to Get a Debt Consolidation Loan in 5 Steps

Getting a debt consolidation loan includes knowing how much you want to borrow, pre-qualifying with lenders and submitting your application.

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Jackie Veling

What Is a Personal Loan Origination Fee?

An origination fee adds to a personal loan's costs, but may be worth paying if the APR is lowest among other options.

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Jackie Veling, Laura McMullen