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Personal Loans

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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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Annie Millerbernd, Jackie Veling
May 08, 2020

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®
Apr 14, 2020

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
Jan 03, 2020

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
Nov 13, 2019

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
Nov 02, 2019

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
Oct 16, 2019

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
Oct 08, 2019

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
Oct 08, 2019

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
Oct 07, 2019

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
Sep 24, 2019

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
Sep 03, 2019

6 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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Jackie Veling, Nicole Dow
Jul 29, 2019

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®
Jun 20, 2019

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
Jun 10, 2019

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®
Jun 06, 2019

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
Jun 06, 2019

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
May 13, 2019

How Does a Personal Loan Affect Your Credit Score?

A personal loan can build your credit scores in the long term — as long as you consistently repay the debt on time.

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Nicole Dow, Robin Hartill, CFP®
Apr 23, 2019

What Are Installment Loans and How Do They Work?

An installment loan lets you borrow a set amount that you repay with interest over a period of months or years.

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Annie Millerbernd, Robin Hartill, CFP®
Mar 08, 2019

6 Tips to Boost Your Chances of Personal Loan Approval

Cleaning up your credit, paying down debt and adding a co-borrower are three ways to help you qualify for a personal loan.

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Nicole Dow
Nov 26, 2018