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Personal Loans

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What Is a Personal Loan and How Does It Work?

A personal loan is money borrowed from a lender that you pay back in monthly installments.

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Nicole Dow, Robin Hartill, CFP®

How to Apply for a Personal Loan if You’re Self-Employed

Being self-employed shouldn't prevent you from getting a personal loan. Just be prepared to prove your income.

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Nicole Dow, Sara Rathner

The Best Ways to Borrow Money

Need access to cash? We explore multiple ways to borrow money, plus what options to avoid.

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Nicole Dow, Jackie Veling

Kikoff Credit-Builder Review 2026

Kikoff offers lines of credit starting at $750, plus some add-on products to help you build credit.

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Robin Hartill, CFP®

How to Get a Personal Loan With Bad Credit

Borrowers with bad credit may have to take extra steps to qualify for a personal loan or get a better rate.

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Annie Millerbernd, Nicole Dow

Should I Take a Personal Loan to Pay Rent?

You can get a personal loan for rent, but it's an expensive option. Rule out other ways to cover your rent first.

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Robin Hartill, CFP®

High-Interest Loans: What They Are and How They Work

High-interest loans have annual percentage rates above 36%, making them expensive and tough to repay. You may have cheaper options.

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Annie Millerbernd, Robin Hartill, CFP®

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