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Personal Loans

Learn more about how personal loans work & what you can use them for, see our picks for the best personal loan lenders, and read reviews of the top lenders in the industry.

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See our editorial team’s picks for the best personal loans.

How personal loans work

Personal loans don’t often seem complicated, but you should understand several specific terms before you apply for one.

Personal loan uses

You can use personal loans for almost anything, including paying off debt and home improvements.

Personal loans by credit range

Your credit score is critical in determining eligibility for a personal loan. Before applying, check your credit score to determine whether your credit is excellent, good, fair, or poor. Compare companies that lend to borrowers in your credit range to boost your chances of approval.

Personal loan reviews

If you’re considering applying for a personal loan through a specific company, you should understand how that company operates and the repayment terms.

Latest on personal loans:

How to Get a $20,000 Personal Loan

In 2023, the average personal loan borrower took out almost $20,000. Given the high interest rates on credit card debt, debt consolidation was...

Personal Loans to Pay Bills

Struggling to pay your bills can be stressful, so personal loans—funds you can borrow for almost any purpose—may seem to offer a way...

Personal Loans for Veterans With Bad Credit

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported in 2020 that a sizable percentage of servicemembers struggle with delinquent debts shortly after they leave active...

Best Personal Loans for Excellent Credit

If your credit score is between 740 and 850, that’s often considered great to excellent credit. Some lenders with more stringent underwriting requirements may...

How to Get a $15,000 Personal Loan

There are a variety of banks, credit unions, and online lenders that offer $15,000 personal loans to qualifying borrowers. Before a lender approves...

Personal Loans for a Credit Score of 550

Lenders use credit scores to measure creditworthiness. A FICO score of 580 or below puts a borrower in the poor credit category, indicating...

Do You Need a Down Payment for a Personal Loan?

A down payment is an upfront payment you make when making a purchase with credit,...

How to Get a $2,000 Personal Loan

Many personal loans range from $5,000 to $50,000, so a $2,000 loan is smaller than most. But that’s excellent news for your finances:...

How to Pay Off a Personal Loan Early

Many individuals seek ways to pay off their personal loans early to save on interest, improve their debt-to-income ratio (DTI), or achieve financial...

Income-Based Personal Loans

Lenders that offer income-based personal loans focus more on your income than your credit score. This option might be an excellent choice if...