The Pros and Cons of Personal Loans (2024 Guide) (2024)

FAQs

What credit score do you need for a $15,000 loan? ›

Requirements for a $15,000 Personal Loan

In many cases, you'll need a good credit score of 670 or above to apply. While some lenders lean more heavily on credit scores, others take into account occupation, education and income. A lower DTI ratio is also more favorable to lenders.

Interest rates can be higher than alternatives. More eligibility requirements. Fees and penalties can be high.

Taking out a personal loan can make more sense than tapping credit cards or home equity in some cases – but it's not always a good idea to borrow one. There are situations where this could be a good idea, but always remember that taking out a personal loan increases your overall debt.

As far as qualifying, you'll often need good or better credit (a FICO score above 670), and a stable income source that shows you can afford the payments. Annual percentage rates (APRs) for personal loans typically range from around 6% to 36%, depending on your credit profile and other factors.

A good personal loan interest rate depends on your credit score: 740 and above: Below 8% (look for loans for excellent credit) 670 to 739: Around 14% (look for loans for good credit) 580 to 669: Around 18% (look for loans for fair credit)

You should avoid using a personal loan to pay for college tuition, investments, basic living expenses, vacation, discretionary purchases and gambling, as well as a down payment and the costs associated with starting a business.

The easiest banks to get a personal loan from are USAA and Wells Fargo. USAA does not disclose a minimum credit score requirement, but their website indicates they consider people with scores below 640, so even people with bad credit may be able to qualify.

Hardship personal loans are a type of personal loan that is designed to help you overcome financial difficulties. This type of loan is generally offered by small banks and credit unions, and has lower interest rates, lower maximum loan amounts, and shorter repayment periods than standard personal loans.

When evaluating personal loan lenders, you can choose from traditional banks and private online lenders. Bank lenders typically offer better rates and the added security of working with a well-established lender, but loans from private online lenders are often quicker and easier to get.

In addition, you shouldn't use loan proceeds for purchases that will violate your loan terms, which may include gambling, tuition, a house down payment, or anything illegal.

Does it hurt to pay off a personal loan early? ›

If you pay off the personal loan earlier than your loan term, your credit report will reflect a shorter account lifetime. Your credit history length accounts for 15% of your FICO score and is calculated as the average age of all of your accounts.

You can borrow anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $100,000+ with a 580 credit score. The exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors besides your credit score, such as your income, your employment status, the type of loan you get, and even the lender.

It's not at all uncommon for households to be swimming in more that twice as much credit card debt. But just because a $15,000 balance isn't rare doesn't mean it's a good thing. Credit card debt is seriously expensive. Most credit cards charge between 15% and 29% interest, so paying down that debt should be a priority.

On average, borrowers approved for a personal loan have a credit score ranging from Good (670 – 739) to Very Good (740 – 799). You'll likely need a score of at least 650 for a personal loan with a good interest rate.