What factors affect personal loan interest rates?
Written by
Writer, Fox Money
Stephanie Vozza is a contributor to Fox Money and a personal loan expert. Her byline has been featured by Forbes, Business Insider, and Lifehacker.
Updated October 16, 2024, 2:49 AM EDT
A personal loan is a flexible financing tool you can use to purchase a car, consolidate debt, complete a home repair, or pay for school. And if your credit score is good, you could qualify for as much as $100,000.
1. Credit score
Your credit score is a number assigned by reporting agencies such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, and it helps a lender assess risk. Your score will be based on your outstanding balances, repayment record, credit mix, and account length. Credit scores range between 300 and 850, with a higher score being better.
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CREDIT SCORE FAST
2. Debt-to-income ratio
Another determining factor is the amount of debt you have compared to your gross income, which is your debt-to-income ratio. Debt includes loans, mortgages, leases, and credit cards, but not monthly expenses, such as utilities or groceries.
If your gross income is $5,000 a month, and your debts total $2,100, your debt-to-income ratio is 42 percent. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, mortgage lenders look for debt-to-income ratios at or below 43 percent. For personal loans, a lender’s standards may vary. The lower your ratio, the better your rates will most likely be.
CALCULATE YOUR DEBT-TO-INCOME RATIO AND FIND OUT WHERE YOU STAND
3. Employment history and income
Lenders will also want to know how you plan to pay back the loan, and they typically look at your employment history. Many lenders review the past 24 months of employment history, while some may go back farther. They are looking for a solid track record of employment. For example, someone who has been in the same job for two years will look like a lower risk than someone who is fresh in the job market.
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4. Loan term and amount
The length of the loan will also impact your interest rate. Personal loans can range from one to seven years. Longer-term loans usually have higher rates than a shorter loan.
5. Collateral
Most personal loans are unsecured. However, if you have bad credit or short employment history, you may be able to reduce your rate by offering a form of collateral. If the loan purpose is to purchase a car, for example, you can use the car to secure the loan. If you have other valuables, such as a CD, lenders may use that collateral to reduce your interest rate. If a borrower doesn’t pay, the lenders will take the collateral to cover their costs, limiting their risk.
By knowing what a lender considers before approving a personal loan, you take steps to improve your situation before you apply to get the lowest interest rate.
You may also improve your chances of getting approved quickly. A personalized loan offer can help you achieve your financial goals and stay on track for the future as long as you use it responsibly.