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How do I Choose the Best Unsecured Loan Company?

By A. Leverkuhn
Updated May 17, 2024
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To choose the best unsecured loan company for a lending agreement, prospective borrowers should do the research on how the terms of a loan agreement will affect them, and seek out the lowest-cost loans with the best and easiest repayment terms. Lots of lenders now offer unsecured loans that rely totally on the borrower’s credit rating, something that is largely decided by a set of consumer credit scores. These scores are translated into an overall FICO credit score, named after the Fair Isaac company, or FICO, that oversees aspects of credit rating processes.

An unsecured loan is essentially a loan that includes no collateral. Secured loans that use collateral can allow borrowers to get better loan terms by backing up their loan with physical assets like a home, a vehicle, or other major property. One of the drawbacks to secured loans is that the collateral assets can be seized by the lender in cases of “default” or nonpayment, which is why some borrowers like to rely on unsecured loans instead.

One of the major ways to choose the best unsecured loan company is to look at the annual interest rate (APR) attached to the loan. This crucial number will tell you how much interest you will pay on the loan over the repayment period. Shopping around to different lenders is essential for getting the best interest rates and the best unsecured loan agreements.

Another big factor in an unsecured loan is access to the loan and the overall “structure” of the loan. For instance, someone who is seeking a major unsecured loan for business may not need a “credit card setup” for the loan, but will just take out the loan in a lump sum, and pay it back in installments. On the other hand, many of the popular consumer unsecured loans are in the form of a credit card, which is used for everyday purchases and carries a maximum credit limit, which is effectively the maximum amount of the unsecured loan.

It’s important to understand that the best unsecured loans will be given to borrowers with excellent credit. Part of finding the best unsecured loan company and agreement is getting your credit score squeaky clean, but another part of locating the unsecured loans that work for you is to network with these firms to figure out which of them can help meet your needs as a borrower.

When you are shopping for lenders, those who want good unsecured loans can look at popular alternatives. One of these is micro-lending, where some Internet services connect individual borrowers with individual lenders who dole out loan money in smaller increments. Some of these loan agreements can be much better than those that borrowers would get from a major financial lender in a unsecured loan company agreement. Another alternative is the co-signed unsecured loan, where an individual with good credit vouches for someone else whose credit may not be so good. All of this can help you find the best unsecured loans for your needs, with attention to the details of a specific loan agreement or contract.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

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