Personal loans are loans taken from a lender and paid back by the borrower in fixed monthly installments. These loans can be taken for a wider variety of reasons ranging from home improvement to financing large purchases. Unlike mortgage loans or some types of business loans, personal loans are almost always unsecured, meaning they aren’t backed by any collateral.

Absolutely! By using an online personal loan service you save yourself the trouble of arranging meetings with banks and/or credit unions and you can easily compare offers while sitting at home. Furthermore, many online personal loan lenders offer better rates than banks and provide more flexible terms ranging from 61 days up to 180 months. These online personal loan services often function as a middleman between the borrower and lender. The loan service will connect you with a lender who will make a loan offer specifying the APR and loan terms.

Applying for a personal loan is much easier than you might’ve thought. Many online applications take only a few minutes to complete and don’t require many personal details. Usually, loan applications simply require details such name, address, contact information, plus some basic questions concerning your financial history, credit score, and income.

APR stands for annual percentage rate and refers to the annual interest rate charged for your personal loan. Actual APR numbers vary but will always cap at 35.99%. Typically, online lenders will offer an APR somewhere between 5% and 30%. The APR of your loan will depend on various factors such as credit score, income, and financial history. *APR rates mentioned include associated fees.

Much like APR, the term or length of your loan will depend on a variety of factors. Repayment periods can range from 61 days to 180 months. One of the great things about online personal loan services is they allow you to compare loan terms meaning you can choose a repayment period that best suits your financial goals.