Wednesday, September 8, 2021

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Credit Union Loans – Why & How to Get One

Posted: 07 Sep 2021 08:25 AM PDT

Summary

  • Credit union loans can offer better rates than traditional lenders in most cases
  • Credit union membership is often required to take advantage of the benefits associated with credit union loans
  • Credit union loan rates will vary depending on the loan purpose and security

Sometimes credit union loans can offer the most reasonable interest rates and loan terms. When you’re borrowing money, it’s always a good idea to find the lowest interest rates, especially for personal loans.

Comparing rates from different lenders can be tiresome. We’ll help by breaking down credit union personal loan rates and what you need to know about credit union loans before you get one.

In minutes, you’ll have everything you need to find the best credit union loans. Until then, enter your ZIP to get free quotes from top lenders near you.

Credit Union Basics

Many people aren’t exactly familiar with credit unions. In some states, you might see credit unions very frequently while in other states they aren’t particularly common. Most people learn about banks but not credit unions as they start to establish their first checking account.

What is a credit union? In short, a credit union is a not-for-profit bank. Banks and credit unions both have the same uses overall; however, a credit union tends to give you more power as a member.

Most credit unions allow members to have a voice in major decisions. In reality, credit union members are much like stockholders rather than just customers.

The flexibility of a credit union allows them to offer lower interest rates, fewer fees, and higher savings rates.

How a Credit Union Personal Loan Works

Getting a personal loan from a credit union is a pretty straightforward process. Nowadays, you can apply online for credit union loans with most organizations. Securing credit union loans online is usually a fast and easy process.

That said, many credit unions will require membership to be eligible for the aforementioned credit union benefits such as low interest rates and fees. Becoming a credit union member will increase your odds of approval.

Non-members will most likely have limited access to credit union benefits in general. On the bright side, most credit unions are easy to join at a low expense. You can join the majority of credit unions for $25 or less.

Credit Union Loans vs. Personal Loans

Finding the right loan could save you a fortune in due time. If you’re a member of a credit union, you may be awarded a personal line of credit in which you can use funds for various personal matters.

In comparison, a traditional personal loan will have a set amount that is predetermined as you become qualified. In essence, this is just one example of added flexibility associated with credit union loans.

Credit union loans for non-members, if available, will most likely be set up the same as a traditional personal loan. If you’re not a member of a credit union and have no intention of becoming one, you’ll want to compare credit union loan quotes with banks and even online lenders.

While choosing between a credit union vs. online lender, you’ll want to consider the availability and intimacy of the loan and customer service.

You’ll likely be able to walk into a credit union while you’ll rely on calls or emails with an online lender. This is a matter of preference.

Keep in mind that credit unions do have many flexible options, including payday alternative loans. These loans offer union members cash in advance of a paycheck to assist with small unexpected expenses like vehicle repairs.

How much does a credit union loan cost?

Like most investments and loans, credit union loans are subject to market changes overall. These loans can still have fixed rates, but to be transparent, the standard rates might change over time.

As of current, credit union loans tend to be at least half a percent cheaper than personal loans from banks. Personal loans, even from credit unions, will vary based on your credit, the loan amount, the loan security, and more.

Sample Credit Union Loan Rates
Credit UnionCurrent Loan Rates
Achieva Credit Union2.99% and Up
Alliant Credit Union6.24-10.24%
First Federal Credit Union3.25-12.5%
Florida Credit Union2.49-17.99%
Tyndall Credit Union3.24-7.24%
Compare RatesStart Now →

The sample rates above include rates from providers for personal loans and a home equity line of credit. In short, you can get an unsecured personal loan at a much higher interest rate than a secured personal loan.

A home equity line of credit provides the credit union with some security so that they can confidently offer you a better rate. If you are unable to pay your loan back, the credit union will basically own some or all of your home.

Credit unions provide almost any type of loan, so the above rates do not include rates for auto loans, mortgages, or other loans. Mortgage loans make up over 50% of all credit union loans, according to the National Credit Union Administration.

You can anticipate notable variance in interest rates between loan types. Credit union loan rates vary by the credit union, loan type, and your credit history.

What are the best credit union loan alternatives?

It’s clear that a credit union can more than likely offer you a loan with a competitive interest rate. However, affordable credit union loans are usually only available for members. What happens if you can’t join a credit union?

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If you can’t join a credit union, you’ll still want to do your due diligence and compare loan rates from different lenders. There are some other options such as co-signed or joint personal loans.

Any co-signed loan, especially if your co-signer has strong credit, will be more affordable than without a co-signer. This is especially true if you have bad credit or limited credit history.

Most notably, high school graduates looking to attend college could save big on interest by finding a suitable cosigner for a student loan.

Credit Union Loans: The Bottom Line

Comparing credit union loans to traditional bank loans almost always falls in favor of credit unions. Credit union members can oftentimes find various loan types with competitive interest rates that aren’t available to non-members.

By now, you should understand whether or not credit union loans are right for you. Before you go, enter your ZIP to get free loan quotes from top lenders near you.

The post Credit Union Loans – Why & How to Get One first appeared on Loans.org.

The 3 Types of Bad Credit Loans

Posted: 07 Sep 2021 08:21 AM PDT

Summary

  • The best types of bad credit loans will vary from person to person depending on credit score and loan amount
  • Credit union loans, joint personal loans, and home equity loans can help you get the best rates with bad credit
  • The best bad credit loan rates will come from secured loans with a cosigner in most cases

With so many expenses, it’s obvious that many people run into situations where they need personal loans, including those with bad credit. Comparing the three types of bad credit loans can help avoid unnecessary expenses.

Nobody wants to pay more for interest and fees than they need to. We’ll guide you with the best bad credit loans, how to get a loan if you have bad credit, and alternatives to loans if you have bad credit.

Soon, you’ll be ready to start comparing your rates with different types of bad credit loans. To get a jump-start, enter your ZIP to get free personal loan quotes from top lenders near you.

What are bad credit loans?

Bad credit loans are loans that are provided to policyholders with a subpar credit score. This could be due to limited credit history or because they’ve failed to make payments on time.

In short, someone who is classified with bad credit will likely have limited loan options. Eligible loans will most likely carry higher interest rates than they would for someone with good credit:

Personal Loan APR by Credit Scores
Credit Score RangeAverage APR
Less than 560113.62%
560-579105.39%
580-61965.70%
620-63938.64%
640-65926.15%
660-67918.53%
680-71911.88%
720+7.63%
Compare RatesStart Now →

You’ll see above that your interest rates (APR) will be drastically higher with bad credit than they will with good credit. The best bad credit loan rates will be available to those with some type of equity and a reliable co-signer. If you don’t have either, you might want to consider a short-term loan that can help you get by.

For example, payday loans offer cash advances to let you pay for expenses in a hurry if needed. The idea is that you’ll repay the loan the next time you get paid.

In this case, if you have a bill due in the middle of the month but don’t get paid until the end of the month, the lender will basically advance you the money so that you don’t fall behind. Ideally, these are the best option for extremely bad credit loans.

There are also bad credit loans with guaranteed approval, but again, these come at a cost. Getting a guaranteed loan approval with no credit check is just as costly as securing a loan while reporting your bad credit score to the lender.

What are the 3 types of bad credit loans?

If you’ve been laid off or have run into a major financial obstacle, obtaining a loan can be a huge help. Having bad credit shouldn’t prevent you from any chance at getting a personal loan.

What loan options do you have?

#1 – Credit Union Loans

For starters, it could be worthwhile to join a credit union to secure a line of credit. In general, credit unions tend to offer some of the most affordable bad credit loan interest rates on vehicle loans, student loans, mortgage loans, and more.

Your ability to become a credit union member will likely depend on your credit history, amongst other things. Credit union members will basically be considered shareholders and that flexibility, combined with non-profit status, helps to keep down interest rates and fees.

#2 – Joint Personal Loans

Let’s face it, if you want to get a good interest rate, you’ll have to wager something to your lender to instill confidence in your ability to repay the loan. If you don’t have much personal equity, you might need more help.

Thankfully, many lenders offer joint personal loans or co-signed loans. On the positive side, this could help your odds of approval and help you earn a better rate. On the negative, your co-signer will be on the hook if you aren’t able to repay your debts.

#3 – Home Equity Loans

As mentioned above, it’s challenging to get a personal loan without something that convinces the lender they’ll be repaid. If you can’t afford to repay the money, you can barter a portion of your home’s equity.

Let’s be clear, home equity loans a good for bad credit if you truly believe that you’ll be able to repay the loan. Otherwise, you might eventually lose the title to your home and all of the equity you’ve built through mortgage payments.

What is the difference between secured vs. unsecured personal loans?

If you have bad credit, finding the right personal loan might take some digging. Your credit score will play a big role when determining which loans and rates you’ll be eligible for.

Rates are almost always cheaper with a secured personal loan compared to an unsecured loan. The difference between secured and unsecured personal loans is that a secured loan has some type of equity available to the lender if you are unable to repay it.

That said, there are different types of secured and unsecured loans. If you have credit and you’re looking for a way to get a better interest rate on a loan, you’ll have a couple of options. Our top choices are below.

What is considered a bad credit score?

To many people, bad credit seems pretty subjective. In reality, it actually is. Bad credit can be classified as a different value from company to company. Some examples include:

  • Experian – Below 670
  • NerdWallet – Below 630
  • CapitalOne – Below 580
  • Credit Karma – Below 600
  • Bankrate – Below 579

There doesn’t appear to be any set standards in the industry that illustrate what is considered a “bad” credit score. This is unfortunate because it makes it difficult to know what your cutoff point truly is.

In any case, if you have a credit score below 700, you could be subjected to higher interest rates, higher fees, and reduced eligibility on loans or credit products.

What makes up a bad credit score?

Credit scores are generated over time and are influenced by a number of factors. According to the Federal Trade Commission, credit scores are influenced by the following:

  • Payment history
  • Credit usage
  • Credit history
  • New inquiries
  • Number of accounts

Some of the above factors will be weighted differently than others. Your payment history is most likely the most influential towards your credit score. This means that you should prioritize paying on time when able.

How to Choose the Best Bad Credit Loan

Getting a loan with bad credit can be costly. To minimize your expenses on interest, credit union loans, joint holder loans, and home equity loans could be the most cost-effective.

By now, you should have a decent understanding of a few types of bad credit loans. Before you go, enter your ZIP to get free loan quotes from top lenders near you.

The post The 3 Types of Bad Credit Loans first appeared on Loans.org.

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