Is 12% a good rate for personal loan?
In most circ*mstances, a 12% interest rate on a personal loan definitely qualifies as a good rate unless the borrower has nearly perfect credit. To guarantee that you will be able to qualify for an interest rate near 12%, you will need to have a good to excellent credit score of over 700 points.
According to a Bankrate study, the average personal loan interest rate is 12.18 percent as of April 10, 2024. However, the rate you receive could be higher or lower, depending on your unique financial circ*mstances. Personal loan rates vary based on creditworthiness, the lender and the borrower's financial stability.
Personal loan rates range from around 7% to 36%, with the average hovering around 12-15% for a 3-year loan. A good interest rate on a personal loan is one that is lower than the national average. However, borrowers with excellent credit scores may qualify for even lower rates.
In general, the higher your credit score, the lower the rate will be. Individuals with excellent credit, which is defined as any FICO credit score between 720 and 850, should expect to find personal loan interest rates at about 9% to 13%, and many of these individuals may even qualify for lower rates.
Examples: "12% interest" means that the interest rate is 12% per year, compounded annually. "12% interest compounded monthly" means that the interest rate is 12% per year (not 12% per month), compounded monthly. Thus, the interest rate is 1% (12% / 12) per month.
Avoid loans with APRs higher than 10% (if possible)
According to Rachel Sanborn Lawrence, advisory services director and certified financial planner at Ellevest, you should feel OK about taking on purposeful debt that's below 10% APR, and even better if it's below 5% APR.
A high-interest loan charges interest and fees that are higher than most other loans. Typically, a loan with an annual percentage rate, or APR, over 36% is considered a high-interest loan. If you need cash fast or have low credit, you may be offered a high-interest loan or feel like you don't have any other options.
As of November 2023, the average interest rate on a personal loan with a 24-month term was 12.35%, according to data from the Federal Reserve. So, by using a personal loan to pay off your credit card debt, there could be significant savings, as the average credit card rate is currently 21.47%.
Generally, what's considered a bad interest rate is anything higher than 10%. Ideally, you want to get an interest rate that's below 5% — but with little or bad credit, that can be harder to achieve.
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)
How much would a 5000 loan cost per month?
| Payoff period | APR | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 15% | $451 |
| 2 years | 15% | $242 |
| 3 years | 15% | $173 |
| 4 years | 15% | $139 |
Key takeaways. Your credit card APR can go up if the prime rate changes, you paid your credit card bill late, your intro APR offer ended or your credit score dropped. If your APR increases, you can work on paying down your balance or transfer your balance to a card with a low or 0 percent intro APR offer.
| Bank name | Account name | APY |
|---|---|---|
| Khan Bank | 365-day, 18-month and 24-month Ordinary Term Savings Account | 12.3% to 12.8% |
| Khan Bank | 12-month, 18-month and 24-month Online Term Deposit Account | 12.4% to 12.9% |
| Yield | N/A | Up to 12% |
| Crypto.com | Crypto.com Earn | Up to 14.5% |
In California, absent an exception which we discuss in depth below, the maximum allowable interest rate for consumer loans is 10% per year. For non-consumer loans, the interest rate can bear the maximum of whichever is greater between either: i) 10% per annum; or ii) the “federal discount rate” plus 5%. Cal.
Simple Interest Calculation:
Formula: Simple Interest (SI) = Principal (P) x Rate (R) x Time (T) / 100.
You can borrow from $1,000 to $100,000 or more with a 700 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.
In general, personal loan amounts range from $1,000 up to $50,000, though some lenders may offer loans up to $200,000. The average personal loan amount was about $11,500 as of Q2 2023, according to data from TransUnion. Below, we look at how average personal loan balances vary by generation and state.
In most cases, you can pay off a personal loan early. Your credit score might drop, but it will typically be minor and temporary. Paying off an installment loan entirely can affect your credit score because of factors like your total debt, credit mix and payment history.
- Loan amount. ...
- Loan Type. ...
- Interest rate and APR. ...
- Prepayment. ...
- Terms. ...
- Does the loan amount meet your needs? ...
- Can you afford the monthly payment? ...
- Is the interest rate reasonable, and how will you know?
Lower personal loan rates may be on the horizon in 2024 after the Fed made progress curbing inflation at the end of 2023.
Does a personal loan help or hurt credit?
A personal loan will cause a slight hit to your credit score in the short term, but making on-time payments will bring it back up and can help improve your credit in the long run. A personal loan calculator can be a big help when it comes to determining the loan repayment term that's right for you.
It's possible that you could see your credit scores drop after fulfilling your payment obligations on a loan or credit card debt. Paying off debt might lower your credit scores if removing the debt affects certain factors like your credit mix, the length of your credit history or your credit utilization ratio.
Paying off your credit card debt in full each month is an excellent way to save money and build credit. For best results, aim to pay your balance in full each month or as often as possible.
| Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Loan amounts |
|---|---|---|
| Discover | 3.5 | $2,500 to $40,000 |
| Wells Fargo | 3.5 | $3,000 to $100,000 |
| PNC Bank | 3.0 | $1,000 to $35,000 |
| Citibank | 3.0 | $2,000 to $30,000 |
The bottom line. An excellent credit score, consistent income and low debt-to-income ratio are key to securing a low-interest personal loan. But if your finances aren't in the best shape, consider taking a step back to improve your credit score and lower your utilization rate before applying.
