The Update

All You Need to Know About Personal Loans

Personal loans, sometimes called unsecured loans, are loans that allow flexible use, offer short- to moderate-term repayment options and quick funding. Their versatility and convenience make them a popular choice for borrowers of every financial standing. Let’s take a deeper look at personal loans, how they work, and their pros and cons.

How Personal Loans Work

If you’re interested in taking out a personal loan, visit Rio Grande Credit Union (RGCU) in person or online, complete an application, and pending approval, you can walk away with the lump sum you requested. You’ll need to repay the principal of the loan, along with interest, over the loan’s term.

Unlike most other loans, like home loans and auto loans, personal loans are not intended to be used for a single, specific purpose. Once the money is in your hands, you are free to use the loan in any way you please. Some popular uses for personal loans include:

• Funding an adoption
• Covering medical bills
• Paying off credit card debt
• Covering a large purchase of any kind
• Paying for a dream vacation
• Funding a wedding

Personal loans are an easy and convenient way to get a lump sum of cash quickly for almost any possible use.

Pros of Personal Loans

There are several distinct advantages to borrowing money through a personal loan.

First, as mentioned, personal loans provide the borrower with the unique freedom to spend the funds in any way they choose. The lender won’t ask to see evidence of how the money was spent, nor will they care to know. The borrower has full discretion over the money.

Second, most personal loans are unsecured. This means there is no collateral, or valuable asset backing up the loan. Consequently, unlike other loans which put the borrower’s assets at risk of being repossessed if they default on the loan, there is no risk to the borrower’s property or possessions through a personal loan.

Finally, applying for a personal loan tends to be a lot faster than applying for most other loans. RGCU will tailor your personal loan to help make your dreams come true.

Cons of Personal Loans

There are some disadvantages to personal loans that borrowers should be aware of before going ahead with an application.

First, as unsecured debt, personal loans that are not backed by any collateral will likely have a higher interest rate than loans borrowed against an asset, like a home or a car. It’s a good idea to run the numbers to be sure you can comfortably meet the monthly payments before finalizing a personal loan.

Also, even if a personal loan is unsecured, a lender may be able to place a lien on the borrower’s assets if the borrower is delinquent in their payments. While this only occurs in extreme cases, and the lender must sue the borrower in court before they can obtain a lien, it’s important to be aware of this possibility. If it indeed occurs, the borrower could be stuck paying attorney fees and court costs in addition to the loan amount and late fees.

Finally, the amount of money you can borrow through a personal loan may be significantly less than the sum you can borrow through other loans. The exact amount you can borrow will depend on your creditworthiness, but as a general rule, when debt is not secured, lenders are more tight-fisted. Find out how much you’ll be qualified to borrow before you decide to apply for a personal loan.

RGCU Personal Loans

If you are interested in a personal loan through Rio Grande Credit Union, contact us today. We value our members, and strive to help make their dreams come true.