What Are the Benefits of Obtaining a Personal Loan?

Personal loans have several pros and cons to consider as a funding source. For many people, the benefits can include more predictable repayment terms and lower interest rates than other fund options like credit cards.

The benefits of obtaining a personal loan may matter more to you if you’re borrowing a large amount, or if you’re planning to use your loan for debt consolidation. Interest rates on most personal loans are also fixed instead of variable, which can be a major advantage for borrowers worried about rising loan costs.

10 Benefits of Personal Loans

The benefits of obtaining a personal loan will depend on several factors, in part on how you will use the funds. Think about the purpose of your loan and consider whether it has more advantages than alternative funding sources.

The 10 benefits of a personal loan are:

1. Flexible use
2. Lump-sum funding
3. Fast funding
4. Positive credit score impact
5. Higher borrowing limit than credit card
6. Lower interest rates than a credit card
7. Predictable repayment schedule
8. Flexible repayment terms
9. No collateral required
10. Easy application process

Flexible Use

Personal loan companies rarely place restrictions on how you can use the money. This means the list of purposes for a personal loan is nearly endless, and you can even apply for funding if you’re undecided on how you’ll use the cash.

Examples of ways you can use personal loans include: debt consolidation, weddings, vacations, college expenses, home remodeling projects, and more. In some cases, you may not be able to use a personal loan to invest or pay for education.

Lump-Sum Funding

Unlike lines of credit and credit cards, personal loans give you a lump sum of money upfront that you can use however you want. This is a major benefit for many borrowers.

Getting a lump sum of cash can be useful and practical, whether you are using the money to, for example, pay off high-interest credit cards, need to pay a contractor for work completed in your home, or are ready to splurge for a family vacation.

Fast Funding

Some of the best personal loan companies provide funding as soon as the day you apply, whereas others will transfer your loan funds to your bank account within a few business days at most. This may be important to you if you need cash quickly for any reason, particularly if you are ready to move forward with a major purchase or have unpaid bills to take care of.

Positive Credit Score Impact

You may get a hard inquiry placed on your credit reports when you apply for a personal loan, which can temporarily lower your score. But using the personal loan responsibly can help build your credit score in the long-term.

As you make on-time payments, you can prove you are a responsible borrower as you raise your credit score. Payment history is the most important factor of a FICO score.

Higher Borrowing Limit Than a Credit Card

Personal loans typically provide $2,000 to $50,000, although some personal loan companies offer funding up to $100,000. You’ll generally need a sufficient employment history, income, and credit score to qualify for higher loan amounts.

On the other hand, credit card cash advances may limit you to a percentage of your total credit limit. Typical percentages range from 5% to 50%. Cash advances on a credit card also come with an additional fee and tend to incur a higher interest rate than purchases made using the same card.

Lower Interest Rates Than a Credit Card

Interest rates on personal loans are considerably lower than what credit cards charge, which means you can save money as you pay down debt.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System noted that the average interest rate for a 24-month personal loan was 12.49% as of Feb. 2024. This is considerably lower than the average interest rate on credit card accounts assessed interest that month, which was 21.59%.

Predictable Repayment Schedule

Because credit cards are a type of revolving credit, you can borrow and pay back your line of credit over and over again. This also means you can make payments on your credit card in perpetuity if you keep using it for purchases.

Personal loans are different because they come with a set repayment term that you agree to ahead of time. This means you can borrow a fixed amount, make a fixed monthly payment, and plan for when you’ll debt-free.

Flexible Repayment Terms

While the repayment plan for personal loans is set ahead of time, you do have some flexibility there. Some lenders offer only a few repayment plan options, whereas others offer repayment terms from 12 to 84 months.

A few personal loan companies even offer much longer repayment terms. For example, LightStream lets eligible borrowers pay off their loans totaling $25,000 or more over up to 240 months.

No Collateral Required (Typically)

Most personal loans are unsecured, although secured personal loans do exist. With an unsecured personal loan, you get the benefit of borrowing a lump sum without having to put down a cash deposit or any other type of collateral.

Easy Application Process

Finally, personal loans have the advantage of being incredibly easy to apply for, whether you want to get funding through a bank or credit union or prefer to handle the process online.

Online lenders in particular can get you approved for a personal loan within a few hours, which is why they can offer same-day or next-day funding directly to your bank account.

How Do People Use Personal Loans?

Investopedia commissioned a national survey of 962 U.S. adults between Aug. 14, 2023, to Sept. 15, 2023, who had taken out a personal loan to learn how they used their loan proceeds and how they might use future personal loans. Debt consolidation was the most common reason people borrowed money, followed by home improvement and other large expenditures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Bottom Line

The best personal loan companies can help you get the funding you need when you need it, and you can tailor your monthly payment and repayment term to your needs and goals.

Compare loan companies based on the interest rates, in addition to the fees (including hidden fees). Also, make sure that you wind up with a monthly payment that fits your budget and don’t borrow more than you need.