Upgrade is a financial institution that offers several products, including personal loans, a few types of rewards credit cards, savings and checking accounts, and credit monitoring. Consumers looking for loans for bad credit often turn to loans like Upgrade because they think they don’t have any other options available. But this isn’t true! Here, you will learn about different kinds of personal loans, and other financial products you should consider when looking to borrow money.
Finding The Right Personal Loan
Prepare your finances so you can find the right personal loan for you! You can:
- Check your credit score
- Review your expenses
- Create a financial plan
Check Your Credit Score
To start, get your credit scores and most recent credit report. Since many lenders base approval on the applicant’s credit score, you’ll want to be familiar with yours right off the bat. Knowing what your current credit score is will help you pick and choose which types of lenders and financial products will be a good fit for you or not. For example, if you have a low credit score you may not want to even bother applying for a loan at a bank. In that case, you may want to begin your loan search with lenders who offer bad credit loans.
Do You Need a Good Credit Score to Get a Loan?
Thankfully, there are loan options available for borrowers with good credit scores, fair credit scores, and even low credit scores. However, the best personal loans are usually reserved for borrowers who have higher credit scores.
Review Your Expenses
Review your recurring bills, payments, and other expenses. According to CNBC, the average American has $90,460 in debt.1 Can you afford to pay back your loan plus interest and fees? One common fee you will come across with most loans is an origination fee. An origination fee is an underwriting charge many lenders have for writing your personal loan contract. Before you commit and apply for a loan, make sure you can afford to pay it back and keep up with your existing financial responsibilities.
Create a Financial Plan
If you ultimately decide that getting a loan is the right option for you, establish a financial plan. Think about how long you want to take to pay off your loan and how much you want to contribute towards repayment every month. Once you have the answers to these questions, you can start looking for repayment terms and monthly loan payments that fit in with your plan.
Research Different Lenders
Places you may be able to get a loan include:
- Direct lenders: Direct lenders are financial institutions that provide loans and other financial options to consumers. Direct lenders can offer a wide variety of loan terms and options, including personal loans, home improvement loans, debt consolidation loans, bad credit loans, and other installment loans. Furthermore, different kinds of online direct lenders may also cater to certain types of borrowers. For example, there are lenders who specialize in working with borrowers who have low credit scores and provide loans for bad credit.
- Credit unions: A credit union is a non-profit organization owned and operated by its members. Credit unions usually offer special loan deals and may even provide checking and saving account services for its members. A credit union may also have special requirements like having a minimum credit score.
- Banks: A bank is perhaps the most traditional place to get a loan. Borrowers with high credit scores and clean credit histories are the most likely to get approved for a loan from a bank. If you have poor or fair credit, you may have better luck with other direct lenders or online lenders.
Common loan types offered by most online lenders include:
- Unsecured personal loans: An unsecured loan is a type of funding that doesn’t require collateral. Instead, lenders have certain credit criteria that borrowers must meet in order to receive loan approval. Qualification requirements for unsecured loans may include having a minimum credit score, having an established payment history, or meeting a minimum income requirement.
- Secured loans: A secured personal loan is a type of loan that requires collateral. Collateral is an asset with considerable value that borrowers can use to secure loan funding, instead of having the lender rely on their credit score and financial history. Since collateral is favored over credit history for secured loans, borrowers looking for loans for bad credit often turn to lenders offering these kinds of loans. Common secured loans include home equity loans, title loans, and auto loans.
Loans Like Upgrade: What You Need to Know
Upgrade offers several financial products, including:
- Personal loan: Upgrade advertises personal loan amounts ranging from $1,000 – $50,000. However, higher personal loan amounts are almost always reserved for borrowers with a higher credit score.
- Rewards credit cards: Upgrade also offers several types of credit cards. Their credit products have no annual fee, and can come with rewards like a signing-on bonus, cash back on certain purchases, and credit lines ranging from $500 – $25,000.
- Savings & checking accounts: You can also bank with Upgrade. With their checking and savings account services you can safely store your money and work towards your financial goals with no monthly fees.
- Credit monitoring services: You can also use Upgrade to monitor your credit score and credit reports. Credit data from Upgrade would include information you would find when doing a soft credit check. Hard credit checks, which include data from the three major credit bureaus, are usually reserved for official credit inquiries. However, know that you are entitled to at least one official credit report from each of the major credit reporting agencies each year!
There is a slight catch, however, most of the rewards offered for Upgrade credit cards, savings, and checking accounts are only available for borrowers who contribute a direct deposit of at least $1,000 a month. So, depending on your financial situation you may not qualify for the products and services offered by Upgrade.
What Are My Other Options?
| Loan Type | Definition | Common Uses | Pros | Cons | Additional Information |
| Debt Consolidation Loans | A loan designed to combine multiple debts into a single loan with a lower interest rate. | Consolidating credit card or other high-interest debts. | Simplifies finances; potentially lower interest rates. | Requires discipline to avoid new debt; might extend debt period. | Good for those with multiple high-interest debts. |
| Personal Installment Loans | Loans that are repaid in regular installments over a set period. | Large purchases, home improvements, medical expenses. | Fixed repayment schedule; lower interest rates than credit cards. | Penalties for early repayment; requires credit check. | Suitable for planned, significant expenses. |
| Bad Credit Loans | Loans specifically for individuals with poor credit history. | Emergency expenses, small purchases. | Accessible with bad credit; quick approval. | High interest rates; potentially predatory terms. | Should be approached with caution; last resort option. |
| Payday Loans | Short-term, high-interest loans intended to be repaid by the next payday. | Emergency cash before payday. | Easy access; minimal credit requirements. | Extremely high interest rates; can lead to debt cycles. | Highly risky; should be used as a last resort. |
| Cash Advances | Short-term loans against a credit card or future income. | Immediate cash needs. | Quick access to funds; no collateral required. | High fees and interest rates; increases credit utilization. | Not ideal for long-term financing. |
| Credit Cards | Revolving credit lines allowing repeated borrowing up to a certain limit. | Everyday purchases, emergencies, travel. | Flexible; rewards and benefits; builds credit history. | High interest rates; can lead to overspending. | Useful for short-term financing and convenience. |
| Home Equity Loans | Loans borrowed against the equity of the borrower’s home. | Home renovations, large expenses, debt consolidation. | Lower interest rates; large borrowing amount | Risk of foreclosure requires home equity. | Ideal for homeowners needing significant funds. |
| Auto Loans | Loans specifically for purchasing vehicles. | Buying a new or used car. | Enables car ownership; fixed repayment terms. | Depreciation of vehicle; risk of repossession. | Suitable for those needing a vehicle but lacking upfront cash. |
CreditNinja: How Does it Compare?
Another place you may access personal loan funding is with CreditNinja! At CreditNinja, we specialize in bad credit loans and seek to be a more affordable alternative to payday loans or other predatory lending products. By getting a bad credit loan with CreditNinja, you could enjoy benefits like:
- No minimum credit score requirement
- Convenient monthly payments
- Flexible repayment terms
- Helpful customer service
- Fast funding*
CreditNinja Personal Loans: How Do They Work?
Getting a personal loan with CreditNinja is as easy as 1, 2, 3 …
- Fill out a quick application. We’ll ask for some basic information like your name, bank account info, and desired loan amount.
- Read over your loan contract carefully, and sign it when you are ready to accept your loan offer.
- Upon approval, we’ll send over your approved loan funds directly to your bank account!
Bad Credit Personal Loan FAQ
When comparing interest rates, look at the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) which includes the interest rate and any fees. Also, decide between fixed rates, which stay constant, and variable rates, which can change over time.
Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, calculated by dividing your monthly debt payments by your gross monthly income, is a key factor in loan applications. A lower DTI can lead to better loan approval chances and possibly lower interest rates.
The choice depends on your financial situation. Shorter terms generally mean higher monthly payments but lower total interest, while longer terms spread out payments but increase total interest costs.
If you plan to pay off your loan early, avoid loans with prepayment penalties to save on extra fees. If early repayment isn’t likely, then a prepayment penalty might be less of a concern.
Transparency is crucial for understanding all loan terms, fees, and penalties. Good customer service is also important for resolving issues and answering questions. Research lenders’ reputations and customer feedback before deciding.
An origination fee, typically a percentage of the loan amount, is charged by some lenders to cover the cost of processing the loan. This fee can significantly impact the total cost of your loan. When comparing loans, consider both the interest rate and the origination fee to understand the true cost. Especially if your credit score is high, you might find lenders offering loans with lower or no origination fees, which can be more cost-effective.
The minimum credit score requirement is a critical factor in determining your eligibility for a personal loan. Lenders use this threshold to assess risk. A higher credit score not only increases your chances of approval but can also secure you more favorable loan terms, such as lower interest rates and fees, including potentially lower origination fees. If your credit score is near the minimum requirement, you might face higher rates and additional costs.
Yes, payday loan companies can take you to court if you fail to repay your loan according to the agreement. This could lead to legal proceedings in small claims court and potentially result in wage garnishment or other forms of debt collection if the payday loan lender wins the case.
Who Should Pick CreditNinja Loans?
Loans from CreditNinja are for just about anybody needing a short-term loan for unexpected expenses or a financial emergency. We believe getting an emergency loan should be fast, simple, and affordable.
Ready to get started on your CreditNinja personal loan? Start now and you could get your approved funds as soon as the same or the next business day!*
References:
- Average American Debt by Age | CNBC
- https://www.upgrade.com/
* Not all loan requests are approved. Approval and loan terms vary based on credit determination and state law. Applications approved before 10:30 a.m. CT Monday – Friday are generally funded the same business day. Applications approved after this time are generally funded the next business day. Some applications may require additional verification, in which case, the loan if approved, will be funded the business day after such additional verification is completed.
