PERSONAL LOAN
Personal loans are one of the most popular financial tools among Canadian consumers. They offer the opportunity to cover a wide variety of debt and expenses, from unexpected travel to unfortunate car issues.
While finding a personal
loan that best meets your unique needs may seem like a difficult task, there’s a huge selection of lenders for you to choose from. For everything you need to know about the best personal loan options in Canada and how to choose the best fit for your finances, keep reading.
What Do You Need To Get A Personal Loan?
Every lender’s application process will vary slightly, however, most personal loan lenders examine a few key factors when it comes to approving a borrower. Some areas that the majority of lenders look at include, but aren’t limited to:
Gross Monthly Or Yearly Income – Lenders typically have a minimum income threshold you’ll need to be eligible for a loan. You’ll need to provide proof of income when applying which may include pay stubs or your T4. Debt-To-Income Ratio – A debt-to-income ratio of 35% – 45% is the highest lenders want to see in an applicant. Those with higher ratios generally have a lower chance of approval. Lenders
may assess this information by asking for your bank statements. Employment History – Job stability is another factor lenders consider when assessing your creditworthiness. Usually, lenders like to see you’ve been employed for at least 3-6 months with your current employer. You may need to provide an employment letter as proof of employment.
Credit Report And Credit Score – As part of your application process, your lender may ask your permission to do a credit check. Your credit history can greatly affect your ability to qualify for a loan and secure a low interest rate. Some lenders may have a minimum credit score that borrowers must meet to be eligible.
Documents Required To Apply For A Personal Loan
Personal Identification Documents:
You’ll need to provide and prove your name, date of birth, and address. You can use 1 or 2 government-issued IDs (1 photo) such as a driver’s license or passport.
Social Insurance Number (SIN):
Some lenders may request your SIN to conduct credit checks.
Employment Documents:
You may need to provide proof of employment by providing pay stubs, tax forms (T4 slips) or employment letters.
Financial Documents:
Most lenders will require 3 months’ worth of bank statements.
Bank Account Details:
You may need to provide a void cheque for direct deposit and other bank details for the withdrawal of payments.
Types Of Personal Loans You Can Apply For
There are several different types of personal loans you can apply for. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages. One may be better suited for you than the others.
Secured vs. Unsecured Personal Loans
Secured Personal Loan – When you want a relatively large amount of loan money, your lender will need more reassurance that you’ll pay them back. One way of reassuring them is by offering up one or more assets as compensation if you default on your payments for too long. While doing this often gives you a better chance of being approved for a large loan and a lower interest rate to go with it, be extremely cautious. If your debt grows too large and you can’t make your payments, your lender has the right to seize your asset and sell it
Unsecured Personal Loan – It’s called “unsecured” because it involves no collateral (asset backing it up), only money. Meaning if you default on the loan, the lender may charge you fees or sell your debt to a collection agency, but it cannot seize any of your assets to recoup payment. Since unsecured loans don’t involve collateral, your interest rate is likely to be higher than that of a secured loan. Depending on the size of the loan, you may also need to have a better income, healthier credit, and even a co-signer before you’ll be approved.
Co-Signed Personal Loans
If you have bad credit or poor finances and are unable to qualify for a personal loan, then you should consider getting a cosigner. A co-signer is an individual who agrees to take responsibility for the loan in the event you default. A co-signer is typically someone you know such as a family member or friend,
however, they must have good credit and finances to be accepted by the lender. Having someone co-sign your loan not only reduces the risk for the lender but also gives you a higher chance of approval and the ability to secure a lower interest rate. However, it’s important to be aware that the co-signer is fully responsible for the debt if you fail to pay it back. Both you and the co-signer must be aware of this.
Bad Credit Personal Loans
If you have bad credit, you can apply with an alternative lender. These lenders have flexible requirements compared to more traditional financial institutions like banks. Some personal loan lenders don’t require credit checks, they simply base your eligibility on your overall financial health. However, it’s important to note that these lenders often charge higher interest rates, making them a more expensive option.
Fixed vs. Variable Rate Personal Loans
Fixed Rate Personal Loan – With a fixed rate, your loan’s interest rate will be calculated in advance. Once approved, you’ll pay that same interest rate, meaning it won’t increase or decrease for the duration of the loan term. This type of rate can be beneficial because it never fluctuates, making it easier to budget.
Variable Rate Personal Loan – A variable rate, on the other hand, will fluctuate following the current market premium, otherwise known as the prime rate. This can sometimes be beneficial because if the prime rate goes down, you could save a decent amount of money over time. Then again, if the prime rate goes up during your payment schedule, the rate you’re currently paying will rise.
How Much Will A Personal Loan Cost You?
The total cost of your personal loan will be affected by several factors. To calculate your personal loan payments and total cost, you’ll need to consider the following factors:
Loan Amount – Depending on the size of the loan, it may take many months or even years to pay back in full.
Loan Term – The longer your loan term, the smaller your payments will be, however, it also leads to more interest paid over the life of the loan. Similarly, shorter terms mean higher payments but lower interest throughout the loan.
Interest Rate – The interest
rate you’re charged will also impact your personal loan payments. The higher the interest rates, the more you’ll need to pay back.
Fees – Most personal loans come with a variety of fees including, origination fees, NSF fees, early payment fees, administrative fees, loan insurance, etc.
Payment Frequency – The frequency of your regular payments is another factor that can impact your loan payments. Every lender is different, however, most lenders offer monthly (12 payments per year), weekly (52 payments per year) and bi-weekly (26 payments per year) payments.
How Do Credit Scores Affect Personal Loan Interest Rates?
Along with your income, current debts, and your credit is one of the main factors that many lenders use to determine both your creditworthiness and interest rate. The higher your credit scores are, the less of a
borrowing risk they’ll consider you and you’ll likely receive a lower rate because of it. However, the lower your credit scores are, the more of a borrowing risk you’ll be considered and you’ll likely receive a higher interest rate.
Improving Your Credit To Apply For A Personal Loan
Working to improve your credit is a great step to take before applying for a personal loan. True, even if your credit health is low, there are subprime lenders out there who can grant you the personal loan you need. However, as we said, your interest rate can end up being extremely high, costing you hundreds, even thousands of dollars. So, if the present state of your creditworthiness is not where you’d like it to be, you can try to improve it gradually by:
- Pay your bills on time and in full, whenever possible.
- Avoid maxing out your credit cards or paying them off twice a month to keep your utilization ratio low.
- Get a free annual copy of your credit report, review it for errors, and dispute any errors you find.
- If you can’t afford the full payment, at least make the minimum balance payment.
- Pay off any other debts you may have, starting with the largest.
How To Reduce Your Personal Loan Interest?
If you’re looking for a low-interest personal loan in Canada, there are a few things you can do to get one. Loan interest loans can be acquired by doing one or more of the following:
- Add Collateral – As previously mentioned, collateral reduces the lenders’ lending risk. As such, they are more willing to provide a low-interest loan when you offer an asset as collateral.
- Get A Cosigner – A cosigner is someone who takes responsibility for your
loan in the event you’re unable to make your loan payments. Like collateral, this provides your lender with additional security. As such, you can get a low-interest loan in Canada, if you get a cosigner for your loan.
- Improve Your Credit Score – Your credit score can greatly impact the interest rate you get on your loan. The higher your credit score, the more likely you’ll qualify for a low-interest loan in Canada.
What Is A Guarantor Loan And How Can It Help Me?
If you’ve applied for a personal loan in the past but your application was denied due to your bad credit, there is another loan option that might work out better for you. It’s known as a “guarantor loan” and involves finding a cosigner prior to applying.
Your own bad credit will no
longer be an issue during the application process. Instead, your approval will hinge on your cosigner’s credit health. Ideally, your cosigner would need to have good credit and a decent income. They would also have to agree to take on the responsibility of your loan payments in the event that you default.
