Are personal loan interest rates high?
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)
| Borrower credit rating | Score range | Estimated APR |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 720-850. | 12.64% |
| Good | 690-719. | 14.84% |
| Fair | 630-689. | 18.69%. |
| Bad | 300-629. | 21.74%. |
A 24.99% APR is a decent personal loan rate for people with fair credit. Applicants with a credit score of 580+ could qualify for a personal loan with a 24.99% APR if they choose the right lender and have enough income to afford the loan.
To make loans, banks have to first borrow the money themselves, either from other banks or from their customers' deposits. The interest rate on a personal loan reflects how much it costs a bank to borrow money, in addition to the inherent risk of lending money when there is no guarantee that it will be repaid.
Personal loan rates are so high because the Federal Reserve has increased its target interest rate 11 times since early 2022 in response to high inflation. The interest rates on personal loans tend to go up when the Fed raises its rate.
The interest rate of your personal loan depends on your financial report and credit score. You can negotiate your interest rate to adjust your EMI to make it more manageable.
Just like when it comes to negotiating your salary, if you don't ask for something better, you likely won't get it. Most lenders aren't going to just spontaneously offer you a better rate – you're going to have to ask for it. Of course, asking for a lower rate doesn't guarantee you'll get one.
| Borrower credit rating | Score range | Estimated APR |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 720-850. | 12.64% |
| Good | 690-719. | 14.84% |
| Fair | 630-689. | 18.69%. |
| Bad | 300-629. | 21.74%. |
Personal loan rates currently range from around 7% to 36%, depending on the lender, borrower creditworthiness and other factors. While interest rates are not the only costs associated with taking out a loan, it's important to compare lenders to identify the best personal loan rates available.
- A good credit score is important. ...
- Maintain a clean and good record of repayment history. ...
- Compare Personal Loan interest rates and watch out for seasonal offers. ...
- Consider your Employment history. ...
- Employer's credibility.
Which bank gives cheapest personal loan?
Top 5 banks charge the lowest interest rates:
ICICI Bank: ICICI Bank charges anywhere between 10.65 to 16 percent per annum on loans. The loan processing charges of loan are up to 2.50 percent of loan amount plus applicable taxes. State Bank of India (SBI): SBI charges interest rate that starts from 11.15 percent.
Consider debt consolidation.
If you have several sources of high-interest debt, debt consolidation may help you get a better handle on what you owe. This process allows you to combine several existing debts into a single, brand-new loan, ideally with a lower interest rate and more favorable repayment terms.
| Bank | Minimum interest rate on personal loan (%) |
|---|---|
| HDFC Bank | 10.5 |
| State Bank of India | 12.30 |
| Bank of Baroda | 13.15 |
| Punjab National Bank | 13.75 |
Lower personal loan rates may be on the horizon in 2024 after the Fed made progress curbing inflation at the end of 2023. That progress came after four more Federal Reserve rate hikes in 2023.
Lenders tend to tighten credit requirements during tough economic times, making it harder to get approved for credit products, including loans. Credit score, income and debt-to-income ratio are the main factors lenders consider when reviewing applications.
Personal loans currently have an average interest rate of 11.47%, which is higher than pre-pandemic levels. Rising inflation and a rising rate environment will increase serious delinquencies to levels not seen since 2010, particularly among credit card and personal loan products.
If you get approved for a personal loan, you do not need to accept it. However, because applying for personal loans has an impact on your credit, it's best to shop around and compare lender preapprovals to avoid applying for a personal loan you won't end up accepting.
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)
But depending on the lender, the borrower's credit score and financial situation and other factors, personal loan interest rates can generally range from under 6% to 36%—although higher interest rates aren't unheard of in states where it's allowed.
Deciding what constitutes a good APR for a personal loan therefore relies on various factors. The suitability of an annual percentage rate (APR) for a personal loan varies based on several factors but typically ranges between 6% and 12%.
How hard is it to get a $30,000 personal loan?
Having a strong credit score and credit history is vital to qualify for a $30,000 personal loan. Lenders have varying requirements, but a good credit score is often necessary to secure a sizable loan. Additionally, a high credit score can lead to lower interest rates and more favorable loan terms.
Most lenders prefer borrowers with a credit score in the good to excellent range (670 or higher), indicating a history of responsible financial management.
0% APR cards require good to excellent credit
This means you'll need a FICO credit score of at least 670 or a VantageScore credit score of at least 661. If you have very good or excellent credit, which means a FICO score of at least 740 or a VantageScore of at least 781, your chances of approval are even higher.
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.
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.
