Getting a personal loan from a US bank can be a great way to get the
cash you need to consolidate debt or finance a home improvement project - as
long as you have a reliable plan to pay it off.
Documents required to obtain a loan in America
- Personal identification (for example, a driver's license, Social Security card, or passport).
- Proof of income (for example, W-2s, paystubs, or submitted tax returns).
- Employer information (for example, company name, your manager's name, and phone number).
- Proof of residency (for example, a utility bill with your name and address, or a rental contract).
There are many reasons to get a personal loan, such as an unexpected
hospital bill or a necessary car repair. If you decide that a personal loan is
the right type of financing for you, start with these steps:
Determine the loan amount
Start by determining how much cash you will need, bearing in mind that
some lenders charge an origination fee, which they deduct from the loan
proceeds.
Make sure you borrow enough to get what you need after paying the fee.
Use a personal loan calculator to find out your monthly payment.
This can be difficult if you do not know the types of rates and
repayment terms that lenders will offer.
Check your credit score
Most lenders will do a credit check to determine how likely you are to
pay off your loan. While some online lenders have started looking at
alternative credit statements, they will usually still look at your credit
score.
Most of the best personal loans require you to have at least fair
credit, but good and excellent credit will give you the best chance of getting
approved at a good interest rate.
If your credit score is lower than you expected, get a copy of your
credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com to see if there are any errors.
Consider your options
Depending on your credit eligibility, you may need a co-signer to be
approved for a personal loan at an appropriate interest rate.
If you can't find a partner site you may have the option of getting a
secured personal loan instead of an unsecured one.
Secured loans require collateral, such as a car, house, cash in a
savings account, or certificate of deposit, against more favorable terms. If
you fail to repay the loan, the lender can seize the collateral to pay off the
debt.