Top 5 Factors Who Affects Personal Loan Interest Rates

It is popular to obtain personal loans because they don’t require collateral and can be approved quickly. These loans are multipurpose, and you can use them to pay for various expenses such as weddings, debt consolidation, medical emergencies, vacation, home renovation and higher education. The first and foremost thing you should consider when getting a quick loans is the personal loan interest rate. If you compare the interest rates of different lenders, you will find that each lender determines the personal loan interest rate for personal loans based on a different set of criteria. 

Listed below are the top five most important factors determining your personal loans interest rate

Income

Personal loans are unsecured loans. Therefore the lender will depend on your income to ensure the loan is repaid on time. As a result, the amount of income you earn is one of the most important factors determining the interest rate on your personal loan. Lenders know that a high-income borrower is more likely to repay their top up personal loan on time than a low-income borrower. Instead of charging low-income borrowers a lower interest rate, they charge them a slightly higher personal loan interest rate to protect themselves against the risk of default they anticipate. The lender believes that if you have a high income, you will have a better capability of repaying the loan and will be willing to grant you the lowest interest rate personal loan.

Credit score

Another critical factor is your credit score, which is crucial in determining the approval of your loan and the interest rate applicable to your loan. In short, your credit score reflects your repayment habits, credit history, and overall financial management. If you take out a personal loan and pay the EMI on time, you can improve your credit score. Paying your debts on time will increase your credit score, but if you delay or miss payments, it will decrease. A credit score of over 725, which reflects a higher faith in your ability to repay the loan, will make it easier for you to qualify for the lowest personal loan interest rate.

Employment and job status

It is also essential to keep in mind that your company status also plays a very important role in calculating personal loan interest rate. It is important to realize that because it is an unsecured loan, lenders depend on various factors to determine whether to grant you a loan and build trust in your creditworthiness. A personal loan or top up loan depends greatly on the kind of company you work for. The most important thing to remember is that lenders need to be aware that you have a stable job with potential for growth. Thus, you may be able to get a loan with a lower interest rate if they are willing to offer you one. Be prepared to pay higher personal loan interest rate if you work with a new start-up.

Ratio of debt to income

Even though you earn a good salary and work for a reputed company, you might spend a great deal of your income on paying off other debts. If you have a history of previous loans, you can expect that your previous loans will affect your personal loan interest rate you apply for in the future. The debt-to-income ratio can be calculated by dividing your monthly EMIs by your annual income. You are more likely to be obligated towards your other loans the higher your ratio. To be safe, the lender may charge you a higher interest rate on your personal loan or top up loan to protect its interests.

Connection with the current lender

It is common to develop a sense of trust with a particular lender after that individual has been interacting with you for a long time. The interest rates on other loans such as loan refinancing sanctioned by lenders are often lower for their trusted customers. This kind of trust, however, cannot be built overnight. In order to maintain your loyalty, you need to pay your EMIs on time and show you are responsible with regard to your credit line as much as possible. You won’t be able to get any more loans from lenders if you have already defaulted on one of your EMI payments. If you require a personal loan, stick with your current lender to get the lowest personal loan interest rate possible. If you plan to apply for a personal loan, you should compare various lenders and choose one that offers the lowest interest rate so that your monthly payments are manageable.