When shopping for an unsecured loan, a common concern amongst potential borrowers is, how do I get the best rate? Often, people take out an unsecured loan to fulfill an immediate need, such as paying back taxes or funding the start-up of a new business, so they don't always have time to search for the best interest rate. When shopping for an unsecured personal loan, getting the best rate is the main concern.

What are unsecured loans?

Unsecured personal loans are personal loans that do not require you to put down anything as collateral. Most of the time, you do not need to have a co-guarantor (or co-signor) nor proof of homeownership. The loan amount will be given to you as a lump sum, which you have to pay back in installments. An unsecured loan differs from a line of credit, in that the line of credit may be reused over and over again through a certain period of time. The unsecured loan is only good while the lump sum awarded to you lasts. When it's gone, it's gone.

Types of Unsecured Loans

One type of unsecured loan is the payday loan which may only require evidence of your electronic signature. The lender will deposit your loan amount into your bank account. You pay back the loan on your next payday, when you receive your paycheck. Payday loans carry a very high interest rate, so the money should be paid back as soon as possible. With this in mind, a payday loan should really only be used in extreme financial emergencies.

Another common form of unsecured personal loan is the credit card. The balance you incur with a credit card is supposed to be repaid within a month. If you fail to pay, this unpaid balance turns into debt on which the credit card company will charge additional interest. Credit cards are currently the most used form of unsecured personal loans. The interest rates on credit cards are quite high, so it's best to repay the borrowed amount in as little time as possible.

A bank overdraft is another type of unsecured personal loan. You take out a bank overdraft when you are permitted by the bank to withdraw more money than is available in your bank account.

A final type of unsecured personal loan is the type that you take out from a bank. Like a tenant loan, an unsecured personal loan is one that does not require you to secure the loan with a valuable piece of property. An unsecured personal loan from a bank also carries a higher interest rate than a secured loan because your lender is taking on a larger risk by lending to someone who does not have any collateral.

Bad Credit Loan Shoppers

Often, unsecured loans are sought after by potential borrowers with bad credit. Seeing as how unsecured loans already carry a higher interest rate than secured loans, a person with bad credit will have to pay much higher interest charges. The best way to avoid being seriously overcharged on interest is to try to improve your credit before you seek an unsecured loan.

Tips on Improving Your Credit

* If for some reason you do not yet have a bank account, getting one is a definite step in the right direction. When you're applying for an unsecured loan, you bank account information will be taken into consideration when the lender is thinking of approving you for the loan.

* Apply for some department store cards or secured credit cards. The records of these cards will be submitted to the credit bureaus, and this will help to establish a positive credit rating. When a potential lender sees that you've got positive credit based on the records of these cards, they'll be more inclined to not only offer you the loan, but to provide you with a better rate.

* Only purchase within your means. If you only make credit purchases that you'll surely be able to pay off on time, your credit rating will reflect your on-time payments, thereby improving your credit score.

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