Usually getting a loan or debt sanctioned requires good credit history and collateral. Sometimes a person with a not so good credit might need a small amount of money immediately, but he might not have a worthy co-signor or sufficient collateral. In such cases, smaller loans may be borrowed without submitting collateral. These loans are called unsecured personal loans. A personal loan may be secured or unsecured. Online lenders are offered by various organizations from well-established banks to small private lenders and finance companies. In case the borrower files for a bankruptcy or liquidation, the assets of the borrower are first used to settle the secured loans and only the remaining assets if any are used to settle unsecured loans.
Since these loans are disbursed without any collateral, unsecured loans are a risk to the lender. Hence they come at a higher interest rate than the personal loans taken with collateral. The borrower is expected for online lenders to pay a fixed monthly installment which is the calculated based on the tenure, loan amount and the interest rate or the APR – Annual Percentage Rate. Non-payment will lead to extra fees. These loans also have strict terms on payment. The usual time of repayment for these loans may be anywhere between 1 year and 5 years. It is necessary to understand the terms of repayment before signing the contract as many online lenders charge penalties for early closure of the loans.
Some financiers or credit providers also offer Instant Cash Loans. These loans are very convenient as the documentation is less and it is very fast. The money is credited to the account in few hours after applying. But the rate of interest is quite high. For instance, an instant cash loan of $100 will cost the borrower an interest of $15 or more for a month. The APR for instant cash loans can be 300% or more. Payday loans are instant cash loans but they are expected to be paid on the day of the next pay date. The borrower will give a check for the borrowed amount plus interest dated for the next payday. If the borrower fails to have credit on his account on the said date, the loan may be extended till the next pay date by paying a heavier interest. Instant cash loans or payday loans may be applied for in emergency situations, but where feasible, it is better to try for other sources of loans than to jump for a fast cash loans as they take up huge interests.