What is a good loan interest rate? (2024)

What is a good loan interest rate?

Bottom line. History tells us that taking out loans at 5% to 10% APR might not be a big deal if you can handle the financial obligation. However, the best interest rate is always 0%.

Bottom line. History tells us that taking out loans at 5% to 10% APR might not be a big deal if you can handle the financial obligation. However, the best interest rate is always 0%.

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.

A good interest rate on a personal loan is anything lower than the market's average rate. But a good rate for you depends on your credit score. For example, if you have excellent credit, a rate below 11 percent would be considered good, while 12.5 percent would be less competitive.

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)

A high-interest loan is one with an annual percentage rate above 36% that can be tough to repay.

Key takeaways

Your credit card APR can go up if the prime rate changes, you paid your credit card bill late, your intro APR offer ended or your credit score dropped. If your APR increases, you can work on paying down your balance or transfer your balance to a card with a low or 0 percent intro APR offer.

In general, a secured loan, like a mortgage, will have a lower interest rate than an unsecured loan, like a standard personal loan, because it is less risky for the lender. This is due to the collateral the borrower puts up to get the loan.

How to get a 300k personal loan?

To borrow a lot of money, you'll need a very good credit score, generally defined as a FICO® score of 740 or higher. You'll also need a stable employment history and income that's high enough to make the payments. Lenders also look at how much you make and other debts you owe.

There is no one-size-fits-all number when it comes to borrowing power. Generally, it may be a good idea to ensure your home loan repayments don't exceed 30% of your gross income.

Fed hikes have pushed mortgage rates up over the last two years. But the Fed has indicated that it's likely done hiking rates and could start cutting in 2024. Once the Fed cuts rates, mortgage rates should fall even further.

The monthly payment on a $20,000 loan ranges from $273 to $2,009, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $20,000 loan for one year with an APR of 36%, your monthly payment will be $2,009.

Based on the OneMain personal loan calculator, a $5,000 loan with a 25% APR and a 60-month term length would be $147 per month. The loan terms you receive will depend on your credit profile, including credit history, income, debts and if you secure it with collateral like a car or truck.

The Federal Reserve has indicated it may cut rates later in 2024. Certified financial planner Amy Hubble told CNBC Select she doesn't expect a rate cut until at least September.

Look for an APR below 36%, which consumer advocates agree is the highest rate an affordable loan can have, and make sure the monthly payments fit comfortably in your budget.

What is a good credit score?

If your credit score is between 725 to 759 it's likely to be considered very good. A credit score of 760 and above is generally considered to be an excellent credit score. The credit score range is anywhere between 300 to 900. The higher your score, the better your credit rating.

A credit score of 700 gets you an interest rate of 3% to 6% on car loans for new cars and about 5% to 9% for second-hand cars.

The easiest banks to get a personal loan from are USAA and Wells Fargo. USAA does not disclose a minimum credit score requirement, but their website indicates they consider people with scores below 640, so even people with bad credit may be able to qualify.

At this time, 10% is a good interest rate for a personal loan for a borrower with good credit. Anything below the national average personal loan interest rate, set by the Federal Reserve, is considered a good personal interest rate. Borrowers with poor credit scores will likely be offered a higher interest rate.