What is an unsecured loan?
How an Unsecured Loan Works
Different types of unsecured loans
Unsecured Loan vs. Payday Loan
Special Takes into Account
Personal Finance Credit
Unsecured Loan
By James Chen
Updated February 22, 2021
Reviewed by Eric Estevez
Fact checked by Amanda Bellucco and Amanda Chatham
What is an unsecured loan?
An unsecure loan is an unsecure loan that doesn’t need any kind of collateral. Instead of relying on the collateral source lenders will are able to approve unsecure loans in accordance with a borrower’s creditworthiness. Examples of secured loans include personal loans, student loans and credit cards.
Key Takeaways
An unsecured loan is supported only by the creditworthiness of the person borrowing it instead of any collateral like properties or other assets.
Unsecured loans are riskier as compared to secured loans for lenders, which is why they require better credit scores to get approval.
Credit cards and student loans and personal loans are examples of unsecured loans.
If a borrower fails to pay an unsecured loan the lender can engage a collection agent to recover the debt or go to court.
Lenders have the option of deciding whether or not they will approve an unsecure loan in accordance with a borrower’s creditworthiness. However, laws safeguard borrowers from unfair lending practices.
How an Unsecured Loan Works
They are also referred to as”signature” loans or personal loans — are accepted without the need of property or other assets to serve as collateral. The conditions of these loans as well as the approval process and acceptance, are often contingent on a borrower’s credit score. Typically, borrowers must have a high credit score to qualify for non-secured loans.1
An unsecured loan stands in contrast to a secured loan where the borrower pledges some kind of asset as collateral for the loan. The pledged assets increase the loaner’s “security” to provide the loan. Some examples of secured loans include car loans.1
Since the unsecured loans require better ratings than secured loans and, in certain instances, lenders may allow loan applicants with inadequate credit to provide a cosigner. A cosigner takes on the legal responsibility to pay any debt in the event that the borrower fails to pay. This happens when a borrower does not pay back the interest and principal payments of a loan or debt.1
Since these loans are not backed by collateral, they are riskier for lenders. This is why these loans generally have higher interest rates.
If a borrower fails to pay a secured loan the lender may repossess the collateral to recoup the losses. However, if the borrower fails to pay back an unsecure loan, the lender cannot claim any property. But the lender can adopt other measures including directing a collection agency to collect the debt , or going to court. If the judge rules in favor of the lender, the borrower’s wages may be garnished.1
Also, a lien can be put on the home of the borrower (if they own one) or the borrower could be ordered to settle the amount owed. Defaults can have consequences for borrowers, such as lower credit scores.1
Unsecured Loan
The types of unsecured loans
Unsecured loans comprise personal loans, student loans, and most credit cards–all of which can be term or revolving loans.
A Revolving loan is a loan that has an amount of credit that can be used to pay back, spent and then repaid. Examples of revolving unsecured loans include credit cards as well as private loans.
A term loan, in contrast, is an alternative loan that is repaid by the borrower by equal monthly installments, till the loan is paid off at the end of the term. While these types of loans are usually associated with secured loans, there are also unsecured term loans. For example, a consolidation loan used to settle credit card debts or an individual personal loan from a bank would be considered unsecured loans.1
In recent years, the unsecure loan market has seen a surge which is largely due to Fintechs (short of financial technology firms). In the last decade, for instance, has witnessed the rise of peer-to-peer (P2P) lending via mobile and online lenders.2
$979.6 billion
The amount of U.S. consumer revolving debt in October 2020 according to the Federal Reserve. 3
If you’re considering taking out an unsecured loan to pay for personal expenses, a personal loan calculator is an excellent tool to figure out the monthly amount and the total interest will correspond to the sum you’re looking to borrow.
Unsecured Loan Vs. Payday Loan
Alternative lenders, such as payday lenders or firms that provide merchant cash advances do not provide secure loans as such. They’re loans don’t have tangible collateral, the way that mortgages and auto loans are. However, they employ other methods to ensure repayment.
Payday lenders, for example will require that customers send them a postdated cheque or agree to the automatic withdrawal of their checking accounts in order to pay the loan. Many online merchant payday lenders will require the borrower to pay a set percent of sales made online through the payment processing services like PayPal. They are loans are considered to be unsecure although they are secured.4
Payday loans could be considered to be precarious loans due to their reputation for extremely high rates of interest and hidden terms that cost borrowers additional fees. Some states have prohibited them.4
Special Considerations
While lenders can decide whether or not they will approve an unsecured loan by assessing your creditworthiness, laws protect borrowers from lending practices that discriminate against them. The passage of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) in 1974, for instance, made it illegal for lenders to make use of race, color, sex or religion as non-creditworthiness considerations when evaluating the merits of a loan application, establishing terms of a loan or in any other aspect of a credit transaction.
While lending practices have gradually become more equitable in this country in U.S., discrimination still occurs. In July 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) which is the primary authority in supervising compliance and enforcing the ECOA, issued a Request for Information soliciting public comments to identify opportunities for improvement of the work that the ECOA does to ensure nondiscriminatory accessibility to financial services. “Clear standards help safeguard African Americans and other minorities, but the CFPB should back them by taking action to ensure that lenders and others adhere to the law,” stated Kathleen L. Kraninger Director of the CFPB.5 6
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Personal Loan Guide
Personal Loan: Definition, Types, and how to get one
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Understanding Different Loan Types
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Unsecured Loan
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Signature Loan
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What is Peer-toPeer (P2P) Loans? What is its definition and how it works
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What Is a Payday Loan? How It Works, How to obtain One and the Legality
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Personal Loan Calculator
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Can personal loans be included in Bankruptcy?
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Can Personal Loans Be Transferred to Another Person?
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How personal loans affect your Credit Score
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Personal Loan Interest Rates: How to Calculate a Personal Loan is Calculated
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How to apply for a Personal Loan
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The Best Small Personal Loans
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Related Terms
Signature Loan
A signature loan is a type of personal loan offered by banks and other finance companies that relies only on the signature of the borrower and promise to pay as collateral.
More
Default: What Does It Mean What does it mean, what happens when you Default, Examples
A default happens when a person who is borrowing fails to make required payments on a debt, either of interest or principal.
more
Collateral Definition, Types, & Examples
Collateral is an asset that is accepted by a lender as security to extend a loan. If the borrower fails to repay the lender can take possession of the collateral.
More
What Is a Payday Loan? How Does It Work, How to Get One, and Legality
A payday loan is a type of borrowing that’s short-term and where a lender can extend credit with high interest dependent on your earnings.
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What is a Creditor? and what happens if they Aren’t Paid?
A creditor lends credit to another person to take money, usually through an agreement known as a loan deal or contract.
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Non-Recourse Debt: Definition, Example, vs. Recourse Debt
A non-recourse debt is a kind of loan that is secured by collateral, commonly property, and the lender takes on a higher risk of default if the borrower does not pay on the loan.
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