What is a Personal Loan?
A **personal loan** is an unsecured loan, meaning it is not backed by collateral like a home or a car. Because there is no collateral, lenders rely on your credit history, income, and debt-to-income ratio to evaluate risk.
As a result, personal loans typically carry higher interest rates than secured loans (such as auto loans or mortgages) but lower rates than credit cards. They are popular for debt consolidation, emergency expenses, or large life events.