I'm sure we're all aware of the high demand for collateral in the finance or loan market. Collateral is an asset most borrowers are required to pledge when availing a loan. This collateral that is commonly offered in the form of real estate like your home or by pledging your vehicle, your current checking account, etc. is almost a necessity these days, for getting that huge reduction in your overall loan cost. Collateral helps you get a larger amount, reduces interest, extends your loan term and thus makes your loan instalments smaller and more convenient to repay. For those of you who are wondering why the article is titled ‘Unsecured Loans,' when all I'm doing is explain the significance of collateral, hold on and read further…



With loans being created for practically everyone, there's got to be something for individuals who have no collateral to offer or even for those who prefer not pledging their assets for fear of it's being seized. As we all know, non homeowners, tenants, students, etc. who have no assets to pledge form a large section of society. In case of an emergency, they too need someone to turn to for financial assistance. Keeping all this in mind, lenders have realised that in order to run a business you have to consider profit from all angles. Acting on these lines, they came up with Unsecured Loans.

Unsecured Loans are an attractive package in their own way and have loads of benefits to offer their borrowers. A few of them are listed below:

•Unsecured Loans do not need any collateral or guarantee to assure repayment of the loan. Therefore, homeowners as well as non-homeowners can apply for it.

•Due to the absence of collateral, lenders are bound to be vary about the amounts they lend. This is why the loanable amount is smaller and is restricted to about £25,000.

•The repayment term for an Unsecured Loan starts from 6 months and goes up to 10 years only. Usually, the loan term for an Unsecured Loan is shorter than that for a secured loan.

•To compensate to absence of collateral, the interest rates offered on Unsecured Loans are higher, normally between 7% and 30%.

•Unsecured Loans are not associated with a lot of paperwork and hence are quicker to obtain. This is due to the elimination of the valuation of collateral procedure. These loans are therefore ideal in emergencies.

•As no collateral is to be placed, this frees up the equity in a home to be used for other purposes.

•Unsecured loans are also available to people who are on income supports: like those over 60 years of age, people who do not have enough income to meet their basic needs, or people whose savings range from £8000 to £12000.

Unsecured Loans are an unpredictable option for most lenders. In case a borrower cannot repay the loan, Unsecured Loan lenders have nothing to bank on. This is why they prefer making up for this risk ‘during' the loan term, rather than after. I'm sure you now understand why the restricted loan amount, the higher interest rate, etc. The shorter loan term also gives the lenders a certain amount of satisfaction with regard to getting back their money sooner than normal. Unsecured Loans are also a safer option for those who do not want to risk seizure of their assets. However, since they are more expensive in the long run, their market is much smaller.

Unsecured Loans are approved solely on your credit history, your current financial standing and the repayment capacity you portray. A good credit score tells your lender that you have a good repaying potential which makes your getting the loan, a whole lot easier. A larger bank balance can nullify any negative impact made by a relatively bad credit statement. Therefore, having one or all these as your strong points is going to help you get a better Unsecured Loan. Of course, choosing your Unsecured Loans, getting it tailored down to your pocket and finding yourself a lender who can apply all of these advantages in your favour is going to depend on how hard you are a willing to work for it. At the end, it's all about doing your groundwork well.