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A secured personal loan is backed by collateral. If the borrower defaults, the lender can collect the collateral. For this reason, secured loans tend to offer better rates than unsecured loans. In addition to offering better rates, people take out secured loans to help improve their credit, consolidate debt, or pay for home renovations.
The most common secured personal loans include:
- Certificate of deposit loans (CDs or share certificates)
- Home equity line of credit (HELOC)
- Savings loans
- Stock loans
- Vehicle title loans
We evaluated 38 different lenders and collected 1,520 data points, weighing more than 20 criteria to determine the best secured personal loans available. Lending decisions and funding should happen quickly, and rates should be low. We also looked at customer reviews, repayment terms, credit score requirements, and loan amounts available.
The Best Secured Personal Loans of 2023
Company | APR | Credit Score est. | Loan Amount | More Details |
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What You Need to Know
If you have good credit, you can expect rates between 3% and 6%. However, if you have poor credit, you may have rates as high as 36%. Repayment terms depend on the collateral backing your loan. A home equity line of credit (HELOC) can have loan terms of up to 30 years, whereas a loan backed by a CD is only as long as the CD term.
Best for Poor Credit : OneMain Financial
- APR Range: 18.00% - 35.99%
- Loan Amount: $1,500 - $20,000
- Loan Terms: 24 months - 60 months
If you have poor credit, you can still obtain a secured personal loan with OneMain Financial. There’s no minimum credit score because it goes by your current debt, credit history, collateral, and ability to pay. However, a higher score will still earn you a better interest rate.
No minimum credit score
Can often fund the loan the same day
Rates are typically much higher than other lenders
Can take over two weeks to release the lien on the motor vehicle after loan payoff
Charges an origination fee
OneMain Financial strictly provides personal loans to consumers and specializes in helping those with poor credit. In fact, because it has no minimum credit score, it's the best secured personal loan option for people with less-than-stellar credit. Interest rates are 18% to 35.99%, based on the borrower's credit score. Loan terms are 24, 36, 48, or 60 months, but you won't pay a prepayment penalty if you pay it off early.
To secure a OneMain Financial personal loan, you can apply online, but then you must visit one of its around 1,400 branches located in 44 states.
Often, your interest rate and the amount available to borrow don't quite match what the site tells you that you're pre-approved for. This is because OneMain Financial uses stricter guidelines than you might when determining your debt and income. For example, you may think you make $60,000 per year and have a 15% debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, but OneMain Financial will only count your $25,000 in variable dog-sitting income if it's verifiable (which is typical for most lenders).
OneMain offers educational resources for free. Articles cover a range of topics such as money management, debt consolidation, and more.
Best for Debt Consolidation : Figure
- Loan Terms: 5 years - 30 years
If you want to consolidate debt, Figure has low rates, and most applications take as little as five minutes and receive instant approval. While it takes over five business days to receive funding, it’s one of the fastest HELOC loans available.
Most applications take five minutes and receive immediate approval.
Sign paperwork 100% online
Discount of 0.25% with autopay
Funding takes 5 business days or longer
Maximum loan of $125,000 if your score is less than 680.
An origination fee of up to 4.99%
Figure is an online lender renowned for its blockchain technology. When you consolidate your debt using a Figure HELOC, which is a type of secured loan that uses your home’s equity as collateral, you’ll pay a significantly lower interest rate compared to credit cards and many auto loans. This makes it the best secured personal loan option for debt consolidation, and you’ll receive a 0.25% APR discount when you opt into a credit union membership and sign up for autopay.
Figure offers these loans completely online, and you can decide in minutes. Because it uses an online video notary, this also means you don’t have any paperwork to fill out at loan closing. While longer than other types of secured loans, you can receive funding in as little as five business days.
You can borrow up to $400,000, depending on your credit score. There is a one-time origination fee of up to 4.99%, but there are no prepayment penalties. You can select loan terms of five, 10, 15, or 30 years. To qualify for a loan with Figure, you must have a credit score of at least 620, which is higher than most lenders.
Best With a Credit Union : Credit Union 1
- APR Range: 3.00% - 6.00%
Credit Union 1 offers low rates, there’s no minimum credit score, and your first payment isn’t due for up to 60 days. While you must be a member to take out a loan, it’s easy to open an account for as little as $10.
Rates just 3% to 6% above your CD or savings earnings rate
No minimum credit score
Maximum loan term 60 months
It’s no secret credit unions tend to have much lower fees than banks—this is because they’re member-owned. Credit Union 1 is on our list because of its low rates and no minimum credit score or prepayment penalties.
Secured personal loans use money in a savings account or CD held at the credit union for your collateral. Your interest rate is whatever your savings or CD earnings rate plus 3% to 6%. The credit union determines your rate by your credit history, though there is no minimum credit score required—most credit unions look at your history as a whole versus just an isolated numerical score, and Credit Union 1 is the same.
You can apply online, over the phone, or in person at its more than 5,000 branches nationwide, thanks to Co-Op Shared Branching. Your first payment isn’t due for up to 60 days, although you can have it sooner if you choose. And as a member, you have access to online courses and tutorials to improve your financial literacy.
Best for Small Loan Amounts : Oportun
- Loan Amount: $300 - $10,000
With Oportun, you can borrow as little as $300, and the maximum amount depends on what state you’re in. However, any loan amounts over $7,500 are only for qualified returning customers, so if you only need a small loan, this is the right lender for you.
Borrow as little as $300
Receive funds same day
Lower rates for returning customers in good standing
Cannot choose or change the payment date
The maximum loan term is 53 months
Oportun advertises itself as an alternative lender and has no minimum credit score. Even if you don’t have any credit history, you can still potentially qualify for a secured personal loan. The lender does a soft pull of your credit to determine eligibility before doing a hard pull for the loan itself. This is the best secured personal loan option if you need only a small amount—the minimum loan is $300.
The collateral used for a secured personal loan with Oportun is your vehicle. To pledge your car, you can’t have any liens on the title, and you must own it—so it must be fully paid off. You also must be the sole owner of the vehicle.
Once approved for a loan and your car meets requirements, you receive funding in as little as 24 hours. Your car must not be older than 25 years and have under 250,000 miles on it. They don’t accept vehicles registered outside of your state, nor do they take alternative fuel vehicles or electric models.
This isn’t a title loan because your interest rate is capped at 36.00% APR. Payment terms vary. You won’t have a prepayment penalty, but an origination fee and tax stamp fee are calculated into your APR, depending on your state of residence.
Best Repayment Terms : Wells Fargo
- APR Range: 7.49% - 23.24%
- Loan Amount: $3,000 - $100,000
- Loan Terms: 12 months - 84 months
We chose Wells Fargo as the lender with the best repayment terms because it offers loan terms of up to 84 months, rates as low as 7.49%, and loans up to $100,000. The collateral used for this secured loan is a CD or savings account held with Wells Fargo.
Loan terms up to 84 months
Rates as low as 7.49%
Must have a CD or savings account with Wells Fargo to use as collateral
Must pay from a Wells Fargo checking account to receive the best rate
Wells Fargo was founded in 1852 and is the fourth-largest bank in the United States by assets. While many lenders cap their repayment terms at five years, a Wells Fargo personal loan offers up to 7 years to repay at rates as low as 7.49%, making it the secured personal loan with the best repayment terms. Plus, you can borrow up to $100,000, provided you have that much in a CD or a savings account with them.
Wells Fargo will use your CD or savings account to repay the outstanding loan amount if you default on your loan. This means you may have an early withdrawal penalty if a CD is used.
The minimum loan amount is $3,000. While it offers rates as low as 7.49%, that’s for well-qualified borrowers. Your rate may be as high as 23.24%, which is still better than many lenders offer. Usually, the shorter the repayment term, the better your rate is. Plus, some checking accounts qualify you to receive a 0.25% interest rate discount.
To get a loan with Wells Fargo, even though your collateral secures it, you must have sufficient income. Apply online, provided you have an account, and receive a decision in minutes. Once approved, you can track your loan progress using Wells Fargo's yourLoanTracker.
Compare the The Best Secured Personal Loans of 2023
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Final Verdict
Secured personal loans help you get a loan you might not otherwise qualify for, and can build your credit. Rates also tend to be lower because the lender can collect your collateral if you default on the loan. Some lenders have no minimum credit score requirement but charge much higher interest rates in return.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are Secured Personal Loans Easier to Qualify For?
Not only are secured personal loans easier to qualify for compared to unsecured loans, but you may even get a better rate, too. Credit score requirements for these loans can also be lower than unsecured loans, though they vary by provider. This is because if you default on your loan, the lender can keep your collateral, whether it’s backed by your vehicle, savings account, certificate of deposit, or stocks.
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Do Personal Loans Hurt Your Credit?
When you first take out a personal loan, you may see a dip in your credit initially. However, if you continue to make on-time payments, there is usually an increase in your credit score. If you have no established credit, getting a secured personal loan can help show future lenders that you’re reliable.
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What Is the Interest Rate on a Personal Loan?
Interest rates on personal loans vary wildly based on many factors like credit score, payment history, debt, loan terms, and amount borrowed. These rates are usually between 3% and 36%. A secured loan can offer a lower interest rate because the lender has a right to collect your collateral if you default.
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What Alternatives Are Available to Secured Personal Loans?
Instead of getting a secured personal loan, consider an unsecured personal loan. Your interest rates will be higher because there is no collateral to protect the lender if you default. However, this also means you won’t lose collateral, like your home, stock, CDs, or savings account.
Another alternative to a secured personal loan is a credit card. Interest rates will be higher, but some promotions offer introductory interest rates as low as 0%. Or rewards credit cards can help you earn cash back or travel rewards.
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Can You Pay off a Secured Loan Early?
Yes, you can pay off a secured loan early. The vast majority of lenders charge no prepayment penalties for doing so, either. However, if you’re using a secured loan to help build your personal or business credit, it may be worth your while to continue making payments even though you can pay it off early.
A time you might consider paying off a credit-building loan early is if your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is too high to qualify for another specific loan need.
Methodology
Our team evaluated 38 lenders and collected 1,520 data points before selecting our top choices. We weighed more than 20 criteria and gave a higher weight to those with a more significant impact on potential borrowers.
The top picks were selected based on factors like membership requirements (weighted 20%), average fixed APR (weighted 15%), and average origination fees (weighted 10%).
We also took into account the flexibility of repayment terms, helpful features like prequalification, and whether a co-signer or joint applications are permitted to ensure borrowers get the best possible experience.