 TITLE: Where Can I Get a Personal Loan? CONTENT: What to Consider When Choosing a Lender\n---------------------------------------\nThere are some key factors you need to consider before deciding which lender to approach or personal loan to accept.\n*   **Interest rate**: All personal loans come with an interest rate. High rates will elevate the cost of the loan, so to save money, you'll want to get the lowest rate possible. An interest rate will usually be expressed as an APR (annual percentage rate), which includes the interest rate as well as other fees and costs. Most financial institutions that offer personal loans will publish the going rates as a range, such as 13.99% APR to 24% APR, so visit the websites of many different lenders to compare.\n*   **Credit scores**: Because qualification and interest rates are primarily dependent on your credit scores, you will want to know what your scores are before applying. FICO® and VantageScore® are the two most common credit scoring companies, and both produce credit scores ranging from 300 to 850. Higher numbers are predictive of lower credit risk. In general, credit scores in the mid-700s and above are considered good to excellent. Check your scores long before applying, so you can pursue the right loan for you.\n*   **Possible discounts**: Always contact the lender about ways you can lower the interest rate; discounts may be available. For example, some banks will give you a break on the rate if you have a checking account at the bank. Many lenders will reduce the rate if you enroll in automatic payments so the money is deducted from your checking account on the same day of every month, thus guaranteeing on-time payments. Still others will reduce a high rate after your credit score improves or you have made a certain number of on-time payments.\n> Find the best personal loans in Experian CreditMatch™. END