 TITLE: How to Take Out a Personal Loan CONTENT: Gather the Necessary Information\n--------------------------------\nBefore you apply for a personal loan, you'll want to get some important information and documents in order. Although you won't necessarily need these to submit an application, they're good to have on hand in case a lender requires them to verify your identity or information and complete the loan process.\nCommon requirements include:\n*   **Identity verification**: A copy of a government-issued identification card, such as a passport, driver's license or state-issued identification card, will typically work.\n*   **Income verification**: This may require you to provide copies of recent paystubs, bank statements, annual retirement benefits letters or tax records. Some lenders allow borrowers to use an online verification tool.\n*   **Address verification**: A copy of a recent utility bill, voter registration card, mortgage statement or lease could be used to verify your current address.\nHaving these documents on hand can help you quickly send copies if and when they're requested, helping avoid any potential delays. END