Loan basics

Learn how loans work, including loan types, terms and how to choose the right loan for your financial needs.

Editors' picks

Does Deferring a Payment Hurt Your Credit?

By Louis DeNicola

Nov 6, 2024

What Is an Origination Fee?

By Karen Axelton

Sep 19, 2024

What Is Collateral?

By Tim Maxwell

Apr 27, 2024

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Best personal loans

Fund home improvement projects, cover expenses and more.

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Best balance transfer credit cards

Save money by transferring high-interest debt.

Best debt consolidation loans

Consolidate your debt and manage your payments easier.

Credit card payoff calculator

Calculate the number of payments you’ll need to make.

Mortgage calculator

Understand how rates affect your monthly payment and the total cost.

What others are reading

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What Is a No-Interest Loan?

No-interest loans allow you to borrow money and only repay the principal, but they aren't ...

By Jennifer Brozic

Sep 27, 2024

Why Did My Credit Score Drop When I Paid Off a Loan?

By Louis DeNicola

May 11, 2019

What Is a Jumbo Loan?

By Jim Akin

Feb 23, 2024

What Happens if You Lie on a Loan Application?

By Geoff Williams

Dec 8, 2023

Do Personal Loans Hurt Your Credit?

By Brianna McGurran

Oct 17, 2024

How Does Rate Shopping Affect Your Credit Scores?

By Jim Akin

Apr 18, 2023

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The latest from our experts

Should I Use a Personal Loan to Pay for My Education?

Personal loans are incredibly versatile, but it’s usually not worth it to use one for coll...

By Ben Luthi

Jan 24, 2025

What Is a Signature Loan?

If you’re looking for a loan that doesn’t require collateral, a signature loan may be a go...

By LaToya Irby

Sep 19, 2024

What Is a Loan Application Fee?

Some loan types are more likely to have application fees than others. Depending on the loa...

By Jennifer Brozic

Sep 6, 2024

How to Compare Personal Loans

Compare loan offers from multiple lenders, focusing on interest rates and other metrics. P...

By Tim Maxwell

Aug 28, 2024

What Is a Cosigner?

A cosigner pledges to take responsibility for another person's debt, such as a loan, if th...

By Tim Maxwell

May 10, 2024

What Is Risk-Based Pricing?

When you apply for a loan, lenders will typically use risk-based pricing to determine whic...

By Ben Luthi

Jan 25, 2024

What Is Refinancing?

Refinancing a loan can help you achieve a number of goals, like saving money on interest o...

By Evelyn Waugh

Nov 12, 2023

What Is a Bridge Loan?

If you’re buying a new home before selling your existing one, a bridge loan can help you f...

By Ben Luthi

Nov 9, 2023

What Happens if You Don’t Pay Back a Payday Loan?

If you're thinking about defaulting on your payday loan, learn what could happen and what ...

By Mel Jones

Sep 12, 2023

What Happens When You Extend Your Loan Term?

If you want to extend your loan's term, you might be able to apply for an assistance progr...

By Louis DeNicola

Aug 12, 2023

Title Loan vs. Secured Loan

Knowing the difference between title loans and secured loans can help you steer clear of h...

By Gayle Sato

Jul 28, 2023

How Do Down Payments Work?

A down payment—money you put toward a purchase you are financing with a loan—is required b...

By Jim Akin

Jun 18, 2023

Loan basics

Editors' picks

Does Deferring a Payment Hurt Your Credit?

What Is an Origination Fee?

What Is Collateral?

What Is an Installment Loan?

5 Types of Loans to Avoid

Take action with these tools

Best personal loans

Best balance transfer credit cards

Best debt consolidation loans

Credit card payoff calculator

Mortgage calculator

What others are reading

What Is a No-Interest Loan?

Why Did My Credit Score Drop When I Paid Off a Loan?

What Is a Jumbo Loan?

What Happens if You Lie on a Loan Application?

Do Personal Loans Hurt Your Credit?

How Does Rate Shopping Affect Your Credit Scores?

Explore more topics

The latest from our experts

Should I Use a Personal Loan to Pay for My Education?

What Is a Signature Loan?

What Is a Loan Application Fee?

How to Compare Personal Loans

What Is a Cosigner?

What Is Risk-Based Pricing?

What Is Refinancing?

What Is a Bridge Loan?

What Happens if You Don’t Pay Back a Payday Loan?

What Happens When You Extend Your Loan Term?

Title Loan vs. Secured Loan

How Do Down Payments Work?

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Loan basics

Editors' picks

Does Deferring a Payment Hurt Your Credit?

What Is an Origination Fee?

What Is Collateral?

Take action with these tools

Best personal loans

Best balance transfer credit cards

Best debt consolidation loans

Credit card payoff calculator

Mortgage calculator

What others are reading

What Is a No-Interest Loan?

Why Did My Credit Score Drop When I Paid Off a Loan?

What Is a Jumbo Loan?

What Happens if You Lie on a Loan Application?

Do Personal Loans Hurt Your Credit?

How Does Rate Shopping Affect Your Credit Scores?

Explore more topics

The latest from our experts

Should I Use a Personal Loan to Pay for My Education?

What Is a Signature Loan?

What Is a Loan Application Fee?

How to Compare Personal Loans

What Is a Cosigner?

What Is Risk-Based Pricing?

What Is Refinancing?

What Is a Bridge Loan?

What Happens if You Don’t Pay Back a Payday Loan?

What Happens When You Extend Your Loan Term?

Title Loan vs. Secured Loan

How Do Down Payments Work?