Understanding the Role of Credit
Your credit score plays a pivotal role in the type of personal loan offers you will receive. Like that of a car or mortgage, the higher your credit score is, the better the personal loan offer will be. In the state of Oregon, the average credit score is roughly around 709, which is slightly higher than the national average.
Now, if your credit score is lower than the national average, chances are, lenders will view you as a risk. In other words, based on your credit score, loan places for bad credit will charge a higher interest rate and fees, both of which are meant to motivate credit holders to pay their bills on time. However, with higher interest comes a greater loan cost. So, it’s vital that you take the time to focus on improving your credit score before you begin to pick any personal loan lender.
How to Pick the Best Personal Loan in Portland
Once your credit score is established and is in-or-around the national average, or higher, before you can apply for just any personal loan, it’s important to learn how to pick the best personal loan. In Portland, Oregon, the Beaver capital city is full of different personal loan lenders. So, to better help local Beavers, we have a few tips on how to pick the best personal loan.
- Red Flags
On your journey to picking out the best personal loan in Portland, it’s vital that you know what red flags to look out for. If a lender is promising guarantees or promises on interest rates or paying off a loan, these are companies you need to avoid. On top of this, when doing research, if a company has numerous bad reviews or biased positive reviews, this is a red flag as well.
- Interest Rates
With so many different institutions in Portland, it’s important that residents take the time to compare interest rates between different companies. This is the best way to ensure that you are securing the best possible personal loan offer. Also, be sure to find a company that is offering a fixed interest rate, not variable.
- Loan Terms
Our last tip in picking out the best personal loan in Portland is to be careful of loan terms. There are specific lenders that only offer short-term or only offer long-term loans. Short-term loans are great for individuals that can handle higher monthly payments and wish to pay off a loan quicker. On the other hand, long-term personal loans are great for individuals that need lower monthly installments; however, a longer loan means greater loan costs.
Are Payday and Title Loans the Same as Personal Loans?
No not really. A payday loan, or cash advance, is easier to get and has a shorter term(unless it’s a longer installment option) but higher fees and much higher interest than personal loans. The same is true for title loans with the addition of your car being used as collateral. Be very cautious with these types of loans.
Personal Loans in Portland
OneMain Financial
4340 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97213, USA
(503) 282-3284
https://www.onemainfinancial.com
3.9 / 5 Stars
United Finance
515 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214, USA
(503) 232-5153
http://www.unitedfinance.com/
3.6 / 5 Stars
Excel Financial of Portland Inc.
3809 SW Hall Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97005, USA
(503) 520-1444
https://exceloregon.com/
4.1 / 5 Stars
Umpqua Bank
1139 NW Lovejoy St, Portland, OR 97209, USA
(503) 288-5610
https://www.umpquabank.com/
5 / 5 Stars
Christine has a solid background in personal finance as she spent the last eight years working at one of the biggest banks in the US. She managed her own team of financial advisors that helped hundreds of people with their financing needs. Her understanding of different financial products and loans helped her move up the ranks quickly after graduating with a degree in Business Administration.