How to get a Personal Loan without Collateral?

Loans are mostly associated with collaterals. Many individuals are unaware that there are many loans that they can avail without putting up collateral or security. Personal loan is one such option. 

Opting for a personal loan is a huge decision. It is not a decision you can take without understanding the commitments and requirements. This blog will act as a guide to help you choose the best collateral-free personal loans. 

Understanding the basics

A common mistake made by many borrowers is to read an abstract or two about personal loans and rush to the lending institution offering the lowest interest rate. It is a move that causes a lot of concern once the EMI meter starts. 

So, we will start with the basics. 

Obtaining easy personal loans without collateral is feasible through various financial institutions and online lenders. To secure one, focus on maintaining a good credit score, providing proof of income, and completing the application process diligently. Additionally, explore peer-to-peer lending platforms for accessible options.

What is a personal loan? 

When an individual or a group of individuals borrows a specific amount of money from a lending institution, it is a personal loan. The borrower/s repay the loan in equated monthly instalments known as EMI. Borrowers must repay the amount in a specified number of months, referred to as tenure. It is a borrowing instrument that allows borrowers access to funds for tenures ranging from one to five years. 

What is collateral?

When a borrower approaches a lending institution for a loan, they require the borrower to put up an asset as a security. The asset is the collateral. Gold, property, fixed deposits and businesses are some collateral options. A lending institution reserves the right to sell the collateral to recover unpaid dues. 

It sounds scary, but it is not. If the borrowers are able to repay the EMI on time, the lending institution will return the papers and ownership to the borrower. However, searching for a loan that does not require collateral is a good idea to explore. 

Getting a personal loan without collateral

Getting a collateral-free personal loan is an easy task, but it is important to know what to do and, more importantly, the steps to follow. 

What to do when you want a personal loan without collateral

Meet the lending institution’s eligibility criteria – Every lending institution has eligibility criteria you must meet. For example, Kotak Mahindra Bank assesses applications based on five main criteria that are: 

• Age: It is the minimum age at the time of getting the loan and the maximum age at the time of loan maturity.
• Work experience: It covers the minimum number of work experience.
• Citizenship: The citizenship of the borrower determines personal loan application approval
• Monthly income: Debt to income ratio and expenses of the borrower are considered when assessing an application.
• Employer Category: Eligibility criteria for getting a personal loan without security would vary for salaried and self-employed professionals like doctors, chartered accountants, companies and secretaries.

Ensuing all the documents are submitted – Every online personal loan application lists the documents borrowers are required to upload. So, to get collateral-free personal loans, here are the most asked documents to submit. 

• KYC – The Know Your Customer (KYC) is a mandatory requirement that banks and NBFCs are required to check before approving a loan
• Address proof – Proof of residence to check the veracity of the borrower. It is used to check citizenship with documents like Aadhaar Card.
• Income proof – As mentioned above, monthly income determines eligibility. Hence, the lending institution will ask for proof of income. 
• Proof of Employment – Salaried individuals can submit salary slips for three to six months. On the other hand, professionals can submit bank statements. 

Meeting the credit score requirements – The most important aspect of a personal loan is the credit score. It is a score given by credit bureaus like CIBIL to every borrower. Let us look at the main components of a credit score. 

• When do you get the score – It is a score for every credit-related financial transaction. If a borrower misses or delays their financial commitment, the score reduces.
• What is the range – A credit score usually ranges from 300 to 800. A score above 700 is considered a good score, enabling lending institutions to approve loans without security.
• Can the score be improved – When a person becomes financially responsible and ensure all dues are paid in time, the score can be improved. 
• Who can see the score – The lending institution can see the score at the time of the personal loan application assessment.

The steps to follow to get a personal loan without collateral 

Every lending institution will have its processes to follow when getting a personal loan. However, at Kotak Mahindra Bank, we have made the process simple and hassle-free. Here is what you need to do:

Determine the loan amount – Are you applying for a loan to fund a wedding, medical expenses, travel, or purchase an item. Determine the loan amount you need.

Check your eligibility – We have already explained the basics in the blog above. Submitting a loan application without meeting the eligibility criteria will lead to rejection and negatively impact the credit score. 

Also Read – Debt-to-Income Ratio

Collect the documents – Even when applying for an online personal loan, it is important to collect all the documents in the required format when uploading. 

Calculate the EMI – Use the personal loan EMI calculator to determine the monthly instalment. It is a free tool that borrowers can use multiple times to calculate their tenure. 

Fill out the application – Filling out the application is not enough. It is important to fill it out accurately to make the assessment process seamless. 

Submit the application – Do not forget to submit the loan application. Once submitted, the borrower gets a tracking number. 

Wait for confirmation – If the lending institution approves the personal loan, the borrower gets a message. Once accepted, the money is disbursed to the borrower’s account. 

To sum up the process:

Borrowers can easily get a personal loan without collateral or security if they meet the criteria and consider the repercussions of not meeting their debt commitments. Take time to calculate the requirements, and don’t overborrow. We also recommend not under borrowing to avoid repeating the personal loan application process.