What Are Unsecured Loans? (2024)

Loans

ByJustin Pritchard

Updated on March 9, 2022

Reviewed byCierra Murry

In This Article

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In This Article

Definition and Examples of Unsecured Loans
How Unsecured Loans Work
Unsecured Loans vs. Secured Loans
Pros and Cons of Unsecured Loans

Definition

Unsecured loans are loans that are approved without the need for collateral. If a borrower defaults on the loan, the lender is left with few options to get paid, outside of filing a lawsuit.

Key Takeaways

An unsecured loan is one that doesn't need collateral or a security deposit to receive.
Unsecured loans come in three main forms: personal loan, student loans, and unsecured credit cards.
Unsecured loans are also known as "good faith loans" or "signature loans."
Collateral is required for a secured loan.
Collateral can be a home, car, cash, investments, or other assets.

Definition and Examples of Unsecured Loans

An unsecured loan is one that doesn't require collateral or a security deposit. With an unsecured loan, instead of pledging assets, borrowers qualify based on their credit history and income. Lenders do not have the right to take physical assets—such as a home or vehicle—if borrowers stop making payments on unsecured loans. You promise to repay, but you don’t back up that promise by pledging collateral.

Alternative names: Signature loan, good faith loan

A few examples of types of unsecured loans include:

Personal loans
Student loans
Unsecured credit cards

Personal loans are available from banks, credit unions, and online lenders, and can be used for any purpose you see fit.Private student loansand those through the Department of Education are typically unsecured.

Note

The majority of credit cards available are also unsecured. Even though you might not think of credit cards as loans, you borrow money when you spend with them.

How Unsecured Loans Work

When applying for an unsecured loan, lenders check your borrowing history to see if you’ve successfully paid off loans in the past. Based on the information inyour credit reports, a computercreates a credit score, which is a shortcut for evaluating your creditworthiness.

To get an unsecured loan, you'll need good credit. If you've done minimal borrowing in the past, or have bad credit because you've fallen on hard times in your past, it is possible torebuild your creditover time. Consider taking steps to improve your credit score before applying for an unsecured loan.

Lenders will also want to be sure that you have enough income to repay any new loans. When you apply for a loan, whether secured or unsecured, lenders will ask for proof of income. Then, they will evaluate how much of a burden your new loan payment will be, relative to your monthly income. They typically do this by calculating adebt-to-income ratio.

Note

Your pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements will most likely provide sufficient proof of income.

Unsecured Loans vs. Secured Loans

Unsecured Loan	Secured Loan
No collateral needed	Requires collateral
Common for loans with no tangible assets to reclaim	Common for loans for tangible assets that can be reclaimed

The fundamental difference between unsecured and secured loans is the need for collateral. When you apply for a secured loan, you must put up an asset—whether your home, car, investments, or cash—to receive it. In case you default on the loan, the collateral can be used to pay the lender. Secured loans are commonly used with mortgages and auto loans.

If you take out a mortgage, the home becomes the collateral. If you default on your payments, your lender can take sole possession of your home and resell it—a process known as "foreclosure." If you fail to make payments on your auto loan, your lender will take ownership of the vehicle.

Pros and Cons of Unsecured Loans

Pros

Lower risk to borrower (of losing assets)
Possibility of discharge

Cons

Greater risk to lender leads to higher interest rates
Costs more over time

Pros Explained

From the borrower's perspective, the main advantage of an unsecured loan is the decrease in risk. If you receive an unsecured loan and can't make payments, you don't risk losing your assets; you just put your credit score at risk. For people and businesses with unsecured loans, there is also a chance that your debt will be discharged if you file for bankruptcy.

Cons Explained

Since unsecured loans don't require any collateral, the lender takes on more risk, which generally translates to higher interest rates and less-favorable terms. While unsecured loans may be less risky for the borrower, it's important to know how much more it could cost you over its duration. You may find that putting an asset down as collateral is more beneficial than the extra money you'll pay in interest.

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Sources

The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Experian. "Bankruptcy: How it Works, Types & Consequences."

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