Is there a Bank of America debt consolidation loan?

A credit card consolidation loan is a good idea if it reduces the cost of your debt and allows you to repay what you owe sooner than you would otherwise. Furthermore, a credit consolidation loan is the best choice if it will save you more than the top balance transfer credit cards… read full answer.

Credit card debt consolidation loans help put all your balances in one place. But they’re not worth it unless you also get a reduced interest rate relative to what you’re currently paying. Checking with a personal loan provider to see what rates you’re pre-qualified for should give you an idea of whether you’ll actually save money if approved.

If you can qualify for a balance transfer credit card that will accommodate all of your debt and provide a 0% introductory interest rate for 12+ months, that may be a better choice. That’s easier said than done, however, so it’s a good idea to keep your options open.

Credit card consolidation loans are a good idea when they:

1. Save you money on interest.
2. Help you get out of debt sooner.
3. Offer a better deal than balance transfer credit cards.

If you can’t find a credit card consolidation loan that will save you money, or qualify for any good balance transfer cards, there are a few alternatives to consider. A secured personal loan or home equity loan could get you lower rates, but at the risk of losing your property/home if you default. A loan from a friend or relative could get you low rates but could put stress on your relationship. Finally, other debt solutions like settling with your creditors may be helpful.

The minimum credit score for personal loan approval is 585-600, depending on the lender. That means it is possible to get an unsecured personal loan with a bad credit score. But it probably won’t be cheap. The minimum credit score needed for a personal loan with no origination fee and no collateral requirement is 660, which is fair credit. And borrowers will need good credit or excellent credit – a credit score of 700 or higher – to get the best personal loan rates. Personal loans for credit scores under 700 tend to be for relatively low amounts and have high APRs.… read full answer

If your credit score is below 585, lower in the bad credit range, you still have options. For example, you could opt for a secured loan, where you put up something valuable as collateral. If you fail to pay back the loan, the lender can take the collateral as compensation. Because this greatly reduces the risk for the lender, people with any credit score may be considered for secured loans.

For your reference, WalletHub researched some of the most popular lenders to find out more about their specific loan requirements.

Credit Score for Personal Loan Approval by Lender:

*According to multiple third-party sources.

You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub. You’ll also get personalized advice for how to improve your score.

What Is a Credit Score?

Your credit score is a measure of how risky it is for lenders to let you borrow money. The higher your score is, the better your chances of approval are and the better terms you’re likely to receive. Your credit score comes from a combination of factors that include your payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, recent inquiries, and diversity of accounts.

But your credit score is far from the only thing that matters when it comes to personal loan approval. Lenders consider many other factors, including your income, existing debts, monthly expenses and more.

The best way to estimate your odds of approval for a personal loan is to check to see if you’re pre-qualified for any offers before submitting an official application.