{"id":25915,"date":"2022-12-30T10:12:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-30T10:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/?p=25915"},"modified":"2023-02-07T21:38:25","modified_gmt":"2023-02-07T21:38:25","slug":"personal-line-of-credit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/financial-aid\/personal-line-of-credit\/","title":{"rendered":"PERSONAL LINE OF CREDIT (PLOC): Definition, Pros, Cons & Best Options","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
An unsecured personal line of credit may be the ideal tool for you if you need to pay for emergency repairs, unforeseen bills, or temporarily manage your financial flow. But, exactly, what is a personal line of credit? Businessyield<\/a> talks you through all you need to know about personal lines of credit, including the benefits and drawbacks, as well as what to look out for when applying so you can pick the one that best meets your needs.<\/p>\n A personal line of credit, often known as a PLOC, is a fixed amount of credit made available to you by a financial institution for a specified period. It\u2019s often used by customers to consolidate debt, expand their business, pay medical bills, restructure current debt, repair their house, and other purposes.<\/p>\n A personal line of credit is a hybrid between a credit card and a personal loan. There are, however, a few distinguishing features:<\/p>\n Unsecured personal line of credit is an open-ended loan that allows the borrower to withdraw monies as needed for a predetermined period. The funds are accessible via bank transfers or line-of-credit checks. Also, the borrower is given a credit limit for the period of the loan that cannot be exceeded. Personal lines of credit with limits ranging from $1,000 to $100,000 can be provided.<\/p>\n When funds are withdrawn from the loan, interest begins to accrue immediately; interest is only levied on the outstanding sum until it is paid off on a predetermined repayment period. Borrowers typically make minimum monthly payments, much like credit card payments. The minimum repayment amount varies. However, it can be levied as a fixed fee or as a percentage of the debt outstanding, usually 1% or $25, whichever is greater.<\/p>\n Personal line of credit is often an unsecured loan, which means there is no collateral underpinning the loan and no recourse for the lender if the borrower defaults. Borrowers may be permitted to deposit collateral to obtain more advantageous terms, often a lower interest rate. A personal line of credit requires an annual or monthly maintenance fee to be established. Late and returned payments are also subject to surcharges.<\/p>\n Personal lines of credit often allow you to spend the funds however you see fit, as long as the total amount spent does not exceed the credit limit. Home equity lines of credit and company lines of credit are also available. These loans operate similarly to personal lines of credit, but have collateral backing the loan (home equity) or are restricted to specific expenses (business-related activities).<\/p>\n When it comes to choosing a lender for a personal line of credit, there are a few factors to consider.<\/p>\n You should opt for a lender with a credit limit range that can be adjusted to meet your demands. Some lenders only provide personal lines of credit of a few thousand dollars, which may be insufficient for your specific project or price. Other lenders provide personal lines of credit of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. These are often secured by collateral or require proof of income. Many personal lines of credit have a maximum amount of $20,000.<\/p>\n Most lenders base their rates on the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, but you should shop around to verify you\u2019re getting the best price. Selecting a lender with low-interest rates and fees might help you save money and pay off debt faster.<\/p>\n Depending on your requirements, you may wish to opt for a lender who provides continuous term limitations with no defined end date for the credit line. This means you can continue to borrow from your line of credit as needed without having to reapply.<\/p>\n Not many lenders enable borrowers to apply and maintain their accounts entirely online, so look for lenders who do if this is important to you. If, on the other hand, you prefer to do your banking in person, you should look into banks and lenders with physical offices in your neighborhood.<\/p>\n Borrowers should be mindful of the specific terms linked with their loan due to the market\u2019s range of repayment plans. As previously stated, the majority of personal lines of credit will function similarly to credit cards. Other repayment arrangements, on the other hand, do exist and may be accompanied by heavy conditions. We\u2019ve listed some less usual types of repayment below:<\/p>\n Personal lines of credit may have separate draw and repayment periods, allowing the borrower to withdraw funds during the draw period while requiring monthly payments during the repayment period.<\/p>\n At the end of the period, a personal line of credit may require payment of the entire sum, which is known as a balloon payment. If the borrower is unable to repay the whole amount, balloon payments necessitate refinancing.<\/p>\n In rare situations, banks may offer a \u201cdemand line of credit,\u201d which acts similarly to a conventional line of credit but allows the lender to call the loan for repayment at any time.<\/p>\n When compared to other sources of quick capital, a personal line of credit offers various advantages, but it is not the best option for everyone. Before applying, consider both the advantages and disadvantages.<\/p>\n You can borrow money from a personal line of credit at any time during the draw period. Depending on your lender, you can get the line of credit through a bank branch, online, or via a mobile app.<\/p>\n Some banks will allow you to utilize a PLOC as overdraft protection if you are concerned about overdrafting an account. If you frequently write checks or are concerned about overdrawing your account, this can provide you with peace of mind.<\/p>\n A personal line of credit normally offers cheaper interest rates than a credit card. However, the interest rate on your PLOC will vary based on your lender and personal credit history.<\/p>\n Unlike other choices such as home equity lines of credit, which use your home equity as collateral, a PLOC does not. So, if you don\u2019t have a home or a car to serve as collateral, this can be an excellent choice.<\/p>\n With a PLOC, you don\u2019t have to pay anything until you use your funds. You may withdraw funds in any quantity up to your limit, and you will only be charged for the amount withdrawn plus interest.<\/p>\n A HELOC is a secured line of credit since your home is used as collateral for the amount owed. A Personal line of credit, on the other hand, is deemed unsecured because it lacks collateral. This means that the interest rate on a PLOC will most likely be higher.<\/p>\n You cannot deduct interest on a line of credit from your taxes. This increases the cost of opening a PLOC.<\/p>\n Because there is no collateral on a PLOC, the lender must rely on your word that you will repay what you borrow. This means that if you have a poor credit history, they are less likely to offer you a PLOC.<\/p>\n Throughout the draw time, you can borrow up to your PLOC limit. However, when the draw period expires, you must repay the entire amount borrowed plus any interest that has accrued. You run the risk of overborrowing if you don\u2019t have a repayment plan in place.<\/p>\n Because a PLOC typically has a variable interest rate, it is difficult to predict how much interest you will end up paying.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve provided a list of commonly given rates, terms, and fees for personal lines of credit based on our research of the terms offered by several lending institutions:<\/p>\n To qualify for a personal line of credit, you must have a credit score of 690 or above and a stable credit history. A track record of wages and proof of work is also required. Many organizations that offer personal lines of credit require that you have a checking account<\/a> with them and that you apply through a regional branch, which limits your possibilities. The following are the most important requirements for a personal line of credit:<\/p>\nWhat is a Personal Line of Credit?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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What Is the Process of Obtaining a Personal Line of Credit?<\/h2>\n
Important Characteristics of Personal Line of Credit<\/h2>\n
#1. Range of credit limits<\/h3>\n
#2. Fees and rates are low.<\/h3>\n
#3. The term limit is indefinite.<\/h3>\n
#4. Application and payment options that are adaptable<\/h3>\n
Read Also: Company Credit Card: Company Credit Card and Policies<\/a><\/h5>\n
Repayment Structures for Personal Line of Credit<\/h2>\n
#1. Draw and repayment durations:<\/h3>\n
#2. Balloon payment:<\/h3>\n
#3. Demand line of credit:<\/h3>\n
Personal Credit Line: Advantages and Disadvantages<\/h2>\n
Advantages of Personal Line of credit<\/h3>\n
#1. Quick access to funds:<\/h4>\n
#2. Rates that are competitive with credit cards:<\/h4>\n
#3. No collateral required:<\/h4>\n
#4. Pay just for the draws you make:<\/h4>\n
Disadvantages of Personal Line of Credit<\/h3>\n
#1. Higher interest rates than HELOCs:<\/h4>\n
#2. Interest is not tax deductible:<\/h4>\n
#3. Poor credit and\/or a short credit history make it difficult to qualify:<\/h4>\n
#4. Overborrowing risk:<\/h4>\n
#5. Variable interest rates:<\/h4>\n
Typical Rates, Fees, and Terms<\/h2>\n
\n\n
\n Average Interest Rates<\/strong><\/td>\n Variable (based on Prime Rate), generally 9.30% \u2013 17.55%<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Term Range<\/td>\n 6 months \u2013 5 years or flexible<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Credit Limit Range<\/td>\n $1,000 \u2013 $100,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Average Fees<\/td>\n Annual maintenance fee: $25 \u2013 $50No check processing feeNo prepayment penaltyLate payment fee: $32 or ~7.5% of monthly payment past dueReturned payment fee: $25 \u2013 $39<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Repayment Schedule<\/td>\n Monthly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n How to Get a Personal Line of Credit<\/h2>\n