Personal Loans
Installment personal loans: what the offer documents mean, which fees are legitimate, and how the Federal Reserve's bank rate data compares with what you are quoted.
Is a Free Personal Loan Real?
A personal loan is never free: money has a price, and the price appears as interest, an origination fee, or both. 'Free' in an advertisement usually m…
2012Hot Loans: When a Rate Is Really a Fee
A 'hot' loan offer is a marketing frame, not a product category. What matters is the APR, the total of payments and whether the rate is fixed or reset…
2012How to Compare Personal Loan Offers
Compare personal loan offers on four lines: APR including fees, total of payments, term, and prepayment terms. Everything else — brand, speed, app des…
2012No-Fee Personal Loans: Real vs Junk Fees
A no-fee personal loan removes the origination fee; it does not remove the interest. The fee-free label matters only after you compare APRs, because a…