Personal
loans for
kicking goals

So you’ve decided you want to take out a personal loan in Australia, but with so many loan companies out there, how do you decide which one is best for you? From traditional banks to online lenders, there are many businesses offering a range of financing alternatives. Not everyone’s financial circumstances are the same, so you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons to find out which loan finance company is right for you. If you are deciding whether to get your loan from an online lender or a bank, here are some questions to ask yourself.

How quickly do you need to be able to access funds?

When you are faced with unexpected bills or need urgent house repairs, getting quick last minute loans is critical. Or even if it is to pay for a holiday, finance a wedding or buy a new car, once you’ve decided that you need a loan, you often want it ASAP. One of the advantages of choosing online loan companies over a traditional bank is that online loans often require less documentation. Even signing the loan contract can be done digitally and returned online, which makes the application process much quicker.

By using the latest financial technology, verifying information during the approval process can be sped up too. If you provide us with your online bank details in your application, we use secure technology that allows us to capture in just seconds the last 90 days of your bank statements online using a trusted and secure portal. You can have peace of mind knowing that we won’t get access to your password and we won’t be able to make any changes to your account. With online lending, there is also no need for time consuming face-to-face meetings or to spend hours waiting in queues. Many online loan companies, such as MoneyMe, also have an app, making it easy to apply for a loan directly from your smartphone or tablet. 

Is your information secure?

When you are assessing different loan companies and loan agencies in Australia, the safety and security of your information is an important factor to consider. If you are using an online lender, you need to be comfortable submitting your personal information online. It’s a good idea to do your research and find out what security measures your lender is taking before submitting your application.

At MoneyMe, we use the best of the best when it comes to online security following the same encryption standards as brick-and-mortar banks. To keep your data confidential, your transactions on our site are protected with up to 256-bit Secure Sockets Layer encryption, so you can trust that all our online interactions are done with a high level of security and safety.

What are the costs and features of the loan?

Another consideration when choosing between loan companies will be comparing the cost of the loan and the different features each loan offers. The interest rates, fees and charges will vary between loan lenders and products. When weighing one lender against another, as well as comparing interest rates, it is important to look at the comparison rates as well. The comparison rate factors in the interest rate but also some of the fees that are associated with the loan such as ongoing service fees or application fees, so using the comparison rate will help you get a better idea of the true cost of the loan. You’ll need to read the fine print though as each lender can calculate the comparison rate slightly differently and there may be additional fees and charges you need to consider such as late payment fees, early exit fees or penalties for making extra payments. 

Aside from the cost of the loan, flexibility is also a consideration. You’ll need to consider questions such as: Are there restrictions around what the money can be used for? How much money can I borrow? Are the loan repayment terms flexible? What is the eligibility criteria for a loan? Do you conduct credit history checks? Most responsible unsecured loan companies will conduct credit checks as they don’t want to lend you more money than they think you are in a position to be able to comfortably repay.

At MoneyMe, aside from your credit rating, we also consider other factors such as your income and expected living expenses to get a complete picture of your financial situation. Factors such as how much you can borrow and the lending criteria will vary between loan organisations, so you’ll need to find a loan that works for you.

If you are looking for online low interest loans in Australia with fast approval and flexible repayments, MoneyMe offers cash loans up to $50,000. With a quick and easy application process and no early exit fees, the MoneyMe personal loan could be just what you are looking for. If you compare our fixed interest rates on our unsecured personal loans with the big 4 banks, you’ll see how competitive our rates are. And, in many cases if you apply before 5 pm, the money can be in your account on the same day. Apply online now. 

Can you get help when you need it?

There are some people who value face-to-face communication more than they value speed and convenience. If that applies to you, an online loan may not work for you. For others who like the convenience of being able to apply for fast loans online, you’ll still want the assurance that help will be there when you need it, and some loan companies are better at customer service than others. At MoneyMe, even though the application process is completed entirely online, our customer service team is available to provide dedicated help 7 days a week either via phone or online. Our operating hours are 8am to 9pm (AEST) on weekdays and 9am to 9pm (AEST) on weekends. Contact us today for more information.

What are the alternatives to a personal loan?

If you need fast financing, an alternative to a personal loan is a line of credit. Many loan companies now offer lines of credit that you can apply for online. MoneyMe offers a Freestyle virtual Mastercard® that works in a similar way to a credit card although there is no physical card. A Freestyle account gives you access to up to $20,000 that can be used for both online purchases and instore purchases. Another great feature is that you can also send the funds from your virtual card to your bank account or anybody else’s bank account. Other features include up to 55 days interest free payment plans on purchases, a quick online application process and credit back at 1,400+ participating stores. If you’re running a business and looking for a merchant payment solution to increase sales, you can offer the MoneyMe+ business payment solution so your customers can buy now and pay later for purchases up to $50,000. Contact us today so we can demonstrate how we can help you with all your financing needs.