Personal Loans

See your loan offers before you apply

Compare personal loans without harming your credit score

We are a credit broker, not a lender.

What is a personal loan?

A personal loan is a sum of money you borrow from a lender over a set period of time. You pay back the loan, including interest, in monthly instalments until your balance has been cleared.

Why compare loans with Real Rates?

We work with a range of lenders to find you a loan between £2,500 and £50,000.
Our online form is simple and straightforward, with your results displayed in just 60 seconds.
Spotted the Real Rates guarantee on your results? The rate that is displayed is the rate you will receive if the information you have provided is accurate and you successfully pass the lender’s checks. Not all of the lenders on our panel can offer Real Rates, so be sure to carefully read through the information in your results before proceeding so you know exactly what to expect.
Our soft search eligibility check will not affect your credit score in any way, although please be aware that if you choose to progress to a full application directly with the lender you will be required to undergo a hard search.
We do not charge a fee for our service, and all quotes are no-obligation.

Who can apply for a personal loan?

In order to check your eligibility for a personal loan, you must:

Be over the age of 18;
Have a minimum annual income of £5,000;
Be a UK resident with a UK address;
Have three years’ worth of UK address history;
Have a UK-registered bank account with a valid debit card; and
Be employed with your salary paid directly into your bank account.

The Real Rates process

Choose your ideal loan and term
How much would you like to borrow, and for how long?

Let's get to know each other
Complete our online eligibility check form.

We'll do our thing
We'll check your eligibility using soft search technology.

Your results
If you've been matched with one or more loan offers, we'll show you the results.

Found 'the one'?
Select a loan you'd like to apply for, and you'll be redirected to the lender's website to complete the full application.

CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY

Reasons you might consider a personal unsecured loan

If you are confident that you can manage your monthly repayments comfortably, a loan could help you fund an unexpected expense or a large, necessary purchase.

Some lenders may be able to send the money on the same day your application is approved. Please be aware, however, that the time it takes for the money to appear as available in your account will depend on your bank’s policies and procedures.

A low interest personal loan could be useful if you’re considering debt consolidation. However, you will need to make sure that the interest you would pay on a new loan is less than the interest you are currently paying on your existing borrowing.

Things to think about before applying for a personal unsecured loan

You might want to review your credit score before you check your eligibility to give you an idea of how likely you are to be accepted. Generally, the better your credit score, the better your chance of approval; however, there are many factors that could affect the lending decision.

A good credit score could mean you are offered a better rate of interest. If your credit score is less-than-perfect, you might want to take steps to improve it before applying for a loan. Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom of the page for tips on how to improve your credit score.

When comparing loans, you should look at the various interest rates available to you and consider which offer is the right one for your circumstances.

Falling behind on or failing to make your monthly repayments can lead to serious money worries. It could also result in late fees, additional charges, and a decline in your credit score.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a secured and an unsecured loan?

Secured loans are when you take out a sum of money and secure it against an asset, such as your house. This is known as collateral.

Should you default on your repayments, the lender is within their right to seize the collateral to recover their losses.

Unsecured loans are not tied to an asset, and are therefore seen as more of a risk to the lender. Because of this, they may be advertised at a higher rate of interest than a secured loan.

How much does a personal loan cost?

The overall cost of a personal loan will depend on how much money you borrow and for how long, and the interest rate you are offered.

I’ve been pre-approved for a loan. Does this mean that I will definitely be accepted by the lender?

Pre-approval does not guarantee acceptance.

The result of your eligibility check will show how likely you are to be approved for a loan; however, please be aware that you will need to undergo further checks, including a hard credit search, if you choose to proceed with a loan offer and make a full application with a lender.

The lender is responsible for deciding whether or not you are approved for a loan.

If I am approved, how quickly will I receive the money?

Each lender will have their own timeframe. Some lenders are able to transfer funds on the same day as your loan is approved, although the time it takes for the money to appear as available in your account depends on your bank’s policies and procedures.

How can I improve my credit score?

There are a number of ways to improve your credit score, including registering to vote, checking and amending any errors on your credit report, staying well within your credit limit, and paying all bills and any current credit commitments on time.

I’m struggling to keep on top of my finances. Is there anything I can do?

If you have taken out a loan that you are now struggling to repay, you should get in touch with your lender as soon as you can. Your lender will want to work with you to help you at this time. You can also access further support and advice from organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureau, MoneyHelper and National Debtline.

Real Rates are proud to work with StepChange to bring you a free, online quiz to help you take your first steps towards getting back in control of your finances. The answers you provide are confidential and will generate advice for your situation.

Digitonomy Limited trading as RealRates is not a lender but is a fully regulated and authorised credit broker which introduces borrowers and lenders for the purposes of entering into consumer credit agreements.

RealRates does not charge customers a fee for using its broker services, but it receives a commission from lenders or other brokers if a customer enters into a consumer credit agreement with a lender or broker following an introduction through this website.

RealRates will provide every effort to present you with Loans you may be eligible for. If we are not able to do this, we may present you with alternative credit products. You are under no obligation to proceed with these if you feel they are not suitable for your circumstances.

RealRates is a registered Trading Name of Digitonomy Limited, Registered in England and Wales (Company number 08385135), Registered Office; Steam Mill Business Centre, Steam Mill Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 5AN. Digitonomy Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is entered on the Financial Services Register under reference number: 690249. Licenced by the Information Commissioners Office, (registration number ZA007309).