Eight things to know before taking a bank loan.....

There are different types of personal loans a depositor can take from his bank. While some loans may not be tied to specific purposes, others may be for certain projects such as business, mortgage and car purchase.

The lender will also ask specific questions from the borrower to be sure it will not turn to a bad debt.

Borrowers should understand the conditions of taking a bank loan in order to avoid running into problems.

The following are major things a borrower should understand about bank loans before applying for one.

• Application: You need to apply to your bank to get a loan, stating the purpose, with enough evidence that you will repay the money.

• Interest: Personal loan is a lump sum, which a bank gives a customer to be repaid in instalments with interest over a period of time. The loan can be for a year or over 10 years. Banks charge interest rates per annum.

• Terms of agreement: It is very important to read all the terms of your loan before taking it. There may be some clauses, which you may not be expecting such as the possibility of the bank increasing the interest rate after taking the loan, among other things. The terms and conditions will show you the actions that the bank can take against you if you are unable to repay the loan on time.

• Different deals: Different banks charge different rates; it will be better to compare rates from different banks in order to get the cheapest rate. The terms and conditions attached to bank loans also differ.

• Collateral or security: Banks usually ask for collateral before granting loans which could be landed property or other specific assets. When the bank is not asking for collateral, it will definitely ask for another form of security that could be a guarantor or the loan may be tied to your salary. You may lose your asset if you fail to repay the loan.

• Hidden charges: The interest rate may not be the only thing you will be required to pay along with your loan. Banks may have some other charges such as a fee for processing your loan and charges whenever you default in your monthly repayment of the loan. So, it is important to know all the hidden charges. You can ask your account officer to explain these extra charges.

• Loan restructuring: You can approach your bank to negotiate the possibility of restructuring your loan if you are not comfortable with the terms. You don’t necessarily have to wait until you have problems with the repayment; you can still negotiate when you are already paying your debt.

• Credit card: Applying for loan may not be the only option available to you. If you need a short loan, getting a credit card may also be useful. You, however, need to understand how to apply for a credit card and have a good credit score. Depending on the bank, some may give you an interest-free credit for your first usage.

Copyright SMS-Reachout Africa.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from SMS-Reachout Africa.