There are a lot of financing options available in the market. And a number of banks and NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies) provide the same loan at different interest rates, making it confusing. However, a lot of loans have similar yet various alternatives for them. For example:- a personal loan is an unsecured loan, but you can get the funds from a secured gold loan. So both the personal loan and a gold loan are perfect alternatives for each other.
What is a gold loan?
A gold loan is a secured loan where funds are acquired by pledging a gold asset. The paperwork is significantly less, and you can quickly get your loan approved on the spot. The interest rate for gold is significantly less, but you'll have to make sure to pay your instalment on time. Because if you're unable to repay the loan amount, then your gold ornaments or coin will be seized by the bank and will be sold off at an auction to recover the loan amount.
Advantages of gold loan
Processing: Gold loan is an easy and fast processed loan. A lot of banks and NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies) give gold loan facilities processed quickly. So you don't have to wait for days to get your loan approved. A lot of banks like Yes Bank Personal Loan approve your gold loan within one hour.
Credit Score: Credit score is a number between 300-900 that defines your creditworthiness. You don't have to maintain a good credit score to be eligible for a gold loan. You can get your gold loan application approved even if your credit score is low.
Interest Rate: The best thing about a gold loan is that you get low interest rates. The interest rate is very low compared to other banks, so you save a lot of money that you would've paid as interest. You can lower your interest even more if you pledge any other asset as a security.
Repayment: Banks offer flexible repayment options to the customers. So you can choose the EMI option and a loan tenure that is best for you. But it's advisable first to compare all the options and then select the right one for you.
Prepayment penalty: The bank charges no prepayment penalty. So you can quickly get a gold loan without paying a prepayment amount. Security:- You get a lot of benefits like free bank lockers. So you can store your gold safety in bank lockers and take it whenever you want it back.
What is a personal loan?
A personal loan is an unsecured loan, so you don't have to pledge any assets to get funds from this loan. Instead, you'll have to maintain a decent credit score to get your loan approved. So if your credit score is high, then your personal loan can be quickly approved, but if your credit score is low, then a lot of banks will reject your loan application.
You'll have to repay the loan instalments on time because it will be negative, which will make it hard for you to get your future loans approved.
Advantages of personal loan
Collateral: Unlike a secured loan, you don't have to pledge any collateral to be eligible for a personal loan. This is the most significant advantage of a personal loan because not everyone has enough asset to risk. So this option makes a personal loan the most preferred choice when compared to other financial services.
Repayment: Banks offer a lot of repayment options to customers. So the customers are flexible in choosing any one of the given options. It's advisable first to calculate your budget and income using tools like a Personal Loan Calculator and then select the right option for you.
Hassle-free processing: You don't have to wait for months and months to get your loan approved. You can quickly get your personal loan application approved if you meet the eligibility criteria perfectly.
Paperwork: The paperwork and documentation required for a personal loan application are very little. So you don't have to stress yourself over the documentation process.
Conclusion
You can apply for a gold loan if you have gold ornaments to pledge and get funds immediately. You can apply for a gold loan if you have a bad credit score and you require funds. But if you don't have gold ornaments or any asset to pledge, then you can use your credit score to get a personal loan approved from any bank or NBFCs.
Also read this: Here Are Things To Know About A Personal Loan