Secured loans require that you offer up something you own of value as collateral in case you can’t pay back your loan, whereas unsecured loans allow you borrow the money outright (after the lender considers your financials).

Unsecured personal loans typically have higher interest rates than secured loans. That’s because lenders often view unsecured loans as riskier. Without collateral, the lender may worry you’re less likely to repay the loan as agreed. Higher risk for your lender generally means a higher rate for you.

A secured loan will tend to also have lower interest rates. That means a secured loan, if you can qualify for one, is usually a smarter money management decision vs. an unsecured loan. And a secured loan will tend to offer higher borrowing limits, enabling you to gain access to more money.

What Happens if You Default on an Unsecured Loan? Failing to repay any debt will have a negative effect on your credit. Although you don’t have to worry about losing your collateral with an unsecured loan, the cascading effects of falling behind in your payments can do real damage to your credit—and your finances.

Personal Loans – Personal loans, also known as unsecured loans, are loans where your borrowing is based on your personal credit rating. You can borrow up to £25,000 and the maximum amount of time for repaying the loan is 10 years.

As someone with a 650 credit score, you are firmly in the “fair” territory of credit. You can usually qualify for financial products like a mortgage or car loan, but you will likely pay higher interest rates than someone with a better credit score. The “good” credit range starts at 690.

The best way to borrow $10,000 with no credit check is to apply for a personal loan from Oportun, which does not use applicants’ credit history as a condition for approval. Approval is still not guaranteed, though, as Oportun will look at things like your income and employment status to determine your ability to pay.