How Does Age Influence Your Eligibility To Take A Personal Loan?
The low-interest rates, minimal documentation requirements, and 100% digital loan procedures make Personal Loans one of the most sought-after funding options. They provide instant funds for planned or unplanned expenses like education, vacation, wedding, home renovation, medical treatment, debt consolidation, etc. Since these are unsecured loans, you don’t need to provide collateral, security, or a guarantor to obtain them. However, certain conditions, including age, determine your eligibility for a Personal Loan. Let’s see how age influences your eligibility to take a Personal Loan.
Eligibility Conditions for a Personal Loan
Personal Loan providers determine your eligibility based on several parameters. These include the following:
- Age: Most lenders have minimum and maximum age requirements, usually 21-58 years, which you must fulfil to apply for a loan.
- Occupation: Some loan providers approve loan applications for salaried employees only, while others provide loans to self-employed professionals.
- Income: Most loan companies expect a decent income to ensure regular repayment after sanction.
- Work Experience: You must have a sufficient work experience in your field to ensure income and job stability.
Does Age Matter?
A financial emergency may arrive at any time. So, there is no right age to obtain a Personal Loan. Irrespective of your age, you might need extra finance to fund your child’s education or wedding, carry out an urgent home repair, go on a family vacation, consolidate existing debt, or face a medical emergency. You might think lenders are concerned about your income and repayment capacity only. So, why does your age matter? Well, lenders give due attention to your age. The younger your age, the better your chances of getting Personal Loan approval.
Impact of Age on Your Eligibility for a Personal Loan
Your age is inversely related to your eligibility for a Personal Loan. A younger age attracts easy loan approval, provided you fulfil the lender’s other eligibility conditions. Let us see how age influences Personal Loan eligibility.
● How Does Age Influence the Loan Tenure?
Most loan companies provide Personal Loans for up to five years. Therefore, you must not reach retirement before the loan term-end. So, your loan term will depend on your age if you are looking for a loan. For instance, if your retirement age is 60 and you are already 58, your tenure can be up to two years, even if the lender’s loan term is five years.
Since younger individuals have more earning and employment opportunities, loan providers prefer them over older applicants for longer repayment tenures. However, you should be at least 21 years of age to demonstrate your earning potential.
● How Does Age Influence the Loan Amount?
Most reputable NBFCs offer ample amounts as Personal Loans. As a young individual, you have higher earning and employment opportunities and may more easily qualify for higher loan sanctions. On the contrary, if you are nearing retirement, you might find it challenging to repay your loan amount on time. Hence, lenders will offer you smaller loan amounts to minimise their financial risk.
Still, if you are in your early 20s, you may not have job stability and adequate income. However, if you are older, up to 30-40 years, you might be earning well and have built a good credit score. Consequently, you may get sanctioned for a higher loan amount.
● How Does Age Influence the Interest Rate?
Your credit history is crucial for your Personal Loan interest rate. If you are in your early 20s, you may have yet to build a strong credit history with a high credit score. On the contrary, if you are in your 30-50s, you must have achieved a high credit score with a strong credit history. You must have availed enough credit by now to demonstrate your credit habits. As a result, you can get a better deal on your Personal Loan interest rate. However, the lending institution may charge you a higher interest rate if you don’t have a good credit score and repayment history.
● How Does Age Influence the Repayment Capacity?
If you are a young individual, lenders assume you have less financial burden and family responsibilities. You also have more income opportunities, making timely repayment easier for you. Showcasing a good repayment capacity opens up the doors for faster loan approvals. On the other hand, if you are an older person, your repayment capacity largely depends on your pension, children’s income, investment, etc., to meet your ends. Hence, income instability makes lenders reluctant to offer you a Personal Loan.
Other Factors Impacting Your Eligibility for a Personal Loan
Apart from your age, lending institutions consider several other factors while evaluating your eligibility for a Personal Loan. These include the following:
● Employment:
You must be employed in a reputable organisation with at least six months of work experience to qualify for a Personal Loan. If you are a self-employed professional, you must be working in the same field for at least two years to showcase income stability.
● Income:
Most lending institutions have a minimum income requirement to accept loan applications. You must have stable employment or business with a minimum monthly income of at least Rs 15,000 to showcase your repayment capacity. That is why it is essential to maintain professional stability and avoid changing jobs before applying for a Personal Loan.
● Credit Score:
Your credit score is an essential parameter lenders use to determine your credibility. The higher your credit score, the easier will be your loan approval at lower interest rates. Make your payments on time, diversify your credit portfolio, retain old accounts, and maintain a low debt-to-income (DTI) and credit utilisation ratio to get the best loan offer.
● Financial Obligations:
Your DTI ratio should be at most 30-40% to prove high repayment capacity without stressing your finances. For instance, if you apply for a travel loan, you can obtain the required funding only if your DTI ratio is low and you can repay the loan EMIs on time.
Since Personal Loans are unsecured, your age, income, and credit score largely influence your loan eligibility. Usually, lending institutions consider older individuals high-risk borrowers due to the lack of income stability and fewer opportunities. While your eligibility for a Personal Loan largely depends on your age, check the lender’s minimum and maximum age requirements before applying.
