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Who’s the best personal loan lender in Winnipeg?
Winnipeg is home to all of the big name banks, but locals are increasingly turning to alternative financial institutions for their personal loans. This is partly because alternative lenders have a broader range of personal loan products to choose from, and partly because a wave of traditional locations (including multiple bank branches) have recently shut in North Winnipeg. But truthfully, given the rise of online loan applications, both alternative and traditional lenders are about equal in terms of physical accessibility.
What they’re not equal on is everything else. Every lender, of every type, has their own suite of loan products. Every lender has their own costs and loan terms, and their own rules about who they’ll lend to. They all also have their own processes, meaning different application systems, requirements, and processing times.
This all means that there is no single lender – or type of lender – that’s “best” for all Winnipeggers. Each has their own pros and cons. So the best lender for you will heavily depend on your priorities, your financial needs, and your financial circumstances at time of applying. You need to take all of this into account when shopping for a personal loan in Winnipeg.
How much can I borrow with a personal loan in Winnipeg?
Personal loans come in all sizes, from tiny cash loans of just $300, to large installment loans of $35,000. The average debt burden in Manitoba is $18,312, and consumers typically hold this debt over a number of loan types, including auto loans, installment loans, credit cards, and lines of credit. The exact level and mix of your existing debts will partly influence how much you can borrow with a new personal loan. Those with few debts are likely to be able to borrow more than those with many debts (assuming all other financial characteristics are the same). But credit score, income and other factors will also influence how much you can borrow.
How do I qualify for a personal loan in Winnipeg?
As mentioned above, every lender in Winnipeg has their own rules about who they will approve for a loan – there are few hard-and-fast rules. All that’s absolutely necessary is that you are:
- At least 18 years old, with I.D.
- Able to prove your address
- In possession of an active bank account
There are of course other factors that lenders can and frequently do consider in loan applications, but these vary from lender to lender. You may be asked about:
- Your employment status
- Your income (the median household income in Winnipeg is $80,000)
- Your existing debts
- Your assets (65% of Winnipeggers own their home, which on average is worth $379,573)
Documents such as bank statements, payslips, and tax records may be required when you apply, so make sure you understand the requirements of a lender before you start the application process with them.
What credit score do I need to get a personal loan in Winnipeg?
The average credit score in Winnipeg is 661, lower than the national average of 672. However this is still higher than the credit requirements of most personal loan providers, which can range from as low as 560 to as high as 650.
If your credit score is bad (technically this means you have a score of less than 560), you’ll still be able to get a personal loan, but you’ll have to focus on either bad credit loans or no credit check loans (such as payday loans).
What happens if I don’t make my personal loan repayments in Winnipeg?
Although Manitobans carry on average the smallest amount of consumer debt in the country, delinquencies in the province were up by over 10% last year. The rising cost of living and high unemployment (the unemployment rate in Winnipeg is 5.8%, the highest in the province) are making debt repayments unaffordable for many; unfortunately, the consequences of missing a loan payment can be significant. Missing loan payments or defaulting on a loan entirely has a lasting impact on your credit score, can lead to legal action, and if you offered collateral for the loan, you risk it being seized. So making all of your loan payments is key. There is help available if you’re struggling: debt consolidation loans are frequently used to move debt to lower interest vehicles, and local debt counsellors are on hand to help you understand all of your options.
Written by:
Amy Orr
Amy Orr is a professional writer and editor with over 10 years of experience in the Canadian, U.S. and U.K. financial markets. She has written for numerous publications on topics as diverse as economic literacy, corporate finance, and technical analysis of numerical data. Prior to transitioning to full-time writing, she worked in the hedge fund sector. Her academic background is astrophysics, and she has a Masters in Finance from the University of Edinburgh Business School.
Reviewed by:
Jenna West
Jenna West is Smarter Loans' in-house financial writer and content director. She has been covering the Canadian FinTech and finance industry since 2017, including financial trends analysis, industry surveys, regulatory updates and changes in Canadian consumer behaviour when it comes to finance.
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