Consumer finance
Get help understanding personal loans for planned purchases and expenses. A broker can explain suitable secured or unsecured options, costs and what a lender may need.
Updated 6 September 2026
A personal loan broker can help you understand suitable options and the information a lender may need. Start by checking the purpose, affordability and any previous application outcome.
Tell RateSmart what the money is for and what you need help understanding. The broker can explain suitable loan types and compare available options. Sending the website enquiry does not lodge a formal credit application. A lender still decides whether to approve a loan after assessment; the enquiry itself is not an eligibility result.
Ask why before applying elsewhere. Review your budget and check your credit reports for errors: repeated applications can affect your credit score. Equifax and Experian may hold different information, and each must provide a free report every three months. Share the reason for the decline with the broker so the next conversation addresses the actual issue.
No. One repayment may be easier to manage, but extending the term can increase the amount paid overall. Compare the existing debts with the proposed loan over the full repayment period, including fees. If current repayments are already unaffordable, contact your lenders about hardship support before taking on another commitment.
Compare costs and conditions
Compare repayments, fees, conditions and any final payment together. An estimate is not a lender quote or approval.
Comparison rate rather than headline rate alone
Total repayments across the proposed term
Establishment, monthly and late-payment fees
Extra-repayment and early-payout rules
Start without uploads. If you continue, a broker will explain which documents are relevant.
Common questions
A secured loan is linked to an eligible asset. An unsecured loan is not, and may have different pricing and assessment rules.
Yes. Explain how you earn your income and what records you have. Income consistency, expenses, existing commitments and lender policy affect the assessment. Enquiring lets you discuss the information required; it does not guarantee an available loan or approval.
Speak with a broker
Start online or call RateSmart. A broker will confirm the request and discuss suitable options. Submitting an enquiry does not lodge a credit application.
