What's an installment loan?
An installment loan lets you borrow money now and pay it back in periodic payments, or installments, over time. Unsecured installment loans, like the RISE loans in South Carolina, can be used for almost anything, including medical bills, car repairs, or other emergency expenses.
What makes RISE different?
RISE aims to serve borrowers who may have a few negative marks on their credit reports but can still afford to take out and repay a loan. We also want to help consumers improve their finances and credit, which can make it easier for them to get approved for lower-rate loans in the future.
To this end, RISE's loans and lines of credits all have the following features:
- Apply online and have money in your account within one business day*
- No application or prepayment fees
- There is a five-day, risk-free guarantee. You won’t pay any fees if you change your mind and repay the loan within five business days.
- RISE will report your loan payments to Experian and TransUnion, and your on-time payments can improve your credit history and scores.
- Borrowers can get free access to one of their TransUnion credit scores and free credit monitoring.
RISE also created and continues to add to its financial wellness library, where you can find resources to learn about credit, lending, and saving money.
South Carolina loans from RISE
RISE offers installment loans and lines of credit with varying rates and terms to residents of different states. Here’s what RISE’s installment loans in South Carolina look like:
- There is a 60% to 299% interest rate
The offer you get can depend on your credit, income, and other factors. You’ll know your loan’s terms and payment amount once you’re approved and can then decide if you want to take out the loan.
How does RISE compare to payday loans in South Carolina?
If you don’t have perfect credit and you need money quick, you may have thought of getting a payday loan rather than an installment loan. That could be a costly mistake.
In South Carolina, you can borrow up to $550 in payday loans at a time†. Many payday loans have a short term, and even with a small loan it could be difficult to repay the loan.
For example, a payday lender could charge you a 15% fee, such as $30 on a $200 loan. That may not seem like a lot, but with a 14-day loan term that comes out to be an APR of 391.07%
You might be able to borrow more with an installment loan, which could be helpful if you’re dealing with a sizeable financial emergency. Additionally, you may have more manageable payments as you repay the loan over time.
†Learn more about payday loan regulations in South Carolina on the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions’s website: https://consumerfinance.sc.gov/
Get the money you need and build credit at the same time
Having a new credit account and making on-time payments could help you build a good credit history, which can lead to rising credit scores. You shouldn’t necessarily open a new account or take out a loan solely to improve your credit, but if you need to borrow money anyway, you should get recognition for paying the loan back.
RISE will report your on-time payments to Experian TransUnion, two of the three major credit bureaus. Auto title lenders and payday lenders generally don’t report to the major credit bureaus, although if you fall behind on payments they may still send your account to collections which could wind up on your credit reports and hurt your scores.
As you build credit, you can use RISE's free Credit Score Plus program to monitor one of your credit scores based on your TransUnion credit report. Credit Score Plus also comes with TransUnion credit monitoring
