How a poor credit score can hurt your personal loan application

As the end of financial year approaches, money matters are top of mind. Personal budgets might be tightening, spending habits are in focus and borrowing money is surely a consideration for some households.
But before taking a step toward frugality, you might need to run a fine-toothed comb over your finances. And a major part of this is knowing about your credit score. Your credit score is a number or rating that tells lenders about your borrowing and repayment history. Importantly, it also includes how often you’ve shopped around for credit - as in, borrowed money.
So, in short, lenders use this score to help decide whether to lend to you. If they think your credit score looks okay they'll likely give you a loan, like a personal loan, but will still consider how much to actually loan you and at what rate of interest.
This is why it's crucial to stay on top of your debts, get to your bills promptly, and do your best to manage your money with efficiency.
Think of keeping good credit like staying fit! And like the challenge of overcoming a soft middle, you've got to stick with it. After all, your credit score isn't set in stone - it can change.
This means there are ways to keep your score in check and maintain a healthy level. To help with this, we called the experts at Pioneer Credit to give us the following tips.
Here are 5 easy ways to protect and enhance your credit score:
- Check and understand your credit reports: Regularly checking credit reports allows you to identify and address any errors or discrepancies that could negatively impact your score.
- Make timely bill payments: Consistently paying bills - on time - helps build a positive payment history. But if a third party company ends up handling your outstanding debt, they can help maintain your financial wellbeing and improving your overall debt position.
- Keep credit 'utilisation' low: What's this? It's basically what you owe in debts divided by how much credit you have available at a given time. A good ratio demonstrates responsible credit use and shows lenders that you're managing your debt well.
- Diversify credit mix: Having a mix of different types of loans, such as credit cards, personal loans and a mortgage, can demonstrate responsible handling of your financial obligations overall.
- Limit new credit applications: Only apply for credit when necessary. Going for multiple new credit accounts within a short period can raise concerns among lenders and potentially lower your credit score.
Okay - once you've got your credit score in check, it can be easier to borrow money. For example, a personal loan can be an effective way to borrow a larger sum with a considered repayment plan. Our Mozo experts know personal loans and have done the hard work for you already. Compare some of the top personal loans on the market now!
Compare personal loans
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Low Rate Personal Loan
Excellent Credit, $5,000 - $75,000, or up to $100,000 for eligible purposes
interest rate
comparison rate
Monthly repayment6.57% p.a.to 8.39% p.a.7.19% p.a.to 8.75% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 yearsCompetitive low rates for borrowers with excellent credit on 1-7 year loans from $5,000 up to $75,000 (or up to $100K for home improvements or car loans); plus free extra repayments. Winner of Mozo's Experts Choice Excellent Credit Unsecured Personal Loan 2024 and Excellent Credit Secured Personal Loan 2024 awards ^. Min. income of 25k after tax, to apply.
Repayment terms from 1 year to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 6.57% would cost $35,528.12 including fees.
CompareCompare- interest rate
- 6.57% p.a.to 8.39% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 7.19% p.a.to 8.75% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 years
- interest rate
- 6.57% p.a.to 8.39% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 7.19% p.a.to 8.75% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 years
- Upfront fee
- $250.00
- Monthly fee
- $0.00
- Exit fee
- $0.00
- Late payment fee
- $35.00
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Early repayment penalty
- $0.00
- Minimum loan amount
- $5,000.00
- Maximum loan amount
- $75,000.00
- Minimum loan term
- 1 Year
- Maximum loan term
- 7 Years
- Security required
- Unsecured
- Other benefits
- Loan amounts up to $100,000 are available for vehicle purchase or home improvement purposes.
- Other restrictions
- Rate for Excellent Credit. Establishment fee varies from $250 and is based on your OurMoneyMarket loan grade and total loan amount. The fee is added to the principal amount and paid over the loan term.
Read reviews and learn more about OurMoneyMarket personal loans
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Unsecured Personal Loan
Fixed
interest rate
comparison rate
Monthly repayment6.45% p.a.to 26.95% p.a.6.45% p.a.to 26.95% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 yearsBorrow up to $50,000 unsecured. Perfect if you earn more than $22,100 p.a. and have good to excellent credit. Multi-year winner of Mozo’s Experts Choice Unsecured Personal Loan Award, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024^'
Repayment terms from 2 years to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 6.45% would cost $35,176.93 including fees.
CompareCompare- interest rate
- 6.45% p.a.to 26.95% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.45% p.a.to 26.95% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 years
- interest rate
- 6.45% p.a.to 26.95% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.45% p.a.to 26.95% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 years
- Upfront fee
- $0.00
- Monthly fee
- $0.00
- Exit fee
- $0.00
- Late payment fee
- $0.00
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly
- Early repayment penalty
- 0
- Minimum loan amount
- $5,000.00
- Maximum loan amount
- $50,000.00
- Minimum loan term
- 2 Years
- Maximum loan term
- 7 Years
- Security required
- Unsecured
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- Rates based on borrower with excellent credit score. Maximum 3 year term for loan amounts $8,000 or less.
Read reviews and learn more about NOW Finance personal loans
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Secured Personal Loan
Fixed
interest rate
comparison rate
Monthly repayment5.90% p.a.to 19.19% p.a.6.33% p.a.to 20.77% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 yearsCompetitive rates depending on credit score. No monthly or early repayment fees. No penalties for paying your loan off sooner. Borrow from $5,000 to $80,000. Your choice of 3, 5 or 7 year terms. You will be given the option to use a vehicle as collateral to secure your loan. One upfront fee applies.
Repayment terms from 3 years to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 5.90% would cost $35,025.41 including fees.
CompareCompare- interest rate
- 5.90% p.a.to 19.19% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.33% p.a.to 20.77% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 years
- interest rate
- 5.90% p.a.to 19.19% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.33% p.a.to 20.77% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 years
- Upfront fee
- $310.00
- Monthly fee
- $0.00
- Exit fee
- $0.00
- Late payment fee
- $10.00
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Early repayment penalty
- 0
- Minimum loan amount
- $5,000.00
- Maximum loan amount
- $80,000.00
- Minimum loan term
- 3 Years
- Maximum loan term
- 7 Years
- Security required
- Vehicle
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- Interest rate and establishment fee vary according to an individuals credit history. Rates and fees shown are for an Excellent Credit borrower. Establishment fee ranges from $310 to $1,035.
Read reviews and learn more about MoneyPlace personal loans
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Debt Consolidation Loan
$5,000-$75,000
interest rate
comparison rate
Monthly repayment6.57% p.a.to 18.99% p.a.7.19% p.a.to 19.39% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 yearsCompetitive fixed rates on loans up to $75,000 depending on your credit score. Zero monthly account keeping fees, no exit fees and no early repayment fees. Make weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments, over 1 to 7 years managed entirely online, at any time. Fast and easy, 100% online application.
Repayment terms from 1 year to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 6.57% would cost $35,528.12 including fees.
CompareCompare- interest rate
- 6.57% p.a.to 18.99% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 7.19% p.a.to 19.39% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 years
- interest rate
- 6.57% p.a.to 18.99% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 7.19% p.a.to 19.39% p.a.based on $30,000
over 5 years
- Upfront fee
- $250.00
- Monthly fee
- $0.00
- Exit fee
- $0.00
- Late payment fee
- $35.00
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Early repayment penalty
- $0.00
- Minimum loan amount
- $5,000.00
- Maximum loan amount
- $75,000.00
- Minimum loan term
- 1 Year
- Maximum loan term
- 7 Years
- Security required
- Unsecured
- Other benefits
- Loan amounts up to $100,000 are available for vehicle purchase or home improvement purposes.
- Other restrictions
- Interest rates may vary depending on assessment of application. Establishment fee varies from $250 and is based on your OurMoneyMarket loan grade and total loan amount. The fee is added to the principal amount and paid over the loan term.
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Ready Credit Personal Loan - 3 Year Fixed Rate, Balance Transfer Offer
Unsecured
interest rate
comparison rate
Monthly repayment6.90% p.a.n/aEnjoy a competitive rate on the initial balance that you request to be transferred to your bank account within 3 months of approval. Choose your repayments each month above the minimum payment due. Apply online in as little as 10 minutes. Only pay interest on the amount you have used, not on your whole credit limit. A one-off establishment fee of $249. This product is provided by National Australia Bank Limited, using certain trademarks temporarily under licence from Citigroup Inc.
CompareCompare- interest rate
- 6.90% p.a.
- comparison rate
- n/a
- interest rate
- 6.90% p.a.
- comparison rate
- n/a
- Upfront fee
- $249.00
- Monthly fee
- $0.00
- Exit fee
- $0.00
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Repayment options
- Monthly
- Early repayment penalty
- $0.00
- Minimum loan amount
- $5,000.00
- Maximum loan amount
- $75,000.00
- Minimum loan term
- 0 Years
- Maximum loan term
- 3 Years
- Security required
- Unsecured
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- 6.90% for 3 years on loans up to $75,000, with any unpaid amount reverting to 22.49% p.a. variable rate after three years. Application and supporting documents must be submitted by 1st August 2025 end date.
Read reviews and learn more about Citi personal loans
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* WARNING: The Comparison Rate combines the lender's interest rate, fees and charges into a single rate to show the true cost of a personal loan. The comparison rates displayed are calculated based on a loan of $30,000 for a term of 5 years or a loan of $10,000 for a term of 3 years as indicated, based on monthly principal and interest repayments, on a secured basis for secured loans and an unsecured basis for unsecured loans. This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Personal Loan Awards
Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.