Going for a secured loan has more advantages than an unsecured loan. The interest rates on secured loan are lower than the unsecured one. You get a lot of time to repay the loan. This makes your monthly payments easy to handle. Besides, lenders are more agreeable to giving you this loan as they possess your assets. So if you fail to repay the loan, they need not worry, since they have your asset to fall back on.

Best place is always a bank or credit union that is local that you bank with already. They will be a little more forgiving. I just got a loan through wells fargo for 5000 dollars and only went in to sign papers, it was an instant approval.

You shouldn’t pay upfront on a legitimate deal. The ability to get a legit deal is dependent on your credit history, but there are lenders out there who are legit and only work this way.

i would see a personal banker at a bank you do business with. they would be able to access your credit history, and have access to your banking history which would strengthen you.