Secured vs. Unsecured Lines of Credit: What's the Difference?

Secured vs. Unsecured Lines of Credit: An Overview

A line of credit (LOC) is a revolving loan that can be used for any purpose. The borrower can tap the line of credit at any time, pay it back, and borrow again, up to a maximum limit set by the lender.

Lines of credit can be secured or unsecured, and there are significant differences between the two, such as the interest rate paid by the borrower.

What Is a Secured Line of Credit?

When any loan is secured, the lender has established a lien against an asset that belongs to the borrower. This asset becomes collateral, and it can be seized or liquidated by the lender in the event of default. A common example is a home mortgage or a car loan. The bank agrees to lend the money while obtaining collateral in the form of the home or the car.

Similarly, a business or individual can obtain a secured line of credit using assets as collateral. If the borrower defaults on the loan, the bank can seize and sell the collateral to recoup the loss. Because the bank is certain of getting its money back, a secured line of credit typically comes with a higher credit limit and a significantly lower interest rate than an unsecured line of credit does.

One common version of a secured LOC is the home equity line of credit (HELOC). With a HELOC, money is borrowed against the equity in the home.

What Is an Unsecured Line of Credit?

A lender assumes greater risk in granting an unsecured line of credit. None of the borrower's assets are subject to seizure upon default. Unsurprisingly, unsecured lines of credit are tougher to get for both businesses and individuals.

Credit cards are essentially unsecured lines of credit. That's one reason why the interest rates on them are so high. If the cardholder defaults, there's nothing the credit card issuer can seize for compensation.

A business may want to open a line of credit in order to finance its expansion, for example. The funds are to be repaid out of future business returns. Such loans are only considered if the company is well established and has an excellent reputation. Even then, lenders compensate for the increased risk by limiting the amount that can be borrowed and by charging higher interest rates.

Should I Choose a Secured or Unsecured Line of Credit?

Whether you choose a secured or an unsecured line of credit depends in large part on why you are using it.

For everyday purchases, an unsecured line of credit (such as a credit card) may make the most sense.

However, an unsecured line of credit is usually not your best option if you need to borrow a lot of money. As mentioned earlier, unsecured credit is riskier for lenders and typically comes with higher interest rates. Secured credit, on the other hand, is cheaper and easier to get.

The Bottom Line

Both secured and unsecured lines of credit have advantages over other types of loans. They can be used (or not used) flexibly and repeatedly, with low minimum payments and no demands to pay in full as long as the payments are up to date.