Are BMO Harris Bank Personal Loans Worth It?

(December 2024)

Are BMO Harris Bank Personal Loans Worth It?

In This Article

Our Verdict

BMO Harris Bank is unique in the provision of personal loans with the availability of extremely low amounts. It allows for the term of loan customization to fit the needs of the customers rather than sticking with one jacket fits all type of terms.

BMO Harris Bank’s personal loan is remarkable with long and favorable terms. However, the loan is only available to customers within the Mid-Western States of the United States and it does not have an online application procedure.

Pros

  • Offers very low borrowing as low as $1500
  • No prepayment penalty
  • There is availability of rates discount
  • Repayment period is very wide some are even as wide as 20 years
  • The loans are customizable so that you get a fair term commensurate with the loan you choose

Cons

  • Loans and lines of credit are only available in the Mid-West States
  • No online application, but making an appointment, calling a phone number, requesting contact, or visiting a branch
  • You need excellent credit even to get the lowest rates
  • You have to pay application fees

Who This Product Is Best For

BMO Harris Bank personal loan product is best for you if you’re a person who:

  • Wants to raise very small funds for a fair term
  • Is looking for lenders who will not force you to take a volume of funds you don’t need
  • Wants highly customizable loan
  • Lives or have a business within the Mid-Western region of the United States

Who This Product Isn't Right For

Take deep consideration of these before you apply for BMO Harris Bank’s personal loan product if you’re a person who:

  • Has a low credit score because your loan rates will likely be high
  • Want a bank that can provide for online application due to a busy schedule
  • Is not living within the Mid-Western States of the United States
  • Wants a relatively large amount of funds

What This Product Offers

  • Personal Term Loans. When you want to purchase something but you don’t readily have the funds to purchase them; consider the BMO Harris personal term loan. Take the loan that provides the certain amount you need for a fixed term of repayment and rates.
  • Home Equity Line of Credit. When you have a Home Equity you can draw from, to have sustainable available funds, taking the BMO Home Equity Line of Credit is a viable option to consider.
  • Personal Line of Credit. BMO Personal Line of credit allows having a preset maximum amount of money you can draw in times of need until you reach your credit limit.
  • Auto Loans. With this loan, as its name implies, you can buy yourself a car. The loan will help you take care of the funds for any type of vehicle, especially when it becomes necessary and urgent.
  • Home Equity Loan. Like the Home Equity Line of Credit, you can use your existing Home Equity to secure a term loan rather than the Line of Credit option.
  • Savings Secured Loans. If you have a Certificate of Deposits or Savings Account with BMO Harris Bank, use it to secure a loan with the bank in times of need while you continue running the account and still earn interest on the accounts despite the loan.

Product Details

Personal Term Loans

One of the products you get on the BMO Harris Bank is the personal term loan it provides; enjoy the flexibility the loan provides which allows you to customize the terms and rates to suit your budget.

The BMO Harris Bank personal term loan amount can be as little as $1500 and up to $35,000 but not more than that; consider this product when the funds you need are quite small that you don’t need to borrow beyond capacity. The APR is an average of 7.74% depending on how much you borrow and the repayment term. There is no penalty for early repayment and you have an average of 12- 72 months to repay the loan in fixed monthly installments depending on how much you borrow.

Loan amount                                                               $1,500 – $35,000

 

APR                                                                            7.74%- 8.84%

 

Terms                                                                          12-72 months

 

Repayment schedule                                                  Monthly

 

Availability                                                                   Mid-West States

 

Home Line of Equity

BMO Harris Bank also offers a Home Line of Equity as part of its product; this helps borrowers in their renovation projects, consolidation of debt, or whatever financial need that may arise. Take advantage of the program and pay interest only on the amount you draw from the available funds. Do you live within Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, or Minnesota and if you have an existing Home Equity, you can convert it to a Home Equity Line of Credit with BMO Harris Bank.

Choose from the available loan amount ranging from $25,000-$150,000 with an average APR of 7.74% and a custom term depending on the amount. The average monthly repayment is $983.36 which varies depending on the amount of credit you settle for.

Loan amount                                                               $25000 – $150,000

 

APR                                                                            7.74%

 

Terms                                                                          Custom

 

Repayment schedule                                                  Average $983.36

 

Availability                                                                   Mid-West States

 

Personal Line of Credit

BMO Harris Bank like the HELOC also offers personal lines of credit to help borrowers cater to recurring needs that arise or may arise. When you want to create a system that makes money available to you but you don’t hold a Home Equity, consider the BMO Harris personal line of credit.

Take this option and like the HELOC get to pay interest only on the amount you draw from the line of credit. The personal line of credit is unsecured and the available loan amount ranges from $5000 to $15000 with an average APR of 16.25%.

Loan amount                                                               $5000 – $15,000

 

APR                                                                            16%-18%

 

Terms                                                                          Custom

 

Repayment schedule                                                  Monthly (Custom)

 

Interest                                                                        8.25%

 

Availability                                                                   Mid-West States

 

Auto Loans

If you need to purchase any vehicle fast, for whatever reason, the BMO Harris Bank Auto Loans as it implies is to support the purchase of the vehicle either in part or full. This loan is available for different budgets at different terms and rates. The average APR for this loan is 7.91% while the repayment period is usually 60 months. Go for this product even if you intend to purchase motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, or trucks. Determine the loan amount through the model of the vehicle, the mileage, and the VIN.

Loan amount                                                               Custom

 

APR                                                                            7.91%

 

Terms                                                                          12-72 months

 

Repayment schedule                                                  Monthly

 

Availability                                                                   Mid-West States

 

Home Equity Loans

If you have home equity and you don’t want a line of credit; explore the option of a Home Equity Loan by BMO Harris Bank. Borrow the one-time loan with a fixed term which can be as much as $150,000 and up to 20 years repayment period. The average APR for this product is 8.64%.

Loan amount                                                               $25,000 – $150,000

 

APR                                                                            8.64% and above

 

Terms                                                                          up to 20 years

 

Repayment schedule                                                  Average of $219.18 Monthly

 

Availability                                                                   Mid-West States

 

Savings Secured Loans

If you have a Certificate of Deposits (CDs) or savings account with BMO Harris Bank, you can take the option of securing a loan with the account while you continue running the account. The value of your savings has a direct impact on how much you can borrow. Use your savings or CDs as collateral for the loan.

Reach out to BMO Harris Bank for the details about the terms and the APR of this product.

Where This Product Stands Out

Long and Favorable terms

BMO Harris Bank’s personal loan allows you to customize the terms based on the amount and your circumstances such that your repayment period will be long enough to relieve you of pressure.

Availability of Low Loan Amount

The available minimum amount of a $1500 loan amount is a gesture worthy of applause. You don’t have to borrow $10,000 when the actual amount you need is $2000 which is capable of plunging you into debt.

Customized Loan Terms

BMO Harris Bank does not run fixed terms in the real sense of it in their loans; take advantage of adjustable terms of the BMO Harris personal loans by the type of loans and the amount you subscribe to.

Where This Product Falls Short

Bank Available Only in Mid-Western States

You have to be a resident of Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Minnesota before you can apply for a personal loan.

Small Loan Amount

Unlike other lenders, you cannot apply for a loan that is beyond $35,000 for an unsecured loan and $150,000 for a secured loan. If you need an appreciable amount of money for a major project BMO Harris Bank is the right choice for you.

How to Qualify for This Product

Even though, BMO Harris on its website, only states that you need personal identification and address as requirements to qualify for a personal loan, have a very strong credit history to stand a chance at all. Build your credit score of about 620 and above for approval and favorable terms.

How to Apply for This Product

To apply for BMO Harris personal loan, prepare the following documents/information:

  • Bank Statements of Account.
  • Profit and Loss Statements.
  • Balance Sheets
  • Statement of Owners Equity
  • Recent personal and business tax returns.
  • Address, social security number, SSN, etc.
  • Business Plan

Alternative to This Product

SOFI

SOFI is a good alternative for you if you want a bank that gives you the chance of online application.

Wells Fargo

 Wells Fargo is a strong consideration if the limitation of BMO Harris Bank’s area of service is a thing of concern to you.

Customer Reviews

Better Business Bureau (BBBs) rating for BMO Harris Bank is 1.07 out of 5 stars from the average of 120 customer reviews. In three years, about 436 clients made complaints.

Regions score the average rating of 1.5 out of 5 on Trust Pilot, according to 34 customer reviews.

Methodology

In reviewing BMO Harris Bank personal loans based on 20 data points in the categories of loan details, we used loan costs, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience, and the application process. We rated BMO Harris Bank personal loans based on the weighting assigned to each category:

  • Loan cost: 35%
  • Loan details: 25%
  • Customer experience: 20%
  • Eligibility and accessibility: 10%
  • Application process: 10%

Within each major category, we also considered several characteristics, including available loan amounts, repayment terms, and applicable fees. We also looked at minimum credit scores and time in business requirements and the geographic availability of the lender.

Finally, we evaluated BMO Harris Bank personal loans customer support tools, borrower perks, and features that simplify the borrowing process—like online applications, prequalification options, and mobile apps.

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