Passbook Loan: Meaning, How It Works, Pros and Cons (2024)

What Is a Passbook Loan?

A passbook loan is a personal loan made to a savings account holder by the custodial bank, which uses the savings account balance as collateral. These loans may also be called a savings pledged loan, and another version is called a certified pledge loan.

Key Takeaways

  • Passbook loans allow you to use your savings account as collateralfor a loan.
  • Most banks and credit unions let you borrow up to 100% of the amount in your account.
  • Passbook loans may charge lower interest rates than a credit card or personal loan without collateral.
  • If you take out a passbook loan, you will be essentially paying interest on your own funds.
  • A passbook loan may improve your credit score if your bank or credit unionreports your paymentsto the credit agencies.

How a Passbook Loan Works

With a passbook loan, the savings account holder continues to earn interest in the savings account, including the amount borrowed. As the loan is repaid, the account holder gains access to those funds.

Terms and conditions vary considerably, with some lenders willing to lend up to the account's balance, although others only lend a percentage. For example, a passbook loan with Community Savings Bank will allow customers to borrow up to 90% of their available balance.

Passbook loans are considered low-risk transactions for the lender due to the accessibility of the collateral. The borrower must hand over the passbook to the bank until the loan is repaid. The bank can also place a hold on the savings account funds up to the loan amount.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Passbook Loan

Basically, a passbook loan is a loan you take out against yourself. You are borrowing from your bank or credit union using your savings account balance as collateral.

A passport loan can help you if you need to establish a good track record of paying back your debts, which can help you improve your credit history.

A passbook loan uses the balance of a savings account as collateral, which makes it lower risk for a lender.

Another reason to use a passbook loan versus a personal loan is that you'll be offered a lower interest rate on a passbook loan by your bank or credit union. What is the interest rate on a passbook loan? It depends on the institution issuing the loan. For example, BankFive in Massachusetts and Rhode Island has an interest rate for its "collateral loan" product of either 3% or 3.5%.

A passbook loan keeps your money (and the loan funds) in one place, which may be reassuring to a nervous borrower or saver. Plus, your savings account will still earn dividends.

The downsides of a passbook loan are that If the bank doesn't report your loan history to the credit agencies, it won't be added to your credit history. If you default on the loan, you lose your savings, which are the collateral to the loan. That, in turn, could leave you without funds for an emergency or deplete your savings, which you might have been planning to use for major expense like a down payment, new car, or a holiday.

Also, you will be essentially paying interest on your own money, and missing a payment will often result in late fees. Some banks or credit unions may require a $5 or more balance in your savings account in addition to the money you use for collateral.

Who Is Eligible for a Passbook Loan?

To geta passbook loan, you needafunded savings account or certificate of deposit (CD) account. This accountisusually with the institution you intend on borrowing from. Thepassbook loanamountisbased on the balance in your savings account.

Is a Passbook Loan the Same as a Savings Pledged Loan?

A passbook loan is sometimes called asavings pledged loan, so they are the same. Both a passbook loan and a savings pledged loan use your savings as collateral for a loan.

Should I Get a Passbook Loan?

If you don’t have established credit or you have alow credit score, a passbook loan could have some benefits. Every time you make an on-time payment for the loan, it may be reported to the credit bureaus. Over the life of the loan, consistent, timely payments could help your credit score. A passbook loan might also be an option to consider if you aren’t eligible for other types of financing, or if the only other loans you qualify for have high interest rates. A passbook loan may offer a lower interest rate because your savings account balance is the collateral.

The Bottom Line

Passbook loans allow you to use your savings account as collateralfor a loan. Most banks and credit unions let you borrow up to 100% of the amount in your account.These loans may offer lower interest rates than a credit card or personal loan secured without collateral.

Remember, if you take out a passbook loan, you will be essentially paying interest on your own funds.But a passbook loan may help your credit score if your lenderreports your paymentsto the credit agencies.

Passbook Loan: Meaning, How It Works, Pros and Cons (2024)

FAQs

Passbook Loan: Meaning, How It Works, Pros and Cons? ›

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Passbook Loan

Is a passbook loan a good idea? ›

While passbook loans are handy for building credit and can help you avoid dipping into your savings, they're a relatively rare lending option and — like every secured (or bad credit) loan — come with risks. For one, you risk losing your earned savings should you not be able to repay the full balance.

What are the advantages of passbook? ›

Advantages: A physical notebook makes it easy to see all your transactions and balance at a glance. Passbook savings accounts can help children learn about banking. Fees and interest rates are often favourable.

How does a passbook work? ›

A bank passbook is a traditional method of keeping track of the transactions made in a user account. It depicts all transactions, whether they are credited or debited. It also shows where a person spent money and who credited it into his bank account. In a bank passbook, everything is precisely printed.

What are the pros and cons of obtaining a loan from a bank? ›

Pros and cons of bank loans

Interest rates on bank loans are usually lower than that in other financing methods (e.g. inventory and invoice financing). Bank loan applications require collection and submission of lots of paperwork. The process could be taxing and time-consuming.

What are the risks of passbook savings? ›

Cons
  • Passbook savings rates are generally lower than high-yield savings account rates.
  • Few banks and credit unions offer these accounts.
  • Customers can lose passbooks and will need to request new ones.
  • You can't withdraw cash from ATMs or make deposits online.
Feb 2, 2024

What type of loan is the safest? ›

Because secured loans are considered less risky, interest rates are often lower than they would be without collateral. In the case of secured credit cards and loans, making a cash deposit upfront might allow you the opportunity to build credit when unsecured credit is not an option.

Why do people use passbook? ›

A passbook, sometimes known as a bankbook, is a paper book used to keep track of bank or building society deposit account transactions. Answer. Safer transactions, easier to focus on saving, and a low entry barrier.

Can I withdraw money with passbook? ›

Visit the Bank Branch: Go to your bank's nearest branch. Make sure to carry your debit card or passbook if applicable, as it may be required for the withdrawal process. Fill Out a Withdrawal Slip (if needed): Some banks may require you to fill out a withdrawal slip.

Is it safe to use passbook? ›

Passbook savings accounts provide a simplified, secure and traditional banking option for adults as well as children.

Do any banks still use passbooks? ›

Over recent years most banks and building societies have phased out passbooks and pushed customers into using digital technology such as online banking instead. But many still like the reassurance passbooks offer – a physical record of their balances and the human touch of going into a branch to have it updated.

Why do banks need a passbook? ›

It is a conclusive evidence of banking transactions. Customer depends on the Pass Book entries to know his account balance and act for further transactions. Customer should bring the Pass Book to the bank at time of each transaction. Banker will update the Pass Book, by entering the transaction taken place.

What are the requirements for passbook? ›

Prepare any of the following:
  • Passport (with English characters)
  • Driver's License issued by LTO.
  • Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) ID.
  • Unified Multi-purpose ID (UMID)
  • Social Security System (SSS) ID.
  • Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) ID.
  • School ID (for minors)
  • NBI Clearance.

What is bad loan for a bank? ›

Bad Loans Meaning

Loans from a bank that have not paid interest for more than 90 days are known as Bad Loans or Non – Performing Assets (NPAs).

Does a bank loan hurt your credit? ›

A personal loan can affect your credit score in a number of ways⁠—both good and bad. Taking out a personal loan isn't bad for your credit score in and of itself. However, it may affect your overall score for the short term and make it more difficult for you to obtain additional credit before that new loan is paid back.

What are the disadvantages of a loan? ›

The primary disadvantages of bank loans include strict credit requirements, lengthy application processes, possibility of high-interest rates, asset collateral requirements, and penalties for early repayment of the loan.

Is it a good idea to get a bank statement loan? ›

A bank statement mortgage loan might be right for you if your tax returns don't adequately reflect your income. Fact is, many self-employed workers are eligible for other, more traditional types of mortgages, even with inconsistent income.

What is the best loan to build credit? ›

Compare the Best Credit Builder Loans
LoanAPR RangeLoan Terms
Credit Strong Best for Long Repayment Terms6.99%–15.61%2–5 years
Digital Federal Credit Union Best Credit Union5.0%1–2 years
MoneyLion Best for Small Loan Amounts5.99%–29.99%1 year
Self Best for Large Loan Amounts14.14%–15.58%2 years
1 more row

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terence Hammes MD

Last Updated:

Views: 6199

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terence Hammes MD

Birthday: 1992-04-11

Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

Phone: +50312511349175

Job: Product Consulting Liaison

Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.