Is it better to get a joint personal loan?

A joint personal loan can increase your chance of approval and also increase the amount you could borrow. While this may be better for your goals, you should also consider the risks that can come from applying with another person. Assuming both applicants are using the money, you need to be sure you can trust each other with meeting the repayments. Even if one person fails to repay, the other will need to make sure repayments continue to be met. You also need to make sure you can afford to pay back the higher amount you may be approved for.

Will a joint personal loan affect my credit score?

As with any loan, a joint personal loan will affect the credit scores of both applicants. By appearing on both credit reports, if there are any problems in repaying the loan both parties will be affected - even if it is the fault of only one person.

Joint Personal Loans: Improve Your Chance Of Approval

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Interest rate (p.a.)	Comp. Rate (p.a.)	Application Fee	Monthly Fee	Monthly Repayment
NOW Finance No Fee Unsecured Personal Loan Finder AwardFixed18 Months - 7 Years $5,000 - $50,000	Interest Rate (p.a.) 5.95% to 26.95%	Comp. Rate (p.a.) 5.95% to 26.95%	Application Fee $0	Monthly Fee $0	Monthly Repayment $607.99	ENDS SOON! $500 VISA CARD REWARD 1 Join Finder 2 Settle a loan with NOW Finance 3 Get gift card up to $500 from Finder Ends by. T&Cs apply.	Borrow up to $50,000 for any worthwhile purchase and pay no establishment or ongoing fees without providing collateral. You can also benefit from a more competitive interest rate if you have a strong credit score.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
OurMoneyMarket Unsecured Low-Rate Personal Loan ($20,000-$100,000) ExclusiveFixed1 - 7 Years $20,000 - $100,000	Interest Rate (p.a.) 5.95% to 18.99%	Comp. Rate (p.a.) 5.95% to 21.78%	Application Fee $0 min.	Monthly Fee $0	Monthly Repayment $607.99	Finder exclusive: Receive a $100 eGift Card if you have Excellent Credit (as determined by OMM’s credit assessment and scorecard), apply via Finder by 28 Feb 2026, and settle by 15 Mar 2026. For loans between $20,000 and $100,000 only. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Great Southern Bank Unsecured Fixed Rate Personal Loan Fixed1 - 7 Years $5,000 - $75,000	Interest Rate (p.a.) 6.99% to 19.99%	Comp. Rate (p.a.) 6.99% to 19.99%	Application Fee $0	Monthly Fee $0	Monthly Repayment $617.45	The $225 establishment fee waiver is available for new or existing customers who submit a Great Southern Bank personal loan application between 30 April 2025 and 24 February 2026. Great Southern Bank may withdraw or amend this offer at any time without notice. Lending criteria, limits, conditions, and fees apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Latitude Fixed Rate Personal Loan Fixed2 - 7 Years $5,000 -	Interest Rate (p.a.) 8.99% to 29.39%	Comp. Rate (p.a.) 10.11% to 30.29%	Application Fee $0	Monthly Fee $16.50	Monthly Repayment $652.40	$395 establishment fee waived for approved personal loan applications for a limited time. Latitude may withdraw offer at any time. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Jacaranda Finance Secured Personal Loan Fixed25 Months - 3 Years $3,000 - $25,000	Interest Rate (p.a.) 16.95% to 29.95%	Comp. Rate (p.a.) 32.99% to 45.50%	Application Fee $125 - $1,190	Monthly Fee $26	Monthly Repayment $780.95	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Latitude Variable Rate Personal Loan Variable2 - 7 Years $5,000 -	Interest Rate (p.a.) 9.49% to 29.39%	Comp. Rate (p.a.) 10.61% to 30.29%	Application Fee $0	Monthly Fee $16.50	Monthly Repayment $657.07	$395 establishment fee waived for approved personal loan applications for a limited time. Latitude may withdraw offer at any time. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Jacaranda Finance Unsecured Personal Loan Fixed25 Months $3,000 - $10,000	Interest Rate (p.a.) 27.95% to 29.95%	Comp. Rate (p.a.) 44.50% to 46.50%	Application Fee $13.50 - $950	Monthly Fee $26	Monthly Repayment $892	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

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A joint personal loan is where 2 borrowers apply for a loan together and jointly carry the responsibility of repaying the loan.
The benefit of a joint personal loan is that you may have a higher borrowing power because the bank takes both financial circumstances into account.
The risk of a joint personal loan is that if one person can't repay or just decides not to, the other person still needs to pay the entire repayment.

What are joint personal loans?

A joint personal loan means 2 borrowers apply for a loan together. They complete a joint application and both people assume responsibility for repaying the loan.

If one borrower stops making repayments, the other borrower will have to cover the costs. This is the biggest risk of a joint personal loan.

Why take out a joint personal loan?

Borrowing money with a joint personal loan can:

Increase your chances of getting a loan approved.
Let you borrow more than you could by yourself.
Make it easier to cover the repayments.

Borrowers who haven't built up much credit history, or who can't meet a lender's eligibility criteria alone, may find it much easier to apply for a personal loan with a partner, friend or family member.

How do you apply for a joint personal loan?

You and the person you’re applying with will provide personal, employment and financial details as part of the application. The lender will consider the application details as a whole when considering both your eligibilities for the loan.

Personal loans in Australia

The lowest unsecured rate in Finder's database is 5.76% and the average is 10.35%.
The lowest secured rate is 5.67% and the average is 9.59%.
The average Australian is carrying $21,662 in personal loans (including car loans).
Most people take out personal loan terms of 3 years.
4% say they're stressed by their personal loan bill.

Source: Finder's database and consumer sentiment tracker

Pros and cons of joint personal loans

Pros

Increase your chances of approval. If you are on a lower income, self-employed or just want to bolster your application, a joint personal loan can be a way to do it. The details of both applicants will be considered by the lender.
Share an asset. If you're planning to share the asset you're purchasing, such as buying a car with your partner, a joint application could make more sense than one of you applying by yourself.
Get a larger loan. You may be eligible for a larger loan if you apply with a partner. As you both agree to manage the repayments, the lender will consider the income and financial situation of both applicants.
Consolidate large debts. If you and your partner have large debts separately, you could both save by applying for a joint debt consolidation personal loan. Just make sure the new loan's fees and repayments work out cheaper than the original debts.

Cons

Joint responsibility. If your co-borrower refuses to or is unable to meet repayments, you will likely have sole responsibility for paying back the loan.
Risk of over-borrowing. Just because you can borrow more with a joint application doesn't mean you should. Do not borrower more than you can comfortably afford to repay.
Relationship tension. Money can cause problems within any relationship. It's important to ensure that the person you are borrowing with is capable of repaying the loan alongside you, and emotionally responsible enough to share a debt with.
Credit at risk. If you or your loan partner defaults on the repayments it could impact both your credit scores. This makes it harder to get a loan in future.

Who can I apply for a joint loan with?

You can apply jointly for a personal loan with anyone as long as they're willing.

A parent. Getting a joint personal loan with a parent can help younger people to build their credit rating, while making it easier for them to qualify for finance. However, if you would prefer to have your own loan, but with the help of a parent, a guarantor personal loan could also be an option.
Your sibling or relative. If you want to make a large joint purchase, or perhaps go on holiday with a sibling or other relative, you can take out a joint application personal loan with them to help you both cover the cost.
A friend. There's nothing to prevent you from getting a joint personal loan with a friend. However, be aware that finances can cause a strain on relationships, and it can be risky to get a loan with a friend.
Your partner. Getting a loan with your spouse or romantic partner is the most common form of joint personal loan.

Lender	What personal loans can you apply for jointly?	What conditions are there?
ANZ	Fixed rate, variable rate loans and car loans	To be eligible you must apply over the phone or in a branch.
Bank of Melbourne	-	-
BankSA	-	-
CommBank	Variable rate, fixed rate and secured car loans	To be eligible you must apply over the phone or in a branch.
Fair Go Finance	-	-
Gateway Bank	Secured car loan and unsecured variable personal loan	Up to 4 people can apply.
Great Southern Bank	Fixed and variable rate personal loans.	Up to 2 people can apply.
Latitude Financial Services	Secured and unsecured personal loans	Up to 2 people can apply.
IMB	New car loans, unsecured and secured personal loans	You generally need to be applying as married or de facto joint borrowers. Or you can submit an enquiry for other circumstances.
loans.com.au	Car loans	Up to 2 people can apply.
NAB	-	-
Plenti	-	-
RACV	Car loans, personal loans and debt consolidation loans	Up to 2 people can apply.
St.George	-	-
Westpac	-	-

Our expert says: Be sure you trust your co-applicant

"When it comes to taking out a joint personal loan you need to be really certain you trust your joint applicant. Although a joint application can make it easier to get a loan, it can also go the opposite way. You need to be sure they are in a strong financial position to support your application. You also need to be sure they can continue to carry their weight in repaying the loan for the duration of the loan term, which is often several years."

Rebecca Pike

Editor, Money

What do I need to know before applying for a joint personal loan?

Before you start your application, there are a few things to consider:

If you are approved, you will assume equal responsibility for the loan with the person you are applying with. This means if either one of you becomes unable to repay, the other is still responsible for the repayments.
Both applicants will need to meet the criteria for the personal loan.
You may be eligible for a higher loan amount when submitting a joint personal loan application. It's important not to take on more of a loan than you need or can afford, even if you are approved for it.
Joint personal loans are a serious responsibility. Consider the relationship you have with the person you're applying with and their financial situation. Is their job stable? What is their credit history like? Are they likely to default?

Before taking out a joint personal loan, it's a good idea to have a clear agreement about who will pay what. You could divide the repayments equally, or any way you like.

Make a plan before you apply, and budget for the loan costs. This includes monthly fees and the loan repayments.

Frequently asked questions about joint personal loans

A joint personal loan can increase your chance of approval and also increase the amount you could borrow. While this may be better for your goals, you should also consider the risks that can come from applying with another person. Assuming both applicants are using the money, you need to be sure you can trust each other with meeting the repayments. Even if one person fails to repay, the other will need to make sure repayments continue to be met. You also need to make sure you can afford to pay back the higher amount you may be approved for.

Sources

Thank you for your feedback!

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Whitten as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Sarah Megginson

Personal finance expert + media spokesperson

With over 20 years of experience in property, finance and investment journalism, Sarah is a trusted expert whose insights regularly appear across television, radio, and print media, including Sunrise, ABC News, and Yahoo! Finance. She has previously served as managing editor for Your Investment Property and Australian Broker, and her expert advice has been shared in the media over 3,500 times since 2023 alone. Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, which complies with ASIC standards. See full bio

Sarah's expertise

Sarah has written 210 Finder guides across topics including:

Home loans
Personal finance
Budgeting and money-saving tips
Managing the cost of living

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Joint Personal Loans

A joint application personal loan makes it easier to get approved, and could let you borrow even more. You can apply with a parent, sibling, partner or friend.