Maximizing Your Chances of Getting the Best Loan Rates It may take time for a lender to review your loan application and make a decision, especially if you have poor credit. To speed up the process, prepare documents in advance. Gather copies of your personal information, including bank statements, paycheck stubs and debt and income verification. Determine how much money you need to borrow and use a personal loan calculator, such as the one found on Investopedia, to work out repayment costs with different interest rates.