• When borrowing from a bank, negotiate a lower interest rate by allowing the bank to deduct monthly payments from your checking or savings account.
  
  
• It is generally wise to decline Credit Life and Disability Insurance in connection with your borrowing.
  
  
• Obtain Automatic Overdraft Protection on your checking accounts to avoid charges for insufficient funds.
  
  
• Consider borrowing the equity built up in your Whole Life and Universal Life Insurance policies.
  
  
• Consider borrowing against your brokerage account and/or mutual funds.  However, if the value of your brokerage account or the funds falls below a certain level, you could be forced to pay back part of the loan.
  
  
• If it is necessary to finance your car, keep the term of the loan to two years or less to minimize interest payments and interest rates.
  
  
• If you need a personal loan and you have a CD at a bank for about the same amount as loan you want to take out, ask your banker to tie the loan interest rate to the rate on your CD.  Most banks will charge you just 1% above the rate you're earning on your CD.