You could still save over £950 with a typical Resourcer fixed term loan.

Despite some banks and building societies slightly reducing headline rates, Police Credit Union still recommends looking beyond the advertised interest rate for loans and suggests you check out just how much you'll actually pay per month.

Our Resourcer loan rate is 9.0% typical APR and our average loan to members is £4000.

Apply for a £4,000 loan over 4 years with Alliance & Leicester, and you won't pay their typical advertised APR of 7.9% but a much bigger 14.9%*.That will cost you £111.12 per month.

The same loan with Lloyds TSB, one of the major banks, will not be at the advertised typical rate of 7.9% but 18.9%*, costing you £119.39 per month.

With PCU, the rate we advertise is the rate you pay, regardless of size of loan, term of loan or your credit history. There are no early redemption charges either, unlike the providers above. We charge interest on the reducing balance, whereas many organizations charge all interest up front, making the total amount payable much greater than with PCU.

With PCU, you pay £99.54per month, saving you up to £952.80 on the above two comparisons.

It makes sense to look beyond the highlighted APR. It could also save you money.

*Redemption penalty applies. Loan comparisons are based on typical personal loan of £4000 arranged over 48 months, excluding optional payment protection insurance. Competitor APR information source: MoneyFacts as at July 2008.