Calculator 1 — Funding Gap
Example values are prefilled. Edit them to match your situation. This is a budgeting tool, not a loan quote.
Planning only. Actual approval, amount, APR, fees, payment schedule and funding timing come from the real application and agreement.
Calculator 2 — Principal-Only Planning Split
Example values are prefilled. This divides principal only. It is not a payment quote.
This excludes interest, fees, actual payment frequency and other loan terms.
Why We Do Not Show an “Estimated Monthly Payment”
A real payment requires real terms. The website does not have a verified rate/fee/term engine for an individual Columbus Finance offer.
Displaying a “monthly payment” from principal alone would be misleading.
The correct sequence is:
- calculate the funding gap;
- choose the relevant amount page;
- complete the current application;
- review the real disclosure/payment schedule.
Result Routing
If your funding gap is near:
If it falls between them, keep the actual number.
Calculator vs. Application Review
The calculator sees only the numbers you enter.
Columbus Finance applications requested broader financial information such as employment, income, debts, assets, residence history, and requested amount/purpose, and documented authorization to verify credit and employment history.
That is why this tool cannot predict:
- approval;
- approved amount;
- APR;
- fees;
- payment;
- term;
- funding timing.
Calculator vs. Amount Hub
Use this page when you need to calculate.
Use Loan Amounts when you already have a number and want to choose the right amount-specific decision page.
Calculator vs. Payment Quote
A planning calculator is not a quote. Before accepting any offer, obtain:
- amount financed;
- APR;
- finance charge;
- payment schedule;
- total of payments;
- fees;
- any security/collateral terms.
Next Step
Once you know the amount:
- choose the amount path;
- find a Columbus Finance location;
- ask which current application method to use;
- review the actual agreement.
Ready to move from planning to a real application?
Worked Example — Funding Gap
Suppose an urgent repair is $1,850 and you already have $600 available.
$1,850 − $600 = $1,250 funding gap
The result does not need to be rounded to one of the site pages. You might review the $1,000 and $1,500 planning pages, but the amount to discuss remains $1,250 unless your needs change.
Worked Example — Principal-Only Split
Suppose you are planning $1,500 across 10 planning periods.
$1,500 ÷ 10 = $150 principal-only per period
That does not mean the loan payment would be $150. Interest, fees, term structure, and actual payment frequency are missing.
Input Quality Matters
The calculator is only as useful as the numbers entered.
Use:
- current bill or quote rather than an old estimate;
- funds that are actually available;
- immediate costs rather than future wish-list costs;
- the latest known expense total.
If the bill changes, recalculate before applying.
When Not to Use This Calculator
Do not use it to estimate:
- APR;
- total finance charge;
- monthly payment;
- approval probability;
- credit-score impact;
- funding time.
Those require information the calculator does not have.
Privacy Note
A simple funding-gap calculator does not need Social Security number, bank login, date of birth, or other sensitive personal data. Those details belong only in the secure application process when required by the lender.