Credit checks explained
All lenders do some kind of credit check, but some do credit checks that other lenders and businesses will see when they look at your credit report (which is bad for you because too many credit inquiries will hurt your credit score). A credit check that shows up on your credit report is called a hard credit check. In the first table we only list loans that don’t do hard credit checks (aka soft credit checks), and we focus on lenders that have a history of accepting borrowers with low credit scores.
Even with lenders that offer soft credit checks, you need to provide a few things. The minimum requirements for both payday loans and small installment loans are:
- You have an income of at least $1,000 a month
- You can provide proof of employment
- And you are at least 18 years old
Also, here are a few questions to ask yourself before taking out a loan:
- Can I afford the monthly payments?
- Does the length of the loan term interrupt any of my other financial goals or obligations?
- Is my employment situation stable enough to expect the same income over the loan repayment period?
- Do I have an emergency fund to cover any other expenses that may crop up?
Your answers to these questions give you an idea of how much of a risk the loan could be for you. Whether you have bad credit or good credit now, falling into a debt trap is a mistake you want to avoid. Make sure you have a strong repayment plan so you don’t end up wracking up late fees and hurting your credit even more.
Payday and Installment loans – 2020
$300
Up to $5,000
Individual rates
49
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as same day
- Decision time: 1.5 min
- Service?
$500
Up to $10,000
Individual rates
49
- Durations starting at 3 months.
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Decision time: 1.5 min
- Service?
$100
Up to $35,000
From 6.90%?
49
- Personal Loan
- Min credit score: 550
- Loan term: 2 months - 7 years
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Service?
$400
$500
Up to $5,000
$60 - $120
$75 - $150
Up to $1500
43
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as same day
- Decision time: 1.5 min
- Service?
$100
Up to $40,000
From 5.99%?
46
- Personal Loan
- Min credit score: 580
- Loan term: 2 months - 5 years
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Service?
$1,000
Up to $5,000
From 99%
19
- Personal Loan
- Loan term: 9 months - 3 years
- Bad Credit allowed
- Low approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Direct Lender
$500
Up to $35,000
From 5.99%?
50
- Personal Loan
- Min credit score: 580
- Loan term: 3 months - 6 years
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Service?
$100 - $1,000
$15 - $300?
45
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as same day
- Decision time: 1.5 min
- Service?
$100
Up to $5,000
Individual rates
37
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Decision time: 1.5 min
- Service?
$1,000
Up to $5,000
From 7%?
45
- Personal Loan
- Min credit score: 580
- Loan term: 14 days - 1 year
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Service?
$100
Up to $1,000
Individual rates
25
- First loan: Max $750
- Bad Credit allowed
- Medium approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Decision time: 1.5 min
- Direct Lender
$1,000
Up to $40,000
From 4.84%?
50
- Personal Loan
- Min credit score: 580
- Loan term: 2 months - 7 years
- Bad Credit allowed
- Medium approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Service?
$100
$300
$500
Up to $1,000
$15 - $30
$45 - $90
$75 - $150
Up to $300
45
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as same day
- Decision time: 1.5 min
- Service?
$100
Up to $5,000
Individual rates
37
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Decision time: 1.5 min
- Service?
$200
Up to $5,000
Individual rates
46
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as same day
- Decision time: 1.5 min
- Service?
Best Personal Loans online – 2020
You can apply for a small personal loan through a bank or credit union, which typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Loan application approval depends on your credit history, income and other factors and interest usually hovers between 10% and 12%. The plus side is that it only takes a few days to find out whether you’re approved or not. Some online lenders can even provide a decision within minutes. Expect your repayment term to last around two years.
These might do a hard credit check upon application, but mostly they first do a soft credit check then a hard on payout.
$100
$35,000
2 months
7 years
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Service?
$100
$40,000
2 months
5 years
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Service?
$500
$35,000
3 months
6 years
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Service?
$1,000
$5,000
9 months
3 years
- Bad Credit allowed
- Low approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Direct Lender
$1,000
$5,000
14 days
1 year
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Service?
$100
$5,000
3 months
2 years
- Bad Credit allowed
- High approval rates?
- Deposits as fast as next business day
- Time for decision: 1.5 min
- Service?
Loans Introduction & Alternatives
You may not need a fortune, but sometimes you do need an extra bit of cash to fund an emergency or expenses that are beyond your normal budget. There are several types of loans to help you during these times; there are even small loans for poor credit.
- Installment Loans
- Payday Loans
- Peer to Peer Loans
Learn more about your different loan options and how to qualify for each one.
Installment Loans / Personal loans
An installment loan is actually a type of personal loan and comes with a couple of different benefits. First, your payments are typically spaced out over a set period of time with a fixed interest rate, so you always know exactly what your monthly bill will add up to.
Another perk is that in most cases, installment lenders report your payment history to the major credit bureaus. Just check to see if your lender of choice reports to all of three bureaus, or just one or two. When you stay on top of your payments each month, those are recorded onto your credit report as positive entries. That can provide your credit score with a major boost so that you can eventually qualify for better rates and terms on loans and credit cards.
Payday Loans
Payday loans are a realistic option for borrowers with poor or little credit. In fact, most lenders don’t even run a credit check and instead are more concerned with your monthly income. Loan amount maximums depend on what state you live in, but are usually set between $500 and $1,000.
You can often get approved on the spot, either in a store or online. Rather than charging a fixed interest rate, payday loans charge a fixed fee when you receive your money. Additionally, the repayment period only lasts about two weeks and borrowers must provide either a check for the full amount or access to their bank account for the lender to access on the due date.
Each lender has different requirements. While you may not be guaranteed a payday loan at each and every one of them, you’re quite likely to find a lender that’s willing to work with your specific financial needs.
Peer to Peer Loans
Relatively new to the lending market, peer to peer loans are facilitated online and funded by individual investors. Borrowers are graded by risk level based on their credit and investors then select which loans they want to fund. Interest rates are based on your grade, so while you may have a higher rate if your credit score is low, investors may see your application as a good project to fund because their returns will be higher.
Choosing the Right Loan for You
When you first start shopping for a loan of any kind, first try to get an idea of your current credit score. Once you have that, you can search lenders by their credit and income requirements. In most cases, you can get a pre-qualification loan quote. That gives you an idea of how much you’ll be allowed to borrow, what kind of interest rate you can expect, and how long your loan term would last.
Compare
All of this information combined can tell you what your monthly loan payments would amount to with the particular loan offer. At this point, you’re never required to commit to the loan. Compare different loan offers before you sign a loan agreement. Also take a look at your current finances.
When used responsibly, any kind of loan, whether it’s a personal loan, installment loan, payday loan, or peer to peer loan, can be an effective tool in achieving your financial goals.
Writer
Jason is your regular guy – but with a flair for words. With over 10 years of experience in writing topics which he loves, personal finance, this University of Florida graduate grabs attention with his well-outlined content piece and keeps readers reloading the page for more. When he's not writing, Jason can be seen running as he describes himself as a ‘running addict.' Read more »
Writer
Jason is your regular guy – but with a flair for words. With over 10 years of experience in writing topics which he loves, personal finance, this University of Florida graduate grabs attention with his well-outlined content piece and keeps readers reloading the page for more. When he's not writing, Jason can be seen running as he describes himself as a ‘running addict.' About us »
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