How to Take Out a Personal Loan Even if You Have Bad Credit (2024)

ByRenee

If you’ve been following my journey, you probably know by now that I would never be an advocate for digging yourself deeper into debt. While this is true, I’m still a realist and I understand that life doesn’t always give you the time to get right with your finances before you find yourself neck-deep in a big, fat, financial emergency. These emergencies are a big part of why financial institutions offer small loans; to help get through those hurdles life throws at you. If you are struggling to get ahead and think you might benefit from taking out a loan let me tell you how you can take out a personal loan even with bad credit.

*This post contains affiliate links. Although I may earn a commission, all recommendations are my own.

Small personal loans are loans where you are borrowing significantly less money than larger, more common loans like a mortgage or student loans. These small personal loans often fall between the more minimal price range of $500 – $5,000.

See options from PersonalLoans.com

Because of the smaller loan amount, you will usually see a shorter loan term as well. That means instead of spendingyearsmaking payments, you may have only 2.

Personal loans are generally given when people are going through tough times in order to help them stay afloat and are used for emergencies when people don’t have enough savings to cover their expenses. This is what they are most often used for, but there are also a few other benefits a small personal loan can offer you.

Learning your credit score and getting help with improving it can help you tremendously. Although with personal loans, it is not necessary to have an outstanding credit score to get a personal loan, it is helpful.

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Having a bad credit score might not stop you from taking out a loan, but it can definitely set you back in a lot of other ways. It is almost always beneficial to get additional help from professionals to improve your credit score.

Get $50 off credit repair services.

In order to qualify for a small loan, there are a few things you’re going to need before you get started with the application process.

  • Appropriate Identification
  • Steady Income
  • Bank Account
  • Responsibility

Demonstrating responsibility

When giving out loans, credit companies may be willing to work with you even if you have bad credit as long as you can demonstrate your responsibility.

Major setbacks include:

  • Accounts more than 2 months late
  • A current or recent bankruptcy
  • Patterns of late payments
  • Recent charged-off accounts
  • Debt larger than your current income

It’s safe to say that companies are willing to work with low credit scores, but do not want to work with people who they believe will struggle to make payments.

This is beneficial to both the borrower and the lender. If you are already struggling financially, it would not be a smart move to dig yourself into deeper debt. Instead, your best bet would be to get help with credit repair and get started on a smart debt payoff plan.

How to Take Out a Personal Loan Even if You Have Bad Credit (1)

The application process is relatively quick and painless.

  • Head to PersonalLoans.com
  • Select the amount you would like to borrow
  • Enter your email to get started

From there you will be able to go through the loan application process with some basic information about the loan amount and type as well as some banking information.

If you are approved you can receive your funds in as little as a day.

Even though you may qualify for a lower interest rate, it’s still beneficial to you and your finances if you can work to pay off your personal loan quickly.

My top recommendation for paying off personal loans and all other debt is to use the Dave Ramsey Debt Snowball. Our family used this method and were able to pay off $6,000 of debt in only 6 months.

Basic Debt Snowball guidelines

  • Find an extra $200 per month in your budget
  • Apply that $200 to your smallest debt’s minimum payment until it is paid off
  • Continue making minimum payments on all other debts
  • Once your smallest debt is paid off apply that $200 plus the minimum payment to your next smallest debt.
  • Continue this process until all of your debt has been paid.

As I said, this method worked wonders for our family and is laid out in Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps.

If you are needing funds fast and don’t believe you’ll qualify for a loan, my best recommendation is to find ways to earn that cash and fast. I am a strong believer in the major results of a little side hustling.

Here are my best recommendations for good paying side jobs:

No matter what the case, or what your circ*mstances, your financial destiny is in your hands! Don’t let bad credit discourage you and don’t let a few mistakes set you back forever.

How to Take Out a Personal Loan Even if You Have Bad Credit (2)

How to Take Out a Personal Loan Even if You Have Bad Credit (2024)

FAQs

How to Take Out a Personal Loan Even if You Have Bad Credit? ›

Add a Co-Signer

How can I get a personal loan if my credit is bad? ›

If you're still struggling to secure a loan, consider enlisting the help of someone with a better credit score as a co-signer. A co-signer is responsible for the loan if you cannot make payments. Alternatively, you could offer collateral, such as a car or property, to get a secured personal loan.

Can I get a personal loan if I have a bad credit score? ›

There are personal loans specifically designed for people with poor credit histories. Lenders offering these types of loans tend to charge higher rates of interest because they're taking on a bigger risk with the people they're lending to.

Can I get a personal loan with a 500 credit score? ›

Lenders may accept borrowers with a 500 credit score but expect you to meet additional criteria, such as a minimum income or employment history. Look into fees and interest rates. Ask about fees and interest rates you might pay if you get a loan.

Will my bank approve me for a personal loan with bad credit? ›

While it is possible to get approved for a personal loan if you have poor credit, the final decision, for the most part, rests with the lender you apply to. Some lenders will tell you upfront what their minimum requirements are.

Can I get a $5000 personal loan with bad credit? ›

Yes, you can get a $5,000 loan with bad credit if you have enough income to afford the monthly payments, but the loan is likely to have a high interest rate. Several lenders offer $5,000 personal loans for people with credit scores under 640, and a few may not even require a credit check at all.

What credit score do I need for a $5000 loan? ›

Requirements for a $5,000 loan vary by lender. But in general, you should have at least Fair credit, which is a score of 580 or above. Lenders may also look at other factors, such as your income and your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), during the application process.

What is a hardship loan? ›

Hardship personal loans are a type of personal loan that is designed to help you overcome financial difficulties. This type of loan is generally offered by small banks and credit unions, and has lower interest rates, lower maximum loan amounts, and shorter repayment periods than standard personal loans.

How to borrow $500 quickly? ›

You can get a $500 loan in other ways in addition to some personal loans, such as via a cash advance on your credit card, a payday loan, or a loan app. A small loan like a payday loan can be useful in an emergency, but you will likely face higher interest rates.

What is the lowest credit score for a personal loan? ›

Many give preference to borrowers with good or excellent credit scores (690 and above), but some lenders accept borrowers with bad credit (a score below 630). The typical minimum credit score to qualify for a personal loan is 560 to 660, according to lenders surveyed by NerdWallet.

What type of loan is easiest to get with bad credit? ›

Secured loans

With a secured loan, you'll have to offer your lender an asset as collateral, like a car, a home or even a savings account. Because secured loans require valuable collateral, they're often easier to obtain than unsecured loans and generally offer better rates, since the lender is at less risk.

What is the easiest loan to get right now? ›

Easiest personal loans to get in May 2024
  • Upgrade. : Best for poor credit.
  • Prosper. : Best for peer-to-peer lending.
  • LendingPoint. : Best for long repayment terms.
  • Upstart. : Best for thin credit.
  • Avant. : Best for fair credit.
  • Oportun. : Best for small loans.
  • LendingClub. : Best for co-borrowers.
  • SoFi. : Best for discounts.

Who is the easiest to get a personal loan from? ›

Easiest-to-get personal loans compared 2024
TitleAPRMin. credit score
Avant9.95% to 35.99%580
LendingClub9.57% to 35.99%600
OneMain18% to 35.99%Undisclosed
LendingPoint7.99% to 35.99%600
6 more rows
Mar 28, 2024

Which loan company is best for bad credit? ›

Compare the Best Bad Credit Loans for May 2024
Best ForAPR Range
UpstartBest for Low Minimum Credit Requirement7.80% - 35.99%
AchieveBest for Debt Consolidation8.99% - 35.99%
LendingPointBest for Repayment Terms7.99% - 35.99%
Patelco Credit UnionBest With a Co-Signer9.30% - 17.90%
3 more rows

What credit score do you need to get a $30,000 loan? ›

FAQ: $30,000 Personal Loans

Generally, a score of 670 or higher is recommended to access better interest rates and terms. However, some lenders may accept lower scores but will compensate for the increased risk with higher interest rates and less favorable terms.

Why is it so hard to get a personal loan? ›

Key takeaways. Lenders tend to tighten credit requirements during tough economic times, making it harder to get approved for credit products, including loans. Credit score, income and debt-to-income ratio are the main factors lenders consider when reviewing applications.

What is the lowest credit score to get a personal loan? ›

Many give preference to borrowers with good or excellent credit scores (690 and above), but some lenders accept borrowers with bad credit (a score below 630). The typical minimum credit score to qualify for a personal loan is 560 to 660, according to lenders surveyed by NerdWallet.

What is the easiest loan to get approved for? ›

Some of the easiest loans to get approved for if you have bad credit include payday loans, no-credit-check loans, and pawnshop loans. Personal loans with essentially no approval requirements typically charge the highest interest rates and loan fees.

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