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Bad Credit Loans
A low score is not the whole story. We decide on income, expenses and banking history, so borrowers turned down elsewhere often qualify here, for $200 to $5,000.
Bad credit loans are not a separate product with its own paperwork. They are the same payday, installment and personal loans we offer everyone, underwritten in a way that does not treat a low score as an automatic no. We look at what you earn, what you already owe and how your checking account behaves, then price accordingly.
| Key loan information | Details |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $200 – $5,000 |
| Term | 14 days to 24 months, depending on the product |
| Representative APR | 59% – 400% |
| Minimum credit score | None |
| Collateral | None required |
| Credit check | Soft inquiry, no FICO® impact |
| Funding | Same or next business day |
| Credit reporting | Installment and personal loan payments reported to the bureaus |
How we decide when your score is low
A credit score summarises the past. It says little about whether you can afford $180 a month starting next Friday. Our underwriting weighs four things, and the score is only one of them.
- Income. How much arrives, how regularly, and from where. Wages, self-employment, Social Security, disability and pensions all count.
- Existing obligations. What is already committed each month before this loan.
- Banking behaviour. A stable account with few returned payments carries real weight.
- Credit history. Considered, but never the sole reason for a decision.
Which product fits a low score
| If you need… | Product | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A few hundred dollars until payday | Payday loan | $200–$1,000 |
| Monthly payments you can plan around | Installment loan | $500–$5,000 |
| A larger amount and you own a car outright | Title loan | $500–$5,000 |
| To see options without a hard inquiry | Soft-pull installment loan | $500–$5,000 |
Using the loan to improve your position
We report installment and personal loan payments to one or more major credit bureaus. A completed installment loan adds a closed-end account with a clean payment record, which is precisely what a thin or damaged file lacks. It is not a quick fix, and a missed payment moves you backwards, so borrow the amount whose payment you are certain about rather than the maximum offered.
Eligibility
- 18 or older and resident in a state where we lend
- At least $1,000 a month in verifiable income after tax
- An active checking account in your name, open at least 30 days, without recent returned payments
- Government-issued ID and a Social Security number or ITIN
- No minimum credit score, and past bankruptcies do not automatically disqualify you
If we cannot approve you
You will receive an adverse action notice explaining the specific reason, and you can reapply after 30 days. The most common reasons are income below our minimum, a checking account that is too new, an existing open loan with us, or living in a state we do not serve. See also loans with no credit history if the issue is a thin file rather than a low score.
Related pages
Unsecured loans for bad credit, how loans affect your credit score, and cheaper alternatives worth checking first.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a loan with a 500 credit score?
There is no minimum score for our loans. A score around 500 usually points to a payday or installment loan rather than a personal loan, and the APR will be higher, but the decision rests on whether your income comfortably covers the payment.
Do you do a hard credit check?
Checking your rate uses a soft inquiry that does not affect your FICO score. A hard inquiry may occur only if you accept a personal loan offer, and we tell you before that happens.
Is guaranteed approval real?
No. No licensed lender can guarantee approval before reviewing your application, and any lender demanding a fee before funding is not legitimate. Treat both claims as warning signs.
Will a bad credit loan improve my score?
It can. We report installment and personal loan payments to one or more major credit bureaus, so a loan repaid on time adds positive history. Missed payments are reported too and will lower your score.
Does a past bankruptcy disqualify me?
Not automatically. A discharged bankruptcy does not rule you out. We look at your income and current obligations to judge whether the payment is affordable now.
Borrow $200 to $5,000 for any purpose
Apply in about five minutes and get a decision in minutes. Checking your rate won't affect your FICO® score.