If you need to borrow money immediately, the most popular options are personal loans, cash advances online, payday loans, pawn shop loans, and banks or credit unions. But be careful with cash loan options that promise you a quick loan with no credit check. Some lenders are only hoping to take advantage of bad credit borrowers in need.
Any time you’re in a situation where you need money immediately, it’s usually pretty stressful. And while there are plenty of options for getting the loan funding that you need, it’s wise to do plenty of research beforehand. The most affordable and favorable loans are typically reserved for borrowers with excellent credit. But don’t fret, having a low credit score and an empty bank account doesn’t mean there aren’t still online lenders that can help you.
Below are some of the best options for getting the money you need, even with a low credit score.
Fast Cash Options
A Personal Installment Loan
This is an unsecured installment loan, that offers borrowers with poor credit larger amounts of money and longer repayment periods than payday lenders. They also tend to carry lower rates as well. If you need cash for unexpected expenses, consolidating other loan payments, or paying bills, a personal installment loan is usually a safer option than a payday loan.
Credit Card Cash Advances
This is an option for any borrowers who already have a credit card. It is essentially a way of using your credit card to withdraw cash or transfer cash into your checking account. You won’t need an online lender or a good credit score to use this option. You simply need a credit card. But be careful, as there’s no grace period for this option which means that interest accrues immediately. And the interest rate for this option may be higher than normal credit card purchases.
A Credit Union Loan
These are like banks, except they tend to have lower fees and interest rates. That’s because they are non profit organizations that are more focused on providing good products and rates for their customers. That being said, you might still need a decent credit history to be approved for a loan.
These are some of the best options for getting quick cash loans online when you need it. Opt for financial protection and choose a safer and more affordable personal loan.
How Do Fast Cash Loans Work?
Borrowing money quickly can feel like a daunting task. Especially when there are so many options out there. How are you supposed to know which loan or lender is right for you? Well it will all come down to the type of loan you need, and which ones you’re eligible for. And to know which ones you can get, you’ll need to know how some of the most popular options work.
Read on to learn more about some of the most common types of personal loans, how they work, and what to expect if you’re applying for one.
Personal Loans
A personal loan, also called an installment loan, is an unsecured loan that borrowers use for unexpected expenses and then pay off over the course of several months. These can come in many different shapes and sizes but the common theme is that you’ll repay it in monthly installments over time, as opposed to one lump-sum repayment like with a payday loan.
Personal installment loans are often available to borrowers even if they don’t have perfect credit scores. This is one reason many low-credit borrowers opt for a personal loan over a bank or credit union loan. Many banks will only offer loans to borrowers with good or excellent credit. But if you’re in a bind and don’t have great credit, you can likely still be approved for many personal loans.
The way they work is fairly simple. You’ll first want to find a lender that is trustworthy. You can find lenders online, or at storefront locations. Make sure you read their online reviews, talk to them and ask questions, and find out all of the details of their loans before applying. This can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
If you’re confident in your choice of lender, then it’s time to apply for a loan.
The Personal Loan Application Process
Applying for personal loans can be fast and easy. But that will depend on the loan and lender in question. If you’ve found an online lender that offers an online application, it will make the process much easier. The first step is to find out whether the lender offers online applications. If you’re not sure, then give them a call or send an email.
If your lender does offer an online application, you will fill that out and provide the necessary information. They will likely need a lot of personal and financial information. You’ll need to provide identification, banking information, income information, and more. And if your lender doesn’t offer an online application, then you’ll probably need to submit these materials in person, which can be a hassle.
Once you’ve completed the application, the lender will review your information and determine whether or not to offer you a loan. If they are going to offer you a loan, this is when they’ll let you know how much it will be, and what the repayment terms will be. It’s important to note that you don’t have to accept the loan at this point if the terms and conditions are unfavorable. Just make sure you read the entire loan agreement and know all of the details before you accept and sign for the loan.
Once you sign for the loan, the lender will provide the agreed upon amount of money, and you’re free to use it for whatever you need. Your repayment will begin on the date listed in your loan agreement. Once you repay the full loan amount (principal) as well as the interest and fees, the contract is fulfilled and the transaction is complete.
Payday Loans
Payday loans, as mentioned above, are a short-term, high-cost option for people who need to borrow money to make it to their next payday. Many of the borrowers who use them have less-than-perfect credit scores, and can’t find loan approval through traditional lenders. But the reason that these loans can be risky is their high APRs and short repayment periods.
Typically, a payday loan needs to be repaid within only two weeks, or by the borrower’s next payday. Some states allow borrowers to extend the payday repayment period beyond two weeks. Make sure to check the laws and regulations in your state. But even if a borrower has a little over two weeks to repay the loan, it can still be difficult. This is due to the high fees and interest rates.
Some payday lenders charge borrowers as much as 400% APR for a single loan. This can make it difficult for borrowers to repay the full loan amount plus interest in such a short amount of time. If you need fast cash but want to avoid these types of interest rates, it may be wise to explore other options.
The Payday Loan Application Process
The application process for payday loans can be very similar to that of personal loans. Some lenders may allow you to apply online, while others might require paper applications. Make sure you find out from your lender which one they require.
The application and funding process won’t have too many differences from many other types of loans. You’ll fill out your personal and financial information, the lender will review everything, then decide whether to offer you a loan. If they do, they might allow you to receive your funds through direct deposit. Although, some lenders still offer cash or a check.
Secured Loans
A secured loan is another popular way to borrow money quickly. They come in many different forms, but the one thing they all have in common is that they require collateral. This means that in order to borrow money, you’ll need to offer the lender an asset or item of value. What that item is will depend on the type of loan you’re applying for.
Some common secured loans include auto loans, mortgages, title loans, and pawn shop loans. Each of these loans requires the borrower to secure the loan with collateral. With an auto loan, the loan is secured with the car itself. With a mortgage, the loan is secured by the home. This means that if you don’t repay your loan, eventually, the lender will take your collateral to recover their loss.
Common fast-cash secured loans include title loans and pawn shop loans. With a title loan, the lender offers you a fraction of the value of your vehicle in exchange for the title of the vehicle. Once you repay the loan in full, you get your title back. If you fail to repay on time, the lender might repossess your vehicle and sell it. Pawn shop loans are similar to this, but the lender will often accept any item of value in exchange for a cash loan.
If you’re in a bind, there’s no denying that a title loan or Pawn shop loan can yield quick cash. But is the risk of losing your vehicle or a cherished heirloom worth the cash you’re getting? That will ultimately be up to you. The important thing to remember is that you should only opt for one of these options if you’re 100% sure you can repay it on time.
Loans From Banks & Credit Unions
These loans might not be the fastest options out there, but if you have a decent credit score they can offer good interest rates. In fact, many borrowers with good credit scores who need to borrow money long term opt for bank or credit union loans. But if your credit score is low you might have trouble getting approved for this option.
The process for applying for these will be similar to the other types listed above. However, applying for these loans could potentially be more involved than a payday or pawn shop loan. This is because many lenders will want to make sure they can trust borrowers to repay the loan. This means they may need more information than some short-term lenders.
If you have a credit score that’s decent or good, then these may be options you’ll want to consider for a personal loan. Just make sure you collect all of your financial information ahead of time to save yourself some time.
Sometimes credit unions will be willing to work with borrowers even if they have less-than-perfect credit. To find out, you’ll need to give them a call to ask questions. You’ll likely need to be a member of the credit union first.
Cash Advances
Cash advance is a term that can be used for several different financial products. You may hear payday loans referred to as cash advances. More commonly, the term is used to describe credit card cash advances. This is when you use a normal credit card to withdraw actual cash.
This can often be done at an ATM, or online by transferring money from the credit account into your checking account. The only thing you need to keep in mind with a credit card cash advance is that the interest rate may be higher than normal credit card purchases. And the interest will begin to accrue right away, whereas most credit card purchases have a grace period.
Credit card cash advances can be a good option if you need a small amount of cash and you can pay it back almost right away. But if you can’t afford the interest then you may want to consider another option.
The Bottom Line on Fast Cash Borrowing
If you need to borrow money, there are several options available online and in person. But having a decent credit score definitely makes it easier to get approved and get good interest rates. If your score is a little low, work on creating better financial habits to improve it. It may take some time to start to see your score rise, but it’s worth it in the long run.
The most important thing to remember when shopping for any loan or financial product, is to do plenty of thorough research. Call lenders and ask questions, read plenty of reviews from past customers, and read all of the terms and conditions thoroughly. If you do your homework, you’re sure to find the loan and lender that’s right for you.
Popular Questions