What credit score is good enough 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.
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.
However, in most instances being above 550 is the safe zone. If you're scoring anything below 549, you're considered to have a poor credit score and, in some cases, no credit history at all. While this is a fair score range to be in, for larger loans with lower interest, you will need to improve your credit rating.
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.
To increase your chance of qualifying for a $10,000 unsecured loan, you should have a credit score of 600 or higher. Some lenders start their minimum credit score requirements at 600, however, there are some lenders that require a credit score in the high 600s or low 700s.
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.
A: The amount of money that can be borrowed with a bad credit personal loan with guaranteed approval depends on the lender. Generally, lenders will offer loans up to $5000, but this amount may vary.
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.
APR range | Minimum credit score requirement | |
---|---|---|
Best Egg | 8.99%-35.99% | 600 |
LightStream | 7.49% to 25.49%* with Autopay | 695 |
Upgrade | 8.49%-35.97% | 600 |
SoFi | 8.99%-29.99% | 680 |
You'll have the best chance of getting approved with an excellent credit score, such as one above 800. You may struggle to find a lender that will approve a $50,000 loan for folks with poor or bad credit. A "poor" credit score is considered 580 or under. Most lenders require at least a "fair" score of around 670.
How much would a $5000 personal loan cost a month?
Loan Amount | Loan Term (Years) | Estimated Fixed Monthly Payment* |
---|---|---|
$5,000 | 3 | $154.36 |
$5,000 | 5 | $103.77 |
$10,000 | 3 | $313.32 |
$10,000 | 5 | $207.54 |
A personal loan for $5,000 can be relatively easy to find since they often range from $1,000 to $100,000 or more. Loans in this range, like with all personal loans, can be used for just about anything from covering emergency expenses, consolidating high-interest credit card debt or even funding home improvements.
You can borrow anywhere from a few thousand dollars up to about $50,000 with a 600 credit score. The exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors besides your credit score, such as your income, your employment status, the type of loan you get, and even the lender.
The monthly payment on a $10,000 loan ranges from $137 to $1,005, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $10,000 loan for one year with an APR of 36%, your monthly payment will be $1,005.
Here is an example, if you have a $10,000 personal loan with an interest rate of 6% and a repayment period of 24 months, and plug that into a loan calculator, you would get a monthly payment of $443.
Personal loans generally aren't hard to get and are available from credit unions, banks, and online lenders. There are various types of personal loans to consider, depending on how much money you need to borrow.
Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Minimum credit score |
---|---|---|
LendingPoint | 4.0 | 600 |
Universal Credit | 3.5 | 580 |
Upstart | 3.5 | 300 |
Avant | 3.5 | 580 |
Lender | APR | Approval/Funding Timeline |
---|---|---|
LightStream | 7.49% - 25.99% | Same day - 2 business days |
Best Egg | 8.99% - 35.99% | 2 - 4 business days |
Upgrade | 8.49% - 35.99% | 2 - 3 business days |
OppLoans | 160% - 179% | 2 - 3 business days |
Getting a first-time personal loan with no credit history is tough but not impossible. Whether you find a lender that's willing to work with you or you take the time to wait and build credit, it's important to continue practicing good financial habits.
8.00% | 15.00% | |
---|---|---|
Seven-Year Repayment | $779.31/month, $15,462.10 in interest over time | $964.84/month, $31,046.37 in interest over time |
10-Year Repayment | $606.64/month, $22,796.56 in interest over time | $806.67/month, $46,800.97 in interest over time |
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.
- Peer-to-Peer Lending. ...
- Car Title Loans. ...
- Borrow Money From a Friend or Family Member. ...
- Pawnshop Loans. ...
- Payday Loans. ...
- Credit Card Cash Advance.
Income and the amount of debt you already have can also be reasons a lender may reject your loan application. You can improve your chances of getting approved by increasing your credit score, getting a co-signer, or providing collateral.
How hard is it to get a personal loan from Chase Bank? Chase Bank does not offer personal loans. However, for other loan types like mortgages, auto loans or HELOCs, approval depends on several factors, including credit score, income, debt-to-income ratio and loan amount.
Since personal loans are often unsecured loans, meaning they are not backed by any form of collateral, your credit score often plays a very important role in the approval process. As a rule of thumb, if your score doesn't meet a lender's minimum eligibility requirements, your chances of approval are low.