How to Get a Loan with Bad Credit, Poor Credit, or No Credit?


Are you looking for ways to get a loan with bad credit? The truth is that no one likes having their financial status judged. However, when applying for a loan, you have to go through the unpleasant experience of lenders examining your credit history and asking questions. If you have especially low credit ratings, you might feel almost embarrassed when explaining all the poor financial choices you have made so far. However, that is not the worst part! Even after what seems like a trial, you might not get approval on your loan application. That is a reality that many people who are struggling with bad credit ratings live with.

So, the question is — where can you borrow money with bad credit? Almost one-third of the American population deals with issues related to low FICO score. If you are one of them, you must have already faced a ton of rejections from the banks. Though you may not qualify for most conventional loans, there are some bad credit loans that might come to your aid when you want money urgently. You can avail of these loans even with a credit score of 550! Here are some of the popular options you can explore when you need a loan with bad credit.

Get a loan with bad credit through HELOC or Home equity line of credit loan

HELOC or home equity line of credit is a viable option for those looking to apply for a loan with bad credit. However, to be eligible for this loan, you would need to own a house and your house would need to have decent equity. Aside from these two primary criteria, the overall qualification process is much less rigorous than conventional loans. Regardless of what your credit rating is, if you have an LTV or loan-to-value ratio of around 80%, you have a fair chance of qualifying for the HELOC. These loans tend to carry higher interest rates than the traditional refinancing loans. However, when you need 5000 loan, this option appears as a good choice.

Co-signed loan

A co-signed loan can effectively end your financial troubles. This type of loan requires you to provide a co-signer or guarantor who has good credit ratings. You can ask a family member or a loved one to cosign a loan for you. Here, the lender will approve your loan application based on the impressive credit rating of the cosigner. However, remember that if you fail to repay the loan, the cosigner will be responsible for paying it off. Defaulting will also negatively affect both of your credit ratings. That is why you should get a co-signed loan only when you are confident about your repayment capabilities, or else you will risk ruining a valuable relationship.

Credit union loan

If you are a member of the credit union, you may have access to the best loans for bad credit. Favorable loan terms and competitive interest rates are some of the perks of credit union loans. Typically, credit unions have more relaxed eligibility standards than traditional lending institutions because these are not-for-profit organizations. As a member of the union, you can find unsecured loans with decent interest rates even if you have low credit or no credit scores.

Bad credit loans

You may consider bad credit loans when you need a 90-day loan or a 2500 installment loan for a sudden financial emergency. There are various types of bad credit rating loans available, and you can pick one based on your needs. Typically, these loans come with steep interest rates and short repayment terms. These are the reasons for you to stay away from these loans. However, when faced with a desperate situation, you might have no option but to go for them. Before getting such a loan, you should always consider the risks and see if it will be worth it.

Peer-to-Peer or P2P lending

P2P lending or peer-to-peer loan is a contemporary option that allows people with bad credit rating to get funding without resorting to credit unions or banks. If you are thinking “where can I get a loan with bad credit,” you might try the leading P2P lending platforms. Here, borrowers and lenders can connect and strike a loan deal. Even people with decent credit ratings often use P2P loans for the low rates of interest. However, if you have a less than stellar credit profile, you can still manage to get better interest rates than you would from banks.

Payday or cash advance loans

Simply put, payday loans allow you to get an advance on your next paycheck. If you are facing a short-term cash crunch and need money to manage the regular expenses, you might consider a payday or cash advance loan. You will need to repay the borrowed sum when you get your paycheck. Typically, these loans can bear high rates of interest and short repayment terms of about 2 weeks. Failing to repay the loan by that time will earn you hefty penalties and other charges.

Secured loans

Secured loans require you to provide collateral against the loan amount. The collateral can be any valuable asset such as a house, car or jewelry. The value of the collateral must be equal to or above the loan amount. The collateral acts as a security deposit, and the lender can seize it if you fail to repay the loan. Because of this security, secured loans may come with low rates of interest. However, they also carry the risk of you losing the property in case of default.

Retirement account loans

Due to the early withdrawal penalties and high taxes associated with this loan, you should keep it as a last resort. Have you explored all the other avenues and come up with nothing useful? You may consider borrowing against your 401(k) or some other account. You can reduce the tax burden and penalties by getting a loan as opposed to a straight distribution. The good thing about taking a loan against your 401(k) is that the interest will get added to your own account.

Title loans

Here, you can use the title of your car to get a loan. You can borrow only as much as the appraised value of your vehicle. The primary requirement for this loan is that you would have to hand over the ownership of your car. You would still be able to use it for your personal use. However, if you fail to repay the loan, the lender will seize your car and may even sell it off to get reimbursement for the loan. Title loans typically have a tenure of 30 days. So, if you are not confident about paying it off by that time, it would be best to avoid this option.

Loans from family or friends

Let’s just address it right here that asking friends and family for financial help can be uncomfortable. You might feel embarrassed even if you are asking for a loan that you are fully intent on repaying. On the other hand, if you are struggling, your loved ones will want to help you out. See if you can strike a loan deal with someone you know and trust. Of course, this type of loan will not improve your credit ratings, but you will have access to funds in desperate times.

How can you improve your credit rating for a better financial future?

Bad credit rating will always stand in your way of finding suitable financing. Though you may find alternative lending options to tide over difficult times, the problem will persist and get worse if you do not do something about it. Say if you have the credit score of 550, you just need to increase it by 30 points to have a “fair” credit rating. The 580 rating may not be that impressive and you might still have to pay steep interest rates, but you would at least have better chances of qualifying for loans. Slowly, you can start building your credit score up.

Improving credit rating takes time and it certainly will not happen overnight. For starters, you need to understand how credit scores are calculated and what factors are taken into consideration. Then you need to carefully analyze your current financial standing and future prospects. Sticking to a budget, paying your dues on time and limiting your debts are some of the first steps towards bettering your scores.