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Bad credit loans

Worried your credit score will get in the way? Plenty of borrowers carry less-than-perfect files, and lenders look at more than a score. Compare online loans for bad credit, choose a loan with bad credit that fits, and keep no obligation.

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What Is a Bad Credit Loan?

A bad credit loan is a personal, installment, or short-term loan available to borrowers with low credit scores, generally below 580. Lenders may look at income, employment, and ability to repay along with credit history, so a low score doesn't automatically take you out of consideration. You may also see it called a loan for poor or less-than-perfect credit. Plenty of solid borrowers carry files like this.

Best for

Borrowers below 580 with steady, verifiable income.

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Bad Credit Loans

Your Options With Less-Than-Perfect Credit

Installment Loans for Bad Credit

Need a payment plan you can actually map out? Installment loans spread repayment across scheduled dates, which can make the path easier to follow than one lump-sum payoff.

  • Scheduled payments with a clear payoff date
  • More likely to report than payday loans, which may help credit over time
  • Often around $300-$5,000, depending on lender and state rules

Short-Term / Payday Options

If the gap is small and your next check is close, a payday option may cover the bill. The window's tight, and the cost can add up, so read the repayment amount before you choose.

  • Small-dollar loan with one payment tied to payday
  • Higher cost and possible rollover risk
  • Rules change by state

Secured & Credit-Union Options

Some borrowers also look at secured loans, credit-union alternatives, or credit-builder products. These can work differently from online loan options, especially if membership or collateral is involved.

  • Credit unions may offer lower APR options to members
  • Secured or credit-builder products may support credit growth
  • State caps and local details matter

What Lenders Look At Besides Your Score

Verifiable Income

A steady paycheck, benefits, or another verifiable income source can carry real weight when your credit file is less than perfect. Lenders use it to judge ability to repay, not just a FICO number.

Age & Residency

You'll generally need to be at least 18 and a U.S. resident. Basic, but lenders still have to check it.

Active Bank Account

An active bank account helps a lender send funds and collect repayment. It also gives them a clearer look at cash flow.

Borrow Smart While You Rebuild Your Credit

  • Borrow only what you need

    A car repair, a utility bill, or rent before your check lands can make a bigger loan look tempting. Still, the bill in front of you doesn't have to turn into extra debt you don't need. With one form, you can review the options available to you in your account, compare the amount and term, then choose the path that fits the actual gap. If the repair is $600, asking for $1,500 means more principal and more interest, especially when APR runs higher for less-than-perfect credit. Keep the amount tight. Future you gets a little breathing room.

  • See the real numbers, then choose

    Once the form is complete, any options available to you show up in your account with the APR, payment, term, and total cost. That turns a fuzzy decision into something you can compare line by line. Lower scores often mean higher APR, so seeing the numbers before you agree helps you choose with both eyes open.

  • Let on-time payments move your score up

    If the lender reports to the major credit bureaus, on-time payments can help your credit profile over time. Not every loan reports, and payday products often don't, while installment loans are more likely to. Missed payments can move things the other way. Build the payment into your budget first, then let the habit do its work.

  • Spot approval promises and credit-check shortcuts

    A pitch that skips normal review can sound appealing when your score is below 580. Real lenders still look at income, credit, and ability to repay, so it's smart to pause and read the terms before you move forward. Because you compare real costs in your account, the decision stays tied to numbers, not a sales line.

  • How it works, from form to funds

    You fill out one form, and your information goes to lenders and partners in our marketplace. Checking your options involves a credit check that can affect your score, and more than one lender may run one. We won't pretend otherwise. Some lenders weigh income more heavily than FICO. If options are available, you'll review APR, payment, and term in your account, choose whether to move forward, and keep no obligation to accept. The lender you pick handles funding and repayment details.

Bad Credit Loans by State

Bad credit loans

Bad credit loans online can look different by state. Loan amounts, terms, APR caps, rollover rules, and repayment options may change based on local law. If you carry less-than-perfect credit, compare the options available to you with your income and budget in mind, then review your state page before you choose.

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You compare. You choose. Free to start.

You know the drill: one loan request, then waiting for the calls to start. Here you stay in control — we treat your information with care, you compare the options available to you, and you choose which lender or partner to move forward with. We can't speak for every partner, but we do our best to keep unwanted calls down.

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Questions about this product

For borrowers with a FICO® score below 600, an online loan marketplace is one of the most practical starting points. BroMoney connects bad-credit borrowers with 1,200+ licensed U.S. lender partners, including lenders that specifically work with lower credit profiles. The application uses a soft inquiry that does not affect your FICO® score. The free application takes about 5 minutes, and approval is subject to individual lender review criteria. In practice, comparing personalized offers side by side lets you review actual rates and terms before committing to any lender.
Traditional commercial banks are unlikely to approve borrowers with bad credit, typically defined as a FICO® score below 600. Their risk models, collateral standards, and regulatory capital requirements favor applicants at FICO® 670 or above. Approval through any lender is subject to that lender's individual review criteria and is never guaranteed. In practice, a marketplace approach offers a more realistic path. BroMoney connects borrowers with 1,200+ licensed U.S. lenders, including specialists who work with FICO® scores as low as 500. If a traditional bank has turned you down, exploring marketplace options where lenders focus on lower credit profiles gives you a concrete next step rather than a dead end.
Yes — BroMoney's network of 1,200+ licensed U.S. lenders includes options specifically for borrowers with FICO® scores below 600. BroMoney is a marketplace, not a direct lender. Each lender sets its own eligibility criteria independently, and matching with a lender does not guarantee approval. Checking available offers uses a soft inquiry, which does not affect your FICO® score, so exploring your options carries no credit-score risk.
You can complete the form and review any options available in your Bromoney account. A lender or partner makes its own credit decision and may consider information such as credit history, income, existing obligations, and state availability. Terms and availability vary, and no outcome is guaranteed.
There is no single APR for bad-credit loans. The APR shown in an option is determined by the lender or partner and can vary based on the loan terms, the information provided, and state availability. Review the APR, fees, payment schedule, and total cost before deciding whether to continue.
Review the lender or partner’s name, the loan amount, APR, fees, payment schedule, and total amount to be repaid. Read the loan agreement carefully and consider whether the scheduled payment fits your budget. If any term is unclear, ask the lender or partner before accepting it.
Be cautious if someone promises guaranteed credit, pressures you to act immediately, or asks for payment before providing a loan. Verify the company through your state financial-services regulator and review written terms before sending money or personal information. Suspected fraud can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
A low credit score doesn't disqualify you from borrowing - it changes the terms. Lenders who work with damaged credit typically look beyond your FICO score at three factors: income stability (consistent employment history carries significant weight), debt-to-income ratio (most lenders prefer DTI below 43%, per CFPB guidelines), and cash flow (some lenders review 3-6 months of bank statements instead of credit reports). Realistic options include secured loans backed by collateral such as a vehicle or savings account, credit union programs for members with thin credit files, and online lending marketplaces that connect borrowers to lenders using alternative verification criteria. Loans for bad credit typically carry APR between 20-36% - compare at least three offers before signing.
Bad credit usually means a FICO score below 580. On the FICO 8 scale, below 580 is poor, 580-669 is fair, 670-739 is good, 740-799 is very good, and 800-850 is exceptional. Lenders don't all draw the line in the same place, and your score isn't the only thing they review. Income, debt, and ability to repay can matter too.
Your credit score is shaped mainly by five FICO factors: payment history at about 35%, amounts owed or credit utilization at about 30%, length of credit history at about 15%, new credit and inquiries at about 10%, and credit mix at about 10%. For bad-credit borrowers, on-time payments and lower utilization can help move the file in a better direction over time. Small habits count.
FICO and VantageScore are both credit-scoring models that usually run from 300-850, but they weigh your credit file differently. Many lenders review FICO, while the free score you see through a bank or card account may be VantageScore. If the two numbers don't line up, don't read too much into one digit. The range tells you more.
Late payments and most negative credit marks generally can stay on your credit report for up to about 7 years under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Chapter 7 bankruptcy can generally stay for up to about 10 years. Their weight can fade as newer positive history builds, especially when recent payments are made on time. The old mark may still be there, but it doesn't always carry the same punch.
Many partner lenders evaluate income, banking history, and debt-to-income ratio in addition to credit score, so options may still exist below 600.
Free credit reports from the three major credit bureaus are available through AnnualCreditReport.com, the federally authorized site. Many banks and credit card accounts also show a free credit score. Checking your own report is treated as a self-review, not the same thing as a lender credit review. When a lender reviews you for a loan, a hard inquiry is possible, and more than one lender may run one.
Yes, a loan with bad credit can be possible because lenders often weigh income and ability to repay along with your score. Plenty of solid borrowers carry less-than-perfect files and still get considered. The decision sits with the lender, and no outcome is promised.
Bad credit loan options may include installment loans, short-term or payday loans, personal loans, secured loans, and credit-union options. Installment loans use scheduled payments and may be more likely to report to the major credit bureaus. Payday options are usually small-dollar, single-payment loans with a tighter repayment window and higher cost. Personal loans may fit larger needs, while secured or credit-union choices depend on membership, collateral, state rules, income, and the amount you need.
Yes, bad credit loans can involve a credit check. A hard inquiry is possible, and more than one lender may run one, and it can affect your credit score. Some lenders also look closely at income, bank account activity, and ability to repay, so your FICO score may not be the whole story.
Bad credit loans may help build credit if the lender reports to the major credit bureaus and you make on-time payments. Not every product reports. Many payday loans don't, while installment loans are more likely to. If a payment is late, the cost can grow and the missed payment may work against your file, so it's worth building the payment into your budget before you choose.
How much you can borrow with bad credit depends on the loan type, your income, your credit profile, and state law. Short-term loans are often for hundreds of dollars, while installment loans often fall around $300-$5,000. The useful number isn't just the amount offered. Compare the payment, the term, and the total cost before you pick a path, and check your state page for local limits.
APR for bad credit loans is often higher because lenders price in added risk. The range can be wide, and state law may cap rates, fees, loan amounts, or renewals. Look at the APR, payment date, and total repayment amount together. That's the clearest way to see what the loan costs you.
You can improve your chances of being considered by showing stable, verifiable income, asking for only what you need, and using a co-signer where that option is available. It can also help to compare the options available to you and review your state page before you choose. Lenders make the decision, so no result is promised.
Most bad credit loans need no collateral, though some lenders also offer secured options that may come with lower rates. An unsecured loan relies more on your credit, income, and ability to repay. A secured loan uses something of value as backup, so read the terms carefully before you put anything on the line.
Approval promises for bad credit loans deserve a careful read, especially when a lender seems to skip income, credit, or ability-to-repay review. A real lender still checks whether the loan makes sense for your situation. If the pitch sounds too clean, slow down and read the cost, repayment date, and fees. Your decision should sit on numbers you can see.