Small Personal Loans For Good & Bad Credit

The time may come when you need a small amount of money, maybe for just a couple thousand dollars, to cover expenses like an emergency car or home repair, paying for movers, purchasing a used vehicle, paying a medical or dental bill, or simply to cover some basic monthly expenses to get you caught up on your bills. Often, these types of smaller expenses could be covered with a credit card, however, what if you have no remaining credit limit on your credit cards, or what if you simply do not want to use one of your credit cards because they all have incredibly high-interest rates? There are many ways to cover smaller emergency and non-emergency expenses that do not involve a credit card. Here are some examples of ways to cover smaller emergency expenses without busting out the credit card.

Small Loan Options

Pay cash: Paying cash is always the best way to pay if you are looking to save money in the long run. Paying cash does not involve any interest payments or additional fees. Ideally, you should have some sort of rainy day fund where a certain percentage of your income goes into each month. These rainy day funds can be accessed when emergencies arise. However, it is estimated that 54% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and that they are unprepared for emergency expenses. This is an alarming statistic if you think about it, however, if you are in this category, do not feel ashamed. Many Americans find themselves in the same situation as they try to navigate life and raise a family. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, you may want to consider pausing any retirement savings for just a few months to build up a rainy day fund that you can access to cover smaller emergency expenses when they arise. Also, you may want to consider picking up a side gig like driving for Uber, delivering groceries for Instacart, or meals using DoorDash and devoting that entire income stream to building an emergency fund.

401k loan: You may be able to access your 401k retirement funds for a small loan to cover a quick emergency expense like a medical bill or a car repair. Ideally, you could have paused your contributions for a bit to build up some savings that would prevent you from needing to take a 401k loan, but as always, hindsight is 20-20. If you need to take a 401k loan, you will want to be sure you can pay back the loan. If you are unable to pay the loan, you may be subject to early withdrawal penalties and income tax implications. Another negative consequence of taking a 401k loan is that you will miss out on potential earnings on the amount of money that is no longer sitting in your account. This is why many financial advisors recommend only using a 401k if it is absolutely necessary.

Small personal loans: The online lending marketplace is loaded with lenders who offer small emergency-type loans for consumers who find themselves in a pinch. Online lenders have made accessing personal loans extremely simple, quick, and efficient. This is exactly the financing model that someone may need if they are in money right away. Every day that your car sits in the shop broken down waiting to be repaired could cause a major inconvenience and/or cost you money if you rely on your vehicle for income. By choosing to find a small personal loan through an online lender, you could prequalify, shop for lenders, compare rates and terms, submit an application, and get qualified all in the same day. Some lenders offer personal loans for as little as $1,000 or $2,000 and they provide fast loan approval and funding times, however, some lenders may have minimum loan amounts of $5,000 or more. This is why it is important that you prequalify for the amount of money that you are looking to borrow so that the process can automatically weed out lenders that you may not qualify for based on your credit score, income, and requested loan amount.

If you have some smaller emergency expenses to cover immediately and a personal loan is the course of action you would like to take, then you may want to know which online lenders offer the smallest loan amounts with the quickest loan processing times. Below are three online lenders who fit that very description. Upgrade, Prosper, and OneMain Financial are the three lenders who can offer you the smaller amount of money you need and get your cash fast. Here are the three best small personal loans for January 2022. Keep reading to learn more about top national lenders that can offer small personal loans.

Best Small Personal Loans for January 2022

Upgrade ($1k – $50k)

Top pick for: bad credit small personal loans

Qualifications Needed: To qualify for a personal loan through Upgrade, you should have a minimum credit score of at least 560. Upgrade offers personal loans with loan terms between 3 and 7-years for amounts that range from as little as $1,000 to $50,000. Currently, average APRs range between 6.94% and 35.97%, depending on your credit score. Personal loans at Upgrade typically come with an origination fee that could be between 2.9% and 8%.

Pros:

Lower minimum loan amounts available for smaller emergency expenses

Lower credit score minimum requirements

No early pay-off penalty

Allows joint applications for easier approval and/or lower interest rates

Cons:

Charges an origination fee between 2.9% and 8%

The maximum loan amount is $50,000

Higher APRs, especially for subprime borrowers

Why choose: Upgrade offers lower loan amounts ($1,000) and fast loan approval and funding times, they may be your lender of choice if you find yourself needing fast money to cover an emergency expense. If you are in need of money fast for a car repair, an emergency home repair, or an unexpected medical bill, then Upgrade may be one of the lenders you consider first.

Prosper ($2k – $40k)

Top pick for: peer-to-peer loans $40,000 and below

Qualifications Needed: Prosper is a peer-to-peer lending group that offers loans between $2,000 and $40,000 to borrowers with a minimum credit score of 600. A Prosper personal loan typically comes with an APR between 8.99% and 35.99% and an origination fee between 2.41% and 5%. Only two loan terms are available, three and five-year terms.

Pros:

Lower minimum credit score requirements

Some flexibility when it comes to changing payment due dates

Offers a prequalification tool on the Prosper website

Cons:

Charges origination and late fees

Higher APRs

Why choose: If you are a fair credit borrower looking for a smaller amount of money to cover smaller purchases or other emergency expenses.

OneMain Financial ($1,500 – $20k)

Top pick for: Borrowers with less than perfect credit that need fast funding

Qualifications Needed: OneMain Financial offers personal loans to borrowers with a minimum credit score of at least 600. Part-time workers are still eligible for some personal loans. OneMain Financial offers 3 to 5-year personal loans for amounts that range from $1,500 to $20,000. APRs can be anywhere between 8.98% and 36% and come with an origination fee of up to 10%.

Pros:

Loans available for subprime borrowers with credit scores as low as 600.

Offers a secured loan option to increase the chances of qualification and lower interest rates.

Cons:

Higher APRs.

Why choose: OneMain financial is a lender that may be ideal for borrowers who may need fast cash for emergencies. They offer lower loan amounts and super quick financing.

Where can you find small personal loans?

You can find small personal loans through most banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Typically, small personal loans are offered for smaller amounts. Since the financial institution is loaning a smaller amount for a shorter time, there is less risk in a sense. Therefore, they may have less strict qualification requirements and competitive rates for small personal loans. Although you may be in a hurry and only looking to borrow a small amount of money, you should still invest time into comparing offers. Comparing offers can be done quickly without impacting your credit score at Acorn Finance. While this is one way to find small personal loans, there are other ways available as well. Below are some ways you can find small personal loans.

Here are some of the most common places to look for a small personal loan:

Personal bank: If you have direct deposit, you may be able to ask your personal bank if they can give you a small short-term installment loan with the payments being deducted from your next few payroll direct deposits.

Online lenders: The online lending marketplace has emerged in recent years as a trusted and reliable place to find small personal loans with decent interest rates and fast loan approval and funding times.

Credit union: Credit unions may also beagle to float you a small short-term installment loan if you are enrolled in payroll direct deposit.

Credit card cash advance: Although more expensive than simply using your credit card, a cash advance can be used when you need a small loan but need it in cash.

401k loan: Many 401k retirement accounts have an option to take out small loan amounts which you pay back by making payments directly back into your own account. It may be best to try other alternatives first before pursuing a 401k loan.

Family or friends: If you have a friend or family member you can turn to for a small loan, it may be better to avoid interest and fees. However, be sure to pay them back within an agreed amount of time to avoid putting a strain on your relationship.

Payday lender: Payday lenders can offer small loan amounts until your next payday. The problem with these types of loans is that APRs tend to be close to 400%, and if you cannot pay the loan on time, the consequences can be long-lasting and dire.

Title loan center: Title loan centers typically give loans depending on the value of the vehicle you are using as collateral to secure the loan. You do not have to borrow the full amount, and it is better that you only borrow the amount you need. The reason is, if you are unable to pay the loan at the end of the 30-day loan period, you risk losing your vehicle or needing to take on another loan to pay for the original loan, which can get very expensive quickly.

Pawnshop: If you have some gold, silver, jewelry, musical instruments, electronics, or anything of some considerable value, you could always go to a pawn shop and either sell it outright or get a small loan. Again, if you do not pay the loan in the agreed-upon amount of time, then you risk losing your collateral.

Some of these options may be better than others, however, it entirely depends on your credit and financial situation when it comes to which small loan provider you can qualify for.

What are alternatives to smaller personal loans?

In some cases, a personal loan may not be the right option. Luckily, there are alternatives available. If you are struggling to qualify for a personal loan, you may find the same struggle in qualifying for other types of financing. Individuals with credit challenges that need to borrow a small amount of money should consider reaching out to a friend or family member or using a secured credit card. If you have some time to spare, you should also consider boosting your credit score before applying for a loan.

Here are a few examples of some of the alternatives to taking out a small personal loan:

Use a credit card: Credit cards can be used to borrow small amounts of money for personal reasons. The downside to using a credit card is that there's no fixed repayment plan and interest rates can be very high compared to a personal loan. Therefore, you will want to spend conservatively when using a credit card and be prepared to pay the balance off as quickly as possible. In some cases, time restraints may force you to use a credit card. If possible, seek a credit card with an introductory 0% period.

Personal line of credit: If you need a small loan, you could consider opening a personal line of credit. A personal line of credit is a revolving line of credit that allows you to borrow as little or as much money as you would like up until a predetermined credit limit.

Salary advance: Depending on who your employer is, you may be able to approach your superiors or your HR representative to discuss getting a salary advance against future paychecks.

Crowdfunding: If you or a loved one is going through some serious medical procedures or you just recently faced a natural disaster or house fire, then you may be able to set up a crowdfunding account where friends and family who empathize with your struggles can pitch in to help with your current situation.

Again, these are some alternatives you may want to consider, however, it may be better to simply go with a personal loan through your bank, credit union, or an online lender.

Credit cards vs small personal loans: pros & cons

Although personal loans tend to come with lower interest rates than credit cards, that may not always be the case depending on your credit score. If you are deciding between a small personal loan and using your credit card, you may want to prequalify for a personal loan first. By prequalifying, you can see what kinds of interest rates and fees lenders are going to want to charge based on your credit profile. If they are higher than your credit cards, then it may be better to stick with a credit card. If they are lower, then you may want to apply for the personal loan and pay back the loan amount with fixed monthly payments. Also, if you have good credit and a little time before you need the money, you may be able to apply for a new 0%-APR credit card and use that to cover your expenses. Whichever method of financing you choose, there are pros and cons to each method that you may want to consider.

Personal loans

Pros:

A personal loan may come with a lower interest rate than a credit card.

Provides a lump sum payment to your personal account that can be withdrawn in cash.

Generally better for large purchases like home improvement projects or cars, however, many lenders offer smaller loans specifically for emergency expenses.

Cons:

May include an origination fee or early pay-off penalty.

May require a co-signer or collateral to secure the loan if your credit is not good enough to meet lender requirements.

Credit Cards:

Pros:

Revolving line of credit that only charges interest when funds are used and a balance is carried over.

May have 0% APR grace periods, promotional offers, and rewards.

Credit limits can increase as a reward for maintaining on-time payments

Can help to build credit.

Cons:

Typically come with higher interest rates than personal loans.

If only the minimum payments are made, interest can stack up.

What are the easiest personal loans to get?

The easiest types of personal loans to get include emergency loans, small personal loans, payday loans, title loans, credit card cash advances, payment plans through the creditor, 401k loans, no credit check loans, and direct deposit advances from your personal bank or credit union. The safest option is usually a traditional small personal loan. If you choose to pursue a small personal loan online lenders typically offer fast application and funding times.

What is the smallest personal loan you can get?

The smallest personals that are offered by online lenders range from $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the lender. The main reason for this is that it may be hard to make a profit on a loan amount any lower than $1,000. Any loan amount lower than $1,000 may not be worth the effort of the lender.

How do I borrow a small amount of money?

There are several ways to borrow a small amount of money including asking a friend or relative for a loan, credit cash advance, small personal loan, emergency loan, payday loan, title loan, or visiting a pawn shop. You also may be able to get an advance on your direct deposit from your personal bank or credit union or ask your employer for an advance on your salary.

What is a good amount to ask for a personal loan?

If you are looking for a smaller personal loan, you may want to ask for a minimum of $1,000. Most lenders will not offer a loan any smaller than that. However, a good amount to ask for for a personal loan is how much you actually need in order to cover the expense or purchase you need to make.

Can you get small loans from banks?

The minimum amount that banks are willing to lend in the form of a personal loan depends entirely on the bank. If you are looking for a personal loan, they may have minimum loan amounts between $1,000 and $2,500. However, if your bank offers advances on payroll direct deposits, they are willing to extend a small loan to you for only a few hundred dollars.

What is the fastest way to get a loan?

The fastest ways to get a loan include a credit card cash advance from an ATM or branch location, a payday loan, a title loan, or a pawn shop. For these loan types, you need to get to a location, and once you are approved for the loan amount, you can walk away with cash in hand. However, these finance methods also come with steep interest rates and fees.

If you are looking for the fastest way to get a small loan with a reasonable interest rate and more favorable terms, then a small personal loan from an online lender may be your best option. Start by checking offers at Acorn Finance. Once you have compared offers, choose the one you want to pursue and finalize the application process with the lender. Loans can be funded in as little as 1-2 business days, although funding times may vary.

Can you borrow money online instantly?

You may be able to obtain a no credit check personal loan online instantly, however, you are probably still going to have to wait some time for funding. Funding can range depending on the lender but most lenders can offer 1 to 3-business day funding.

Do you need to be employed to get a small personal loan?

If you are unemployed, it may be extremely difficult to get a small personal loan without collateral or without the help of a co-signer. If you have a co-signer willing to sign onto a personal loan on your behalf, then sometimes the lender may only consider the income and employment status of the co-signer.

What is the smallest personal loan you can get?

As stated before, there isn't an official verdict on what a small personal loan is, and the smallest loan you can get is often the minimum borrowing requirement of the lender you are getting the loan from. At Acorn Finance some of our lending partners have a minimum loan amount of $1,000, so this would be the smallest amount you could apply for and secure. You should ask the lender of your choice what their minimum borrowing amount is before applying for a small personal loan.

Can I Get A $1,000 Personal Loan?

Yes, you can. You would need to find the right lender for such a small loan, but a $1,000 dollar personal loan is something that you should be able to find. At Acorn Finance, you can check offers for $1,000 personal loans within 60 seconds or less with no impact to your credit score.

What is the easiest personal loan to get?

If you are looking to apply for a small personal loan, you probably don't want to invest too much of your time yet you still want to get a good deal. One of the easiest ways to get a small personal loan is to find an online lender. Online lenders generally have quicker approval and funding times compared to banks. However, if you prefer to work with a big bank USAA and Wells Fargo are known for having more relaxed credit restrictions.

If you have bad credit, there may be no easy way to secure a personal loan, even for a small amount. The first step you will want to take is to find a lender that is willing to work with your credit score. You can do this with some research and maybe even a few phone calls. Most lenders can disclose what their minimum credit score requirement is. In the next section we will dive into more detail about getting a small personal loan with bad credit.

Can you get a small loan with bad credit?

If you happen to have bad or no credit, then you might be limited to options that cost a lot more than people with good credit. However, for smaller loans that aren't as much of a risk for lenders, you might be able to qualify. The trick is finding the right lender. If you decide to apply, be prepared to pay higher interest rates and receive shorter loan terms. Often, if you have bad credit, it's always good to work to build it up before you borrow money, but in some cases you don't always have the time. You should try to have a credit score of at least 600 before applying for a small personal loan.

What is the best place to get a personal loan?

You typically have three options when it comes to getting personal loans, the first being from your bank. If you have good credit and an existing bank account then it should be a rather painless process to secure a loan with your bank. Credit unions are also a valid option, which can offer lower interest rates, although you might need to be a member to work with them.

However, online lenders must survive in one of the most competitive atmospheres. As a result, they often have the most competitive personal loan offers. In addition, some of them have reduced overhead since they may operate online only. The best way to compare online personal loan offers is at Acorn Finance. Acorn Finance partners with top national lenders that specialize in personal loans.

Are Small Loans Worth It?

Well, that all depends on you and your needs. Some people don't need a massive loan of $6,000 to fix a car, sometimes half that will do to handle a much smaller emergency. If you are paying off a bigger debt or just need some extra money that isn't tied to anything, then a smaller personal loan may be a great idea and that can really help you out. While your eyes may get big when you think about borrowing thousands one dollars in cash, you should make sure you can comfortably cover the monthly payment before borrowing the money.

Can I get a loan with a 450 credit score?

450 is only a few steps away from the worst credit score you can have at 300, so it will impede your ability to get a good loan. It's very unlikely that you will qualify for a personal loan with a 450 credit score. If you can apply with a cosigner that has very good credit, then maybe you can qualify. However, if you have a 450 credit score you should work on rebuilding your credit before applying for a personal loan.

Which bank gives the fastest personal loan?

Most banks should be able to specify estimated funding times. In some cases banks can fund loans same-day. By using an Acorn Finance lending partner you can receive funds in as little as 1 business day, although funding times may vary.

Which bank gives loans easily?

If you have good credit, most banks should be able to give you a personal loan easily. One of the hardest parts of the personal loan process is determining which lender you want to use. To simplify the personal loan process you should check offers at Acorn Finance.

Where can I get a small personal loan with bad credit?

Getting a small personal loan with credit may be easier than getting a large personal loan with bad credit, but it may still present some challenges. If you have a FICO 600 or above you may want to see if you qualify for a personal loan through an Acorn Finance lending partner.

Can Acorn help me get a small personal loan today?

If you need a small personal loan you should definitely check offers at Acorn Finance. Our lending partners can offer personal loans ranging for $1,000 to $100,000 that can be used for just about anything. Acorn Finance has trustworthy lending partners that can offer APRs as low as 6.99% depending on your credit score. Individuals can discover simple and competitive payment options through Acorn Finance. At Acorn Finance, you can submit one application and receive loan offers in 60 seconds or less with no impact to your credit score. Once you have claimed the best offer and finalized the loan, you can receive funds quickly.

What are the advantages of small personal loans?

While you may consider a small personal loan less responsibility than a large personal loan, it really isn't. While it may be a shorter commitment, as a responsible borrower, repaying loans on-time is always important, regardless of the loan amount. Before you take out a small personal loan, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages. Advantages and disadvantages can vary depending on your situation. Below we will go over some of the basics, but you should invest some time to consider how a personal loan will affect you personally.

Here are some advantages of a small personal loan:

#1. Fixed repayment terms

If you are comparing a credit card and a small personal loan, you will almost always want to go with the small personal loan. Small personal loans often have much lower interest rates than credit cards. In addition, they usually have fixed repayment terms. This means you will know exactly how much your monthly payment is and how long it will take you to pay off the loan.

#2. Competitive interest rates

Compared to other options for small loans, personal loans can offer very competitive interest rates. In addition, they can be easy to qualify for. It's common for borrowers to secure personal loans online. Whether you are applying for a large or small personal loan, you should compare offers. At Acorn Finance you can compare small personal loan offers with no impact on your credit score.

#3. Quick funding

Funding times can vary depending on the lender, but some lenders can offer funding in as little as 24-hours. If you need funds quickly you should check with the lender before accepting their offer to see how quickly they can fund the loan.

What are the disadvantages of small personal loans?

There are few disadvantages of a small personal loan. Just about every financial decision will have advantages and disadvantages, so you should consider both. In most cases, the advantages of a small personal loan will outweigh the disadvantages.

Here are some of the disadvantages of a small personal loan:

#1. Taking on debt

Regardless of how big or small your loan is, you are taking on more debt. More debt usually means more monthly payments. If you make on-time payments debt can work in your favor and improve your credit score. However, if you default on a loan, your credit score can suffer.

#2. Interest and fees

Borrowing money is usually not free. Before you take out a small personal loan you may want to see if there are promotional financing offers available. Some retailers or creditors will offer short 0% promotional periods. If you can qualify for a promotional offer and repay the loan within the period, you can borrow money for almost nothing. If you take out a personal loan you will most likely pay a bit in interest and might incur some fees too.

Do small personal loans hurt your credit score?

In short, a small personal loan may hurt your credit score in the beginning, but this should not be the reason you decide to avoid the loan. Anytime you take on more debt, your credit score can drop. That's just how it works. Utilization and hard inquiries can impact credit score. A small personal loan should impact your credit score less than a large personal loan. With a large personal loan, your utilization would be higher, thus causing a greater impact on your credit score. Ultimately, if you make on-time payments a small personal loan can improve your credit score. In the next section we will go into a little more detail about how a small personal loan affects your credit score.

Do small personal loans improve your credit score?

Eventually, a personal loan can improve your credit score. One of the advantages of getting a personal loan is the opportunity to build credit. Initially, when you apply for the loan and secure it, you may see your credit score drop a bit. There are a few reasons this happens. First of all, when a hard inquiry is done on your credit, your credit score will drop 5 points. Second, you are taking on more debt. The good news is that within a short amount of time, your credit score should recover and may slowly start to climb higher than it was before you got the loan. For best results, you should avoid taking on other debt until the personal loan is paid off. On-time payments can improve your credit score and so can lowering your utilization.

Anytime you borrow money, you risk hurting your credit. However, it's your choice how the loan turns out. If you default on the loan, your credit will suffer. When we encounter financial obstacles it's easy to turn your head the other way and ignore them. While this may get you by, it's not the best way to face challenges. If you are struggling to make monthly payments, you should contact the lender right away. They may be willing to create a payment plan that works better for your finances. Remember, they want their money back. If they can avoid sending a loan to collections, they usually will.

What should I know about getting a small loan?

To start, you should know that there is no official definition of a "small personal loan." If you speak to a lender and ask for a small personal loan, they will likely assume you want a loan that is $3,000 or less. Your definition of small may be different than the lenders so always make sure you specify how much you need to borrow. If you apply online, the application should ask you for a requested loan amount. Before applying for a personal loan you should determine how much you need to borrow. If you borrow more money than you need, you may encounter unnecessary interest charges.

The next thing you should know about small personal loans is that several lenders can offer them. It's usually easier to find a lender that offers small personal loans than large personal loans. More choices, means more opportunities, but it can also mean more confusion. To streamline the process of finding the lender with the most competitive small personal loan offer you should take advantage of a platform such as Acorn Finance. Within 60 seconds or less you can check personal loan offers between $1,000 to $100,000 with no impact on your credit score.

What can I do with a small personal loan?

Small personal loans can be used for just about anything, as long as your loan does not have spending restrictions. If you are in need of a little extra cash, you can use a small personal loan. In some cases, you may need extra cash to purchase one big ticket item or perhaps you need extra cash for a few different expenses. One small personal loan can provide the funds you need. Most lenders will have a minimum loan amount so you will want to check this before applying as you may need to borrow less than the minimum. At Acorn Finance you can check personal loan offers between $1,000 to $100,000. While there is no official definition of a "small personal loan," most will consider the term to refer to loans of $3,000 or less. No matter how big or small your personal loan is, always make sure you have a plan for how it will be spent. Borrowing money with no plan can leave you in a financial bind.

Some common uses for small personal loans include:

Debt consolidation

Furniture financing

Mattress financing

Home improvement financing

Appliance financing

HVAC financing

Wedding financing

Closing Thoughts
Learning how to apply for a small personal loan with all the options out in the world can be very frustrating and overwhelming. However, it doesn't have to be. By using tools like Acorn Finance and doing a little research, you can reach out and see what options you have. Then you can make the best choice to get you the money you need at a reasonable interest rate.Need a small personal loan? Check offers with no impact to your credit score!