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Joint Personal Loans For Married Couples With Bad Credit

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Online Personal Loans For Married Couples

Personal loans for married couples with bad credit can offer the opportunity to access funds and potentially improve credit score and history. However, just because you’re married, does not mean you have to apply with your spouse. It also does not mean you can use your joint income if your spouse is not on the loan. Applying for a joint loan with your spouse allows you to use both incomes and gives you both skin in the game. In a situation where one or both of you has bad credit, the loan can have other benefits as well, assuming you qualify. Read on as we navigate the process of finding personal loans for married couples with bad credit.

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Can you get a joint personal loan as a married couple with bad credit?

Some lenders allow for joint personal loans, meaning you and your spouse can be listed as borrowers. During the application process both of your information will be required and used to make a loan decision. If you both have bad credit, you can still benefit each other during the approval process. For one, you’ll be able to show more income if you both generate income. This can help offset a bad credit score. In addition, one of you may have better credit than the other, which can work to your benefit. Ultimately though, the best way to increase your chance of returning offers is to boost your credit score before applying. To do so you can review your credit report for errors or unknown delinquencies and take action to correct them. You may also be able to pay down existing debts to boost your score. 

What is the easiest loan for a married couple to get for bad credit?

With so many different types of loans, it can be confusing to know where to start. Defining the purpose of the loan can help you filter out options that won’t meet your needs. Here are some types of loan options that may be available.

  • Personal loan: Personal loans are a type of installment loan that’s funded as a lump sum with few spending restrictions. Personal loans are repaid in fixed installments over a predetermined repayment period with interest. Available in a wide range of loan amounts, $1,000 to $100,000, depending on credit score, personal loans offer a great deal of flexibility. Online lenders may have less strict requirements, working in the favor of couples with less than perfect credit. 
  • Financing through a retailer: If you’re looking to make a purchase, retailers can partner with lenders to offer payment plans or financing. Retailers that handle big ticket items such as appliances or electronics may be more likely to offer financing options as a way to promote more sales. 
  • Credit card: Credit cards can be opened as a joint account with you and your spouse. Offering a revolving line of credit, you can continually use credit cards to build credit history. 

What are the benefits of joint personal loans?

Joint personal loans can have benefits, but there can be drawbacks too. While we’re focusing on the benefits, we should mention that both parties are equally responsible for the loan. If your spouse falls behind on payments or stops paying indefinitely, this can negatively impact both of your credit scores. Anytime you enter a joint loan agreement, it’s important to set expectations with the other party. For example, tell them directly how much notice you want in the event they can’t make a payment. Keeping things on the brighter side though, here are some of the benefits of a joint personal loan. 

  • Opportunity to boost credit scores
  • Access to funds quickly 
  • No collateral or down payment required
  • Fixed installments

Do you need to have collateral to take out a joint personal loan?


Personal loans typically do not require collateral. Instead, they are based solely on creditworthiness or the likelihood of repaying the loan. This stands true when applying for a joint personal loan. However, in the case of a joint personal loan, the lender has two responsible parties which can decrease some of the risk. In return, they may be more likely to extend an offer. 

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What can I do with a $10,000 personal loan?

A $10,000 personal loan has a number of uses, including (but not limited to):
Home improvement Buying a car Wedding costs
Debt consolidation Medical bills Startup business costs

Still have questions?

Whether a loan requires collateral or not, the creditworthiness of the borrower(s) is usually considered. Keep in mind, lenders may also use advanced technology to run risk assessments and determine the creditworthiness, or likelihood of repayment. Here are some of the requirements a lender may consider when approving a loan. 

  • Credit scores: Lenders can consider your credit score, and your spouse’s credit score. When applying, it’s helpful if you both know your credit scores. Whoever has the better credit score and or more established history should be listed as the primary borrower. 
  • Income or debt-to-income: Lenders can evaluate income or debt-to-income ratios to determine your ability to repay the loan. 
  • Credit history: Credit history can help lenders assess past behaviors. For example, you may have had a less than perfect track record years ago, but in more recent years have made all payments on time. The lender can evaluate behaviors to help determine creditworthiness. 
  • Employment: Lenders may look for how consistent or stable employment is for you and your spouse. With income relying on employment, this can help the lender further evaluate creditworthiness. 

One of the best ways to improve your chance of returning an offer is for you both to boost your credit score. Doing so can increase your chance of returning loan offers, and more competitive offers. If you don’t have time to boost your scores, actions such as submitting complete and accurate information can help you qualify for a loan. 


First, you’ll need to find a lender that accepts joint applications, which should not be all that challenging. When you’re ready to start applying, be sure you are both submitting complete and accurate information to avoid speed bumps during the process.  

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