Fast Personal Loans: Best Lenders for Quick Cash
Fast loans are one way to pay for emergencies and other short-term borrowing needs. Compare rates and terms — and stick with reputable lenders.
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Fast personal loans can provide cash for nearly any purpose, from car repairs to moving expenses. Online lenders are convenient and quick — some can provide same-day or next-day funding for qualified borrowers.
Consider rates and terms — in addition to the time a lender takes to fund a loan — when you compare fast cash loans from online lenders.
The personal loans listed here are from reputable online lenders that check your credit as part of the application process. All the lenders say it takes a few days or less to fund a loan.
Fast personal loans can provide cash for nearly any purpose, from car repairs to moving expenses. Online lenders are convenient and quick — some can provide same-day or next-day funding for qualified borrowers.
Consider rates and terms — in addition to the time a lender takes to fund a loan — when you compare fast cash loans from online lenders.
The personal loans listed here are from reputable online lenders that check your credit as part of the application process. All the lenders say it takes a few days or less to fund a loan.
Fast Personal Loans: Best Lenders for Quick Cash
Lender | NerdWallet rating | Est. APR | Loan amount | Min. credit score | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LightStream Get rate on LightStream's website | Best for Same-day approval, same-day funding | 4.99- | $5,000- | 660 | Get rate on LightStream's website |
![]() Alliant Personal Loan See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website | Best for Same-day approval, same-day funding | 6.24- | $1,000- | None | See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website |
![]() U.S. Bank Personal Loan See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website | Best for Same-day approval, same-day funding | 6.99- | $1,000- | 660 | See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website |
![]() LendingPoint Get rate on LendingPoint's website | Best for Same-day approval, next-day funding | 7.99- | $2,000- | 600 | Get rate on LendingPoint's website |
Discover® Personal Loans Get rate on Discover's website | Best for Same-day approval, next-day funding | 5.99- | $2,500- | 720 | Get rate on Discover's website |
![]() OneMain Financial Get rate on OneMain Financial's website | Best for Same-day approval, next-day funding | 18.00- | $1,500- | None | Get rate on OneMain Financial's website |
![]() First Tech Credit Union Personal Loan See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website | Best for Same-day approval, next-day funding | 6.70- | $500- | 660 | See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website |
LendingClub Get rate on LendingClub's website | Best for Approval in a couple of days, same-day funding | 6.34- | $1,000- | 600 | Get rate on LendingClub's website |
Our pick for
Same-day approval, same-day funding

on NerdWallet's secure website
Alliant Personal Loan

Est. APR
6.24-Loan amount
$1,000-Min. credit score
Noneon NerdWallet's secure website

on NerdWallet's secure website
U.S. Bank Personal Loan

Est. APR
6.99-Loan amount
$1,000-Min. credit score
660on NerdWallet's secure website
Our pick for
Same-day approval, next-day funding

on NerdWallet's secure website
First Tech Credit Union Personal Loan

Est. APR
6.70-Loan amount
$500-Min. credit score
660on NerdWallet's secure website
Our pick for
Approval in a couple of days, same-day funding
How to get a fast personal loan
There are a few steps you can take to prepare for your loan application to help move it along quickly:
Gather documentation: Know what you need to apply for the loan so the lender can easily verify your identity, income and other information. Lenders often say their ability to fund a loan quickly depends on borrowers’ responsiveness to requests for documentation.
Calculate estimated payments: Use a personal loan calculator to see how credit score and the length of the loan term can affect monthly payments. Then consider how the estimated monthly payment may impact your budget.
Pre-qualify and compare loans: Pre-qualifying for a personal loan helps lenders understand your creditworthiness and shows you how much you may qualify for. It doesn’t guarantee you a loan, but it can help you compare loans without affecting your credit score. It’s a good idea to research lenders to identify loans with the lowest rate. This may mean looking at your bank, local credit union and online lenders for comparison.
Apply: You can apply for a personal loan in person or online, depending on your lender. Smaller banks and credit unions may request in-person applications, while online lenders offer web-based applications. You can typically get a decision within a day after submitting all the necessary information. If you're approved, expect to receive the funds in your bank account within a day or two.
Fast loans online
Online lenders can be a convenient and fast option for personal loans. Many online lenders let you pre-qualify to estimate your rate without affecting your credit score. They often let you apply, receive the money and make payments completely online.
Online loans typically have annual percentage rates from 6% to 36%, and loan amounts range from $1,000 to $100,000. Researching lenders to find one that matches your needs and credit score can expedite the application process. Lenders like Discover and LightStream can be options for those with excellent to good credit (FICO score of 690 or higher), while LendingPoint and OneMain Financial accept borrowers with fair or bad credit (FICO score below 690).
Fast credit union loans
Some federal credit unions can fund personal loans quickly. Alliant Credit Union, for example, funds loan the same or next day, while First Tech borrowers can get their funds between the day they apply and two business days later.
Federal credit unions cap annual percentage rates at 18% on personal loans. Credit unions may also use an applicant's history as a member to inform loan decisions, so if you've been in good standing with a credit union for a while, that may be a factor in a loan decision.
Fast loans for bad credit
Some lenders offer fast loans for borrowers with bad credit (629 or lower FICO). If you have bad credit, a low debt-to-income ratio and proof of stable income will help you qualify.
Your credit score doesn't affect how long it takes for a lender to fund your loan, but your loan is likely to have a high APR, and you may not be approved for a large loan amount.
Though many online lenders can fund loans quickly, take the time to compare bad-credit loans before borrowing and make a plan to repay the loan.
» MORE: See your bad-credit loan options
Fast cash without a loan
Before you borrow — and especially if the rate you pre-qualify for is high — see if you can delay the expense or find an interest-free cash source. NerdWallet recommends trying all these cheaper alternatives before taking a high-cost loan:
Seek assistance from local nonprofits, charities and religious organizations.
Use a cash advance app to borrow a small amount from your next paycheck.
Get a pawnshop loan secured by something you own.
Try other ways to make money.
If you are comfortable with it, ask family and friends for a loan through lending circles or a loan agreement.
Next step: Pre-qualify on NerdWallet
When you pre-qualify with multiple lenders, you get the chance to compare rates, loan features and terms. Pre-qualifying on NerdWallet with our lender partners won’t affect your credit score.
Last updated on May 26, 2022
Methodology
NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates personal loan products from more than 35 financial institutions. We collect over 45 data points from each lender, interview company representatives and compare the lender with others that seek the same customer or offer a similar personal loan product. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.
Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer consumer-friendly features, including: soft credit checks to pre-qualify, competitive interest rates and no fees, transparency of rates and terms, flexible payment options, fast funding times, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to credit bureaus and financial education. We also consider regulatory actions filed by agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to consumers and how meaningfully they impact consumers’ experiences.
This methodology applies only to lenders that cap interest rates at 36%, the maximum rate most financial experts and consumer advocates agree is the acceptable limit for a loan to be affordable. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for personal loans and our editorial guidelines.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Fast Personal Loans: Best Lenders for Quick Cash
- LightStream: Best for Same-day approval, same-day funding
- Alliant Personal Loan: Best for Same-day approval, same-day funding
- U.S. Bank Personal Loan: Best for Same-day approval, same-day funding
- LendingPoint: Best for Same-day approval, next-day funding
- Discover® Personal Loans: Best for Same-day approval, next-day funding
- OneMain Financial : Best for Same-day approval, next-day funding
- First Tech Credit Union Personal Loan: Best for Same-day approval, next-day funding
- LendingClub: Best for Approval in a couple of days, same-day funding
Frequently asked questions
Some lenders say they can approve a loan application in minutes and fund a loan in a day or two of approval, while others may take a few days for each. Generally, you should expect to get the funds from a loan within a week of approval.
It is safe to get a loan from an online lender; you just need to choose a reputable lender. Features like no credit checks and annual percentage rates above 36% should be red flags. Know the signs of predatory loans to avoid a debt trap.
A credit union may be the best option for bad-credit borrowers. They offer lower rates on loans and look at more than just your credit score when reviewing your application. But they may not be your fastest funding option.
A bad credit loan from an online lender that caps rates at 36% may be deposited in your account more quickly. Online lenders typically report your payments to credit bureaus, which can help you build credit. If your timeline is a little flexible, choose the loan with a low rate and monthly payments you can afford over the quick loan.