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You may find yourself in need of a fast-funded personal loan to cover an unexpected car or home repair, an urgent medical procedure or a large expense.
Quick personal loans provide same- or next-day funding to cover urgent, unforeseen expenses and are mostly offered by online lenders. While some banks and credit unions offer fast-funded personal loans, you may need to have an established account with that financial institution first.
Best same-day personal loans
Our top picks for quick personal loans are from reputable online lenders that cater to borrowers across the credit spectrum. The following lenders told NerdWallet they can have money in your account the same day you’re approved.
LightStream: Same-day funding and low rates
LightStream has no fees and it offers low rates for qualified borrowers. It also promises a lower rate if a competitor offers a lower APR for a personal loan with the same terms. LightStream’s loan amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000, making it fitting for expensive home repairs or other high costs.
Read our review of LightStream.
SoFi: Same-day funding and rate discounts
SoFi offers mid-size and large personal loans (up to $100,000) for single and joint borrowers. The lender's starting rates are higher than competitors, but it offers rate discounts for those who set up automatic loan payments or authorize direct payments to creditors on debt consolidation loans.
Read our review of SoFi.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
You’ll improve your chances of getting a personal loan quickly if your application is accurate and complete, you meet all the lender’s qualifications and you submit the application before the lender’s cutoff time for same- or next-day funding. Some lenders may require loan agreements to be signed by midday for same-day funding, while others have deadlines closer to the end of the business day. Best next-day personal loans
These lenders are also fast and likely to fund your loan by the next business day after loan approval.
Best Egg: Next-day funding and secured loans
Best Egg accepts borrowers with credit scores as low as 600. We like Best Egg's secured loan option — you can pledge your car or permanent fixtures in your home — which can help you qualify and get a lower rate. On the other hand, Best Egg charges an origination fee, which adds to the loan cost.
Read our review of Best Egg.
LendingClub: Next-day funding and joint loans
LendingClub lets two individuals apply together for a joint personal loan, which can be ideal if you’re financing an expense with a spouse or family member. It offers a wide range of loan amounts and repayment terms, and its minimum credit score requirement is 600. It has specific features — including a rate discount — that make it a great option if you're consolidating debt.
Read our LendingClub review.
Upgrade: Next-day funding and rate discounts
Upgrade's starting rates are higher than some competitors, but it offers ways to lower your rate — by setting up automatic loan payments, for example, or choosing direct payments to creditors on debt consolidation loans. This lender has a low minimum credit score requirement of 600 and also allows borrowers to have someone with better credit co-sign their loan.
Read our review of Upgrade.
Upstart: Next-day funding and no minimum credit requirement
Upstart has a wide range of loan amounts and accepts borrowers from across the credit spectrum. The lender uses alternative data, such as education and work history, to make loan approval decisions — usually instantly — rather than leaning heavily on credit scores. Its origination fee can be high, though, and you must choose between only two terms (3 or 5 years). Other lenders offer up to five term options.
Read our Upstart review.
Summary of quick personal loans
| Lender | APR range | Funding time | Loan amount range |
|---|---|---|---|
 on NerdWallet's secure website | 6.49% - 24.89% | Same day. | $5,000 - $100,000. |
 on NerdWallet's secure website | 8.74% - 35.49% | Same day. | $5,000 - $100,000. |
 on NerdWallet's secure website | 6.99% - 35.99%. | 1 day. | $2,000 - $50,000. |
 on NerdWallet's secure website | 6.53% - 35.99%. | 1 day. | $1,000 - $60,000. |
 on NerdWallet's secure website | 7.74% - 35.99%. | 1 day. | $1,000 - $50,000. |
 on NerdWallet's secure website | 6.70% - 35.99%. | 1 day. | $1,000 - $75,000. |
How to get the right loan for you
Even when you’re crunched for time, it’s worth taking a moment to review the costs and features of any loan you’re considering. Here’s what to look for when choosing a quick loan:
- Annual percentage rates: The loan with the lowest APR is the least expensive overall. To see what rate you might receive, pre-qualify with multiple online lenders. Pre-qualifying won't impact your credit score.
- Repayment terms: Shorter repayment terms typically result in higher monthly payments but lower overall interest costs, while longer terms mean lower monthly payments and higher interest costs.
- Monthly payments: Make sure to review your monthly budget to determine what size loan payment you can afford. Use the personal loan calculator below to see what loan amount, rate and repayment term you need to get the right monthly payment.
- Fees: The most common fee for a personal loan, especially from quick-funding online lenders, is an origination fee. This is typically 1% to 10% of the loan amount and is often subtracted from the loan before you get the funds.
Calculate estimated monthly payments
Use our personal loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments on a personal loan, as well as the total interest cost.
Loan details
2026
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Your loan estimate
Monthly payment
$212.47
Total principal
$10,000
Total interest payments
$2,748.23
Total loan payments
$12,748.23
Payoff date
02 / 2031
Show amortization schedule
Watch out for predatory lending
Payday loans and high-interest installment loans both offer quick funding — but are very expensive and difficult to repay. Try to consider fast loans with high interest rates only after you’ve exhausted other options.
- Payday loans are short-term loans that are repaid from your next paycheck. While funds can be obtained almost instantly, loans can carry an APR of nearly 400%. Many consumer advocates consider personal loans over 36% to be unaffordable. Payday loans are commonly offered for small amounts like $500 or less and should be considered a last resort.
- High-interest installment loans are repaid over a few weeks to several months, which allows you more time to repay the loan when compared to a payday loan. However, interest rates can be more than 36%, and you can wind up paying more than half of what you borrow in interest alone. For example, a $1,000 loan with a 12-month term and a 95% APR would cost $585 in interest. The same loan with a 20% APR would cost about $112 in interest, a difference of $473.
Tips to get a quick personal loan with bad credit
Your credit score is typically an important factor on a loan application, but a bad score doesn’t automatically disqualify you from getting a loan. If you have bad credit, having a low debt-to-income ratio and proof of stable income might help you qualify.
Here are a few additional tips to get a quick loan with bad credit:
- Ask for the lowest amount you need: You might not be approved for a large loan amount if you have bad credit, because loan companies may already view lending to you as a risk. Keep your requested amount as low as possible.
- Add up income streams: Most lenders want to see that you have enough income to cover regular expenses, make the new loan payment and have a little money left over. Your lender may consider Social Security benefits, alimony or child support as part of your income, so make sure to include all your income streams on a loan application.
- Consider lenders that cater to bad-credit borrowers: A credit union may be the best option for bad-credit borrowers, because they often offer lower loan rates and look at more than just your credit score when reviewing your application. However, credit unions typically require membership, which could slow down the process of getting a loan if you’re not already a member. Online lenders may fund loans faster, but check their rates and minimum credit score requirements before applying.
- Add a co-signer or co-borrower: A co-signer or co-borrower with a higher credit score can help your chances of qualifying or getting a good rate. Just know that adding a co-signer or applying for a joint loan can potentially slow down the loan approval process since the lender has to evaluate two people’s criteria.
- Add collateral: Some lenders offer secured personal loans and consider the item used as collateral (usually a bank account or vehicle) when assessing an application. It can add extra time to the loan approval process, but adding collateral could improve your chances of qualifying or getting a lower APR.
How to get quick cash without a personal loan
Before you borrow — especially if the rate you pre-qualify for is high — see if you can delay the expense or find an interest-free cash source. Consider cheaper alternatives first, even when you need money fast:
- Cash advance app: Cash advance apps let you borrow up to a few hundred dollars from your next paycheck, usually with low mandatory fees. If you need the cash immediately, there may be a charge for expedited funding.
- Buy now, pay later: Many major retailers offer “buy now, pay later” plans to split a purchase into multiple payments across several weeks. One of the most popular plans splits a purchase into four, interest-free biweekly payments. The ease of getting a BNPL loan, however, can lead to overspending, so it’s best to only have one at a time.
- Borrowing from family or friends: A family loan doesn’t require a formal application or underwriting process and could be ideal if your credit score or income is a barrier to getting a traditional loan at an affordable rate. If your loved one has the cash available to lend, you could get a loan quickly, though you should take time to write up a loan agreement with a payment plan both parties agree on.
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