It’s one of the most frustrating experiences you’ll face when seeking out loans or other financial support: you need a loan to help you overcome bad credit—or to start establishing a credit history—but you can’t get a loan because of your existing credit score.
Since credit scores are designed to protect lenders from potentially risky lending situations, these scores can make it difficult for consumers to get the financial relief they need, when they need it. But if you’re faced with mounting bills, high-interest charges from credit card balances, or other financial situations conspiring to drag down your credit score, a loan could be a life-changing form of financial relief, helping you dig out of this whole and get your finances back on the right track.
Fortunately, even consumers with bad credit still have lending options to help them address these financial needs. If you’ve recently had a loan application rejected due to bad credit, it might be time to explore some of the personal loan products designed specifically for people in your situation.
The short answer is yes. Although some lenders and loan options will not consider borrowers due to bad credit, there are a number of alternatives available to you, including specialized loan products and lenders that make an extra effort to provide loans for consumers with bad credit or no credit at all.
In many cases, you may need to seek out a different lender than the one you have applied with in the past. Many traditional banks and credit unions are reluctant to approve loans for consumers with bad credit because of the perceived risk—as well as the fact that those institutions don’t have the proper processes in place to evaluate applications where credit scores are not a major factor.
As you seek out a lender and loan that might work with your credit situation, it’s often helpful to seek out lenders that clearly advertise loans for consumers with less-than-perfect credit.
Each lender will offer its own set of loan products and application requirements, so it’s important to do your research and find a lender whose criteria and loan options meet your needs. In general, the most common types of loans available to consumers with bad credit include the following:
While your credit score may not be referenced for certain loan applications, you will need to supply other information to meet the lender’s processing needs.
Common documentation and information required for these loans will likely include proof of identification, proof of income, and a recent checking or saving account bank statement. If providing collateral, other information may also be required to ensure this collateral meets the requirements your lender sets out.
If you need a quick influx of cash—within a day, or even within a few hours—a same-day lender is your best option for reliable cash access that doesn’t require a strong credit score.
Local same-day lenders may offer the fastest route to receiving your loan distribution. At Bell Finance, for example, we process same-day loans within hours of application—and sometimes as quickly as within 30 minutes. Always check with a lender to confirm they offer same-day loans with no credit check requirement before visiting the location or filling out an application online.