Our service sits between you and a network of lenders. You send one request; lenders that may be able to help respond with offers; you compare them and finish the loan directly with the lender you pick. Using the form is free, and you are never obligated to accept an offer.
Below is exactly what happens at each step, what information is used, when your credit is checked, and how long things usually take.
- Submit one short requestChoose an amount between $500 and $5,000, tell us what the money is for, and answer a few questions about income, housing and contact details. The form takes about five minutes.
- Get matched with lendersYour request is shared with lenders and lending partners in our network that serve your state and lend in your range. Lenders that may be a fit review it, often with a soft credit inquiry.
- Review and compare offersCompare the APR, term, origination fee, monthly payment and total repaid on each offer. Choose one, or decline them all at no cost.
- Apply and e-sign with the lenderFinish the application on the lender's site. The lender may run a hard credit inquiry, verify your details and send a loan agreement to e-sign.
- Receive funds from the lenderAfter approval and e-signing, the lender sends the money to your checking account, often as soon as the next business day depending on the lender and your bank.
Step 1: Submit your request
Start on the request form. You'll pick an amount between $500 and $5,000 and the reason you need it, such as a car repair, a medical bill, a move, a vet visit or consolidating card balances.
Next come the questions lenders need to evaluate a request:
- Your name, date of birth, email, phone number and home address
- How you're paid and roughly how much you earn each month
- Whether you rent or own your home
- Your checking account details, so a lender can deposit funds if you're approved
- Your Social Security number, which lenders use to confirm identity and review credit
Before you start, check that you meet the basics most lenders require: you're at least 18 (19 in Alabama and Nebraska), a U.S. resident with a checking account in your name, and you have a steady source of income. Our eligibility guide covers the details.
Step 2: Get matched
When you submit, your request is shared with lenders and lending partners in our network that operate in your state and offer loans in the amount you asked for. Matching usually takes a few minutes.
Each lender applies its own criteria. Many use a soft credit inquiry at this stage, which lets them show you a prequalified offer without affecting your credit score. If a lender can't help, it simply won't make an offer. You may receive one offer, several, or none, depending on your credit profile, income, state and the amount requested.
If no lender is able to make an offer, you'll be told on screen. In some cases we may show you other financial products or services from partners that could be a fit.
Step 3: Review and compare offers
Every offer comes from a lender, not from us, and every lender sets its own terms. Read each one for these five numbers:
| Item | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| APR | The yearly cost of the loan including interest and most fees. Personal loan APRs commonly range from about 6% to 36%. |
| Term | How many months you'll repay. Loans in this range commonly run about 3 to 36 months. |
| Origination fee | A one-time fee some lenders charge, commonly 0% to 10%, often deducted from what you receive. |
| Monthly payment | The fixed amount due each month. Make sure it fits your budget with room to spare. |
| Total repaid | Everything you'll pay over the life of the loan. The best single number for comparing offers. |
Representative example (estimate): $2,000 borrowed over 12 months at 24% APR = 12 monthly payments of about $189.12; total repaid about $2,269.43 (about $269.43 in interest). Your rate and terms will be set by the lender.
Our loan calculator lets you test different amounts and terms. Declining every offer costs nothing.
Step 4: Apply, e-sign and get funded by the lender
When you choose an offer, you'll continue on the lender's website. From this point, you're working directly with the lender, and we are no longer part of the transaction.
- Formal application. The lender confirms your details and usually runs a hard credit inquiry, which can lower your score by a few points temporarily.
- Verification. The lender may ask for a pay stub, bank statement or photo ID.
- Loan agreement. If approved, you'll receive a contract showing the final APR, fees, payment schedule and total cost. Read it fully before signing.
- E-signature. You sign online. Final approval and the contract terms come from the lender.
- Funding. The lender deposits the money into your checking account, often as soon as the next business day. Timing depends on the lender, the time of day you sign and your bank.
Repayment, customer service and any questions about your balance are handled by the lender named on your agreement.
What to expect after you submit
Lenders that receive your request may contact you by email, text or phone to complete an application or explain an offer. You can tell any lender you're not interested, and you can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time.
We'll never ask you to pay a fee, and no legitimate lender should ask for money before your loan is funded. If anyone does, stop and contact us. For anything else, our support team is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.