How to Get a Personal Loan With a Credit Score Under 550

There’s poor credit – and then there are credit scores that make it close, if not impossible, to borrow at all.

If you need a personal loan, a credit score that’s 550 or less makes it difficult to qualify. But it’s still possible to get low credit score personal loans.

What is a bad credit score for personal loans?

If you’re looking for a personal loan with a credit score of 550, you likely have a good idea of what your credit score is. Unfortunately, you probably also know that you have bad credit.

A FICO credit score under 580 is considered to be poor credit. If your score is below that, it’ll be hard to qualify for a personal loan – and for a good reason. Over 60 percent of consumers with poor credit scores become delinquent on an account, according to MyFICO.com. To lenders, your credit score is an indicator of whether you’ll repay your loan.

Most personal lenders won’t even consider an applicant with a credit score under 600. But other types of personal loans or lenders might still be an option, even with a 550 credit score.

Tips to get a personal loan with a credit score of 550 or less

When you’re shopping for low-credit-score personal loans, you probably won’t have an abundance of options. And you should expect to make some tradeoffs, like paying high interest rates or even offering collateral.

But there are some strategies you can try to get a personal loan with poor credit.

1. Start rebuilding your credit

If you have a credit score of 550, you’re just 30 points from a “fair” credit score. It might be worth it to take some time improving your credit. It will still be below average, and you’re likely to pay higher interest rates. But your chances for approval will also be much higher, and you’ll get access to a much wider range of lenders.

If you want to rebuild credit, start today. You’ll want to understand how your credit score is calculated. A secured credit card is an accessible form of credit you can use to raise your credit score.

Check your credit reports for errors that could be hurting your score. And make sure you’re making every payment on time.

2. Get quotes from bad credit lenders

If you can’t wait to improve your credit, you can try reaching out to lenders that offer finance for bad credit. For these personal loans, a credit score of 550 or under might not be an obstacle to qualifying. You can apply for a pre-approval to find out if you qualify without having to fill out an application or undergo a hard credit check.

A trusted lender we recommend is OppLoans. Customers with a FICO score under 600 still have a shot at approval for an OppLoans personal loan depending on the loan amount requested and minimum income requirements. The lender offers loan amounts ranging from $500 to $4,000 and loan terms up to 24 months.

You must get your paychecks through direct deposit and live in a state where OppLoans operates. This includes Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

3. Enlist a cosigner

If you can’t rely on your own credit score to get a personal loan, try borrowing someone else’s good credit with a cosigner. A cosigner is a third party (usually a close family member or friend) who has agreed to repay your loan if you should default on it.

Choose a lender that accepts cosigners for personal loans, like Earnest or Citizens Bank. You’ll need to ask someone with good credit to act as your personal loan co-applicant. Their positive history will help offset your poor credit score, increasing your chances of approval.

If a lender does not accept cosigners for whatever reason and you’re having a hard time meeting minimum income requirements, see if the lender will consider spousal income. OppLoans is a lender that allows applicants to report spousal income on their personal loan applications for approval.

4. Ask friends or family members for a loan

Getting a personal loan from an individual usually doesn’t include a credit check. So for these personal loans, credit scores of 550 or under aren’t a big deal. You can ask a family member or friend who has the cash to lend it to you.

Before you borrow this way, fully outline and agree on the terms ahead of time. And keep up on payments to ensure the loan doesn’t hurt the relationship.

5. Get a secured loan

An unsecured personal loan might be a long shot with a credit score under 580. But you might be able to borrow against an asset to get a secured loan, including:

• Home equity with a HELOC
• A car with a car equity loan
• Savings or CDs with a savings-secured personal loan
• Retirement account with a 401k or IRA loan

Check with your bank for these types of loans. Credit unions also commonly offer savings- or CD-secured loans to help members rebuild credit.

6. Ask the lender to reconsider

If you apply for a personal loan and get rejected, you can always follow-up with the lender and ask them to reconsider, according to Debt.org.

First, you’ll want to make sure you have some good reasons why they should approve your for a loan – despite your bad credit. What other financial factors show you’re a safe bet? What additional information can you give that proves you’re a responsible borrower?

Maybe you have a high income and could easily afford the new debt. Or you have a good explanation for a past delinquency. If your credit file is thin, you could try to provide proof of positive payment history toward other bills, like your rent.

This is a bit of a long shot, but it can be worth trying. Chances of success will be higher the more proof of financial stability and security you can give. It might also help to try a credit union, which might be more flexible in their underwriting.

7. Watch for predatory lending

Last but not least – don’t sign up for a predatory loan just because you really need cash now. This includes payday loans, car title loans or advance-fee loans; they’re among the most expensive ways to borrow.

You’ll get stuck with costs you can’t afford that will only worsen your situation and could even hurt your credit. Protect yourself and watch out for predatory lenders. Take your time, research options and don’t borrow money you can’t afford to.

Interested in a personal loan?

Here is the top personal loan lender for 550 credit scores or lower.

Lender	Rates (APR)	Loan Amount
Direct Deposit required for payroll. Opploans currently operates in these states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming 1 Important Disclosures for Opploans. OppLoans Disclosures Direct Deposit required for payroll. Opploans currently operates in these states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming To qualify, a borrower must (i) be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; (ii) reside in a state where OppLoans operates; (iii) have direct deposit; (iv) meet income requirements; (v) be 18 years of age (19 in Alabama); and, (vi) meet verification standards. This information is current as of October 10, 2017 and is subject to change. Opportunity Financial, LLC lends or arranges loans in the following states: Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. We do not lend or arrange loans in all states. Opportunity Financial offers line of credit products in: Kansas, Tennessee and Virginia. Please note: This is an expensive form of credit. This service is not intended to provide a solution for longer-term credit or other financial needs. Loans made or arranged by Opportunity Financial are designed to help you meet your short-term borrowing needs. Loan amounts may vary and are dependent upon qualification criteria and state law. Refer to Loan Cost & Terms at www.opploans.com for additional details. Complete disclosures of APR, fees and payment terms are provided within the transaction documents, such as the Loan Agreement. First-time Opportunity Financial customers typically qualify for an installment loan of $1,000 to $5,000 with an APR from 59% to 199%. For example, a $1,000 loan made or arranged by Opportunity Financial with 12 bi-weekly payments of $130 has a 199% APR. After the 12th successful payment, the loan would be paid in full. Applications processed and approved before 7:30 p.m. ET Monday-Friday are typically funded the next business day. In some cases, we may not be able to verify your application information and may ask you to provide certain documents. Some customers applying for a loan may be required to submit additional documentation due to state law and qualification criteria. Lower APRs and longer terms when compared to a typical payday lending product. According to the Consumer Federation of America, a non-profit consumer advocacy group, payday loans range in size from $100 to $1,000, depending on state legal maximums and carry an average APR of 400% and an average loan term of two weeks. The maximum APR for a loan offered by OppLoans is 199% and loan sizes range from $1,000-$5,000 with a typical term of six months dependent on the state law. As of October 17, 2017. Ratings on third-party websites may periodically change; please check the third-party websites for up-to-date reviews and ratings. Google+ Rating: 4.8 out of 5 based on 1,824 reviews. Facebook Rating: 4.7 out of 5 based on 270 reviews.
	56% - 199%1	$500 - $4,000	Visit OppLoans