If you have good or excellent credit, consider a credit card with an introductory interest-free period. Paying off the entire balance before the promotional period ends means you won’t pay any interest on charges you incur. Otherwise, this form of financing could be costly. If you spend more than you can afford to pay back before the offer expires, interest starts to accrue and you end up only making the minimum monthly payment for some time.

You’ll have to put up collateral to get a secured loan. However, they’re attractive to many borrowers because you can get approved with a lower credit score and minimal income. The downside is you could lose your asset if you default on the loan payments.

Some credit unions offer small-dollar emergency loans to their members. These loans are often referred to as payday loan alternatives. They are sometimes reserved for individuals with low income or credit issues who would struggle to get a personal loan elsewhere.

Pawnshop loans are available to low-income borrowers. You’ll have to hand an item worth more than what you want to borrow to the pawn shop to get cash. They’ll keep it until you repay the loan plus fees in full. But if you default on the payments, the pawnshop will sell your item to recoup its losses. Pawn shop fees often translate to APRs in the triple digits, so this is a last-resort option.

Although they’re easy to access if you have a low income and imperfect credit, payday loans should only be used as a last resort for a few reasons. For starters, the interest rates are often well into three digits. Some go as high as 650 percent, far higher than even pawnshop loans charge. And as the name suggests, the balance is generally due by your next payday. It’s dangerously easy to get into a cycle of ballooning debt with payday loans.

Low-income loans: Personal loans for a tight budget

Personal Loans

Mother and baby with dog and dad looking on from background

7 min read Published April 15, 2024

Written by

Hanneh Bareham

Edited by

Pippin Wilbers

Reviewed by

Erin Lowry

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Key takeaways

Secure a personal loan with competitive terms by exploring options such as applying for a lower loan amount, finding a cosigner or working with online lenders.
It is crucial to enough income to afford your monthly payments, as defaulting can have serious impacts on your credit score.
If you cannot get a personal loan, alternatives include secured loans and credit cards.

If you have a low income and face an unexpected expense, it may seem like a personal loan is completely out of the question. Most lenders require applicants to have a stable income. Some even require a minimum annual amount. However, some lenders don’t consider income. Others have a holistic approval and lending model.

Some lenders may charge a higher interest rate if you have a lower income. So, make sure the total monthly payment doesn’t stretch your budget too thin before signing on. Consider the interest rate, the principal loan amount and applicable fees when calculating your total monthly payment. Falling behind on your payments will leave you with credit score damage and growing debt.

How to get personal loans for low-income borrowers

Lenders want reassurance that you earn enough income to make timely loan payments when you’re adding new debt. While not all lenders have a minimum income requirement, they all have other approval criteria. For example, you may need to provide proof of income or show you have no recent defaults or bankruptcies.

Before applying, compare approval requirements between multiple lenders. Then, compare them against your own finances. Apply only to lenders whose minimum requirements you meet.

Credit score: Perfect credit isn’t required to qualify for funding. However, good personal loan rates are typically reserved for borrowers with good or excellent credit. If you have a lower credit score, expect higher interest rates and fees. For example, those with scores below 690 are likely to get a rate between 17.80 percent and 32 percent. By comparison, the average personal loan rate is currently above 12 percent.
Income: Some lenders request proof of steady and verifiable income. They may ask you to show a recent pay stub, W-2 or tax return, along with your employer’s contact information. If you’re not a W-2 employee but earn income from self-employment, side hustles, child support, alimony or government benefits, list these on your loan application.
Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: Lenders want reassurance that taking on another debt won’t overwhelm your budget. Your DTI is calculated by dividing the sum of your monthly debt payments by your total monthly gross income. Lenders like DTIs at or below 36 percent, though some lenders will accept DTIs up to 50 percent.
Proof of residence: The lender may request a copy of a mortgage statement, lease agreement, or utility bill that includes your name and physical address listed on the loan application.

If you don’t meet most lenders’ eligibility criteria and don’t need immediate funding, consider working with a credit counselor or moving forward with a debt management plan to help you pay down existing debt and improve your credit.

If you need quick funding, you can strengthen your approval odds by asking a creditworthy friend or relative to co-sign the loan with you. However, co-signing puts the co-signer on the hook for payments if you fail to make them. Make sure you can reasonably afford the payments before going this route.

Low interest personal loan lenders

These lenders feature personal loans with low interest rates to make taking out a personal loan more affordable:

Lender	APR range	Loan amounts	Loan terms	Minimum credit score
Upstart	7.80%-35.99%	$1,000-$50,000	3 - 5 years	No requirement
PenFed	7.99%-17.99%	$600-$50,000	Up to 5 years	700
Happy Money	11.72%-17.99%	$5,000-$40,000	2 - 5 years	640
PNC Bank	8.49%-24.74%	$1,000-$35,000	6 months-5 years	Not specified

Upstart

Upstart offers rapid approvals and funding in as little as one business day. What makes the lender even more attractive to prospective borrowers is that there’s no minimum credit score requirement. Instead, Upstart looks beyond your credit score by evaluating your employment and education history to gauge if you’re a good fit for a loan.

PenFed

You must join PenFed Credit Union to apply for a personal loan, and the length of your membership is considered during the underwriting process. However, it could be a worthwhile move. There are no origination fees and you can apply with a joint applicant. Plus, if you have the credit to qualify, the starting interest rate is among the lowest out of our best low-interest personal loans.

Happy Money

Happy Money offers one loan — the Payoff loan. It’s designed for consolidating high-interest credit card debt. While the minimum interest rate may not seem low, it’s much lower than the average credit card rate, which currently sits at 20.75 percent. The lender also offers online money management tools and financial education resources to help you take control of your finances.

PNC Bank

PNC Bank is a brick-and-mortar financial institution offering unsecured personal loans with minimal fees and competitive rates. The lender doesn’t share most eligibility requirements, but according to a customer service representative, PNC Bank allows joint applications. If you already have an account with PNC, you may qualify for a discounted interest rate. There are over 2,600 branches nationwide if you’d like to receive in-person support.

Alternatives to a personal loan when you have low income

Whether you’re unable to qualify for a personal loan or would prefer to explore other funding sources, consider the following options.

If you have good or excellent credit, consider a credit card with an introductory interest-free period. Paying off the entire balance before the promotional period ends means you won’t pay any interest on charges you incur. Otherwise, this form of financing could be costly. If you spend more than you can afford to pay back before the offer expires, interest starts to accrue and you end up only making the minimum monthly payment for some time.
You’ll have to put up collateral to get a secured loan. However, they’re attractive to many borrowers because you can get approved with a lower credit score and minimal income. The downside is you could lose your asset if you default on the loan payments.
Some credit unions offer small-dollar emergency loans to their members. These loans are often referred to as payday loan alternatives. They are sometimes reserved for individuals with low income or credit issues who would struggle to get a personal loan elsewhere.
Pawnshop loans are available to low-income borrowers. You’ll have to hand an item worth more than what you want to borrow to the pawn shop to get cash. They’ll keep it until you repay the loan plus fees in full. But if you default on the payments, the pawnshop will sell your item to recoup its losses. Pawn shop fees often translate to APRs in the triple digits, so this is a last-resort option.
Although they’re easy to access if you have a low income and imperfect credit, payday loans should only be used as a last resort for a few reasons. For starters, the interest rates are often well into three digits. Some go as high as 650 percent, far higher than even pawnshop loans charge. And as the name suggests, the balance is generally due by your next payday. It’s dangerously easy to get into a cycle of ballooning debt with payday loans.

The bottom line

Taking out a personal loan is sometimes necessary, but having lower income can make it challenging to manage. The upside is some lenders offer flexible, affordable loan products with competitive rates for those with a lower income. However, before you apply, make sure you can afford the monthly payments. Explore well-regulated options like personal loans and credit cards before turning to riskier, higher-interest alternatives.