Get a $5,000 loan

Most lenders offer personal loans of $5,000. We reviewed over 120 personal loan and short-term lenders to help you find a $5,000 loan that suits your financial needs.

Compare 11 lenders that offer $5,000 loans

Compare rates for lenders with credit requirements that you meet. While larger loan amounts may require a higher credit rating, you can likely qualify for a $5,000 loan if your income covers monthly payments.

• SoFi's terms and conditions

  Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 29.99% APR. APR reflects the 0.25% autopay discount and a 0.25% direct deposit discount.
  SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 3/06/23 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors.
  Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive.
  Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.
  Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to potentially receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction for setting up direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A. or eligible cash management account offered by SoFi Securities, LLC (“Direct Deposit Account”), you must have an open Direct Deposit Account within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled payroll direct deposits of at least $1,000/month to a Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off direct deposits to your Direct Deposit Account. You are not required to enroll in direct deposits to receive a Loan.

How much does a $5,000 loan cost?

How much a $5,000 loan costs depends on your APR, term and lender. While personal loan rates typically range from 6% to 36%, most lenders charge higher rates for loans of this size. However, shorter terms typically come with lower rates because there’s less chance you’ll default.

Let’s take a look at an example. Here’s how your term might affect the rate, monthly payment and total interest cost of a loan, based on the lowest rates available through LightStream as of March 2023:

As this table shows, going for the longest loan term doesn’t quite halve your monthly payment — but it nearly quadruples the total loan cost. To get the most savings on the monthly payment and total interest cost, choose the shortest term that comfortably fits your budget.

Calculate your loan repayments

Use our calculator to see how much a $5,000 loan might cost you each month.

How long does it take to get a $5,000 loan funded?

You can get a $5,000 loan as soon as the day you apply, though it depends on the lender and when you apply. Online lenders are typically the fastest and send you funds within 24 hours, though some offer same-day funding if you apply and sign your loan documents in the morning.

Getting a loan from a new bank or credit union can take as long as a few weeks, depending on their underwriting process. However, it could also take a few hours if you already have a positive and longstanding relationship with a bank — they don’t need paperwork, and you won’t need to wait for a wire transfer to go through.

Since traditional lenders typically have the lowest rates, you may want to go to your current bank or credit union first when you need a loan.

How to pay off $5,000 in debt

Lenders require monthly repayments on $5,000 personal loans, usually over 2 to 7 years. Here’s how to make the most out of your payments:

• Sign up for autopay to avoid missing payments and qualify for a rate discount — most lenders will knock 0.25% off your APR.
• Make extra payments toward your loan when possible to get out of debt faster and save on interest. But ask your lender if they charge a prepayment penalty first — if they do, you may not save much.
• Ask about hardship programs if your financial situation takes a turn for the worse. Most lenders allow you to pause payments for three months if your finances change or extend the term if you need to lower your monthly bills permanently.

Eligibility requirements for a $5,000 loan

Each lender has its own set of eligibility requirements for a loan, but you’ll typically need to meet the following to be approved:

• A credit score of 600 or higher
• US citizen or permanent resident
• Age of majority in your state
• Provable monthly income
• Valid US bank account

Lenders legally can’t discriminate against the type of income you receive to qualify for a loan as long as it’s enough to cover monthly payments. But it can be difficult to prove your income if you don’t have a W2. Even if you’re unemployed, getting a loan is possible, but the application process may take longer.

How to improve your chances of approval for a $5,000 loan

There’s no one surefire way to ensure you’re approved for a loan, though the following may be able to help:

1. Check the eligibility criteria before applying. Most lenders have specific requirements you need to meet in order to qualify. If you’re not sure you’re eligible, call the lender’s customer service team to discuss your situation.
2. Order a copy of your credit report. Your credit report is the only true record of your financial history and what lenders use to judge your creditworthiness. You can order a free copy from each of the three major credit bureaus once a year.
3. Compare options before applying. Every application you submit shows up on your credit report and lowers your score. To avoid this, compare lenders before applying to find the best fit for your needs.
4. Compare loans for new borrowers. If you’re young, consider loan options geared toward young borrowers with no credit.

3 alternatives to $5,000 loans

Consider these options if you’re not sure you need exactly $5,000 — or want to qualify for a lower rate.

• Credit card. Many credit cards have credit limits of $5,000 and above. While credit cards have higher APRs than personal loans, some come with a 0% promotional APR for the first 6 to 21 months — though you typically need a credit score of 670 or higher to qualify.
• Line of credit. A personal line of credit gives you access to cash as needed for an ongoing project, so you don’t have to over-borrow when you think you might need $5,000 but aren’t sure.
• Home equity line of credit (HELOCs). While you can’t get a HELOC at $5,000, you can make a $5,000 draw the same way you would a loan. HELOCs are commonly used for home improvement projects, though you can use it for most personal expenses.

Explore other loan amounts

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings and reviewed by Anna Serio, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.

Written by

Heather Petty

Staff writer

Heather Petty was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in home and personal loans. After falling victim to a disreputable mortgage broker when buying her first home, she’s on a mission to help readers avoid similar experiences when managing their own finances. A self-proclaimed word nerd, her writing and analysis has been featured on MSN, Credit.com and MediaFeed, among other top media. Heather previously worked as a technical writer and editor for the casino systems industry and is an internationally published young adult mystery author. She earned a BA in English with a minor in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno. See full bio

Heather's expertise

Heather has written 94 Finder guides across topics including:

• Home loans
• Home equity products
• Homeowners insurance