I Need Money Fast: 20+ Ideas to Borrow or Make Quick Cash

Need money fast? There are lenders that offer same-day or even instant cash advances and lenders that work with borrowers who have good or bad credit. Fast funding has traditional requirements, such as being at least 18 years old and having a regular income. You’ll likely pay more for the convenience of getting a loan immediately, since fast loans are often more expensive than loans with a longer turnaround time.

12 fast loans for bad credit

If you have poor credit and need cash quickly, then a payday loan, short-term loan or cash advance app are a few options. While many payday lenders and cash advance providers don’t have strict credit score requirements — and may not even check your credit — these loans can get pricey. You can read more about a specific lender by selecting Read Review or Go to site.

Provider	Loan Type	Turnaround time	Min credit score	Rates or fees
Opploans	Installment loan	1 business day	None	160% - 195% APR APR, varies by lender	Go to site
Albert	Cash advance app	Instant	None	$11.99/month	Go to site
EarnIn	Cash advance app	1 to 3 business days or within minutes for a fee starting at $2.99 per transfer	None	Free	Go to site
Ace Cash Express	Payday loan	As soon as same business day	None	Varies by state	Read review
Dave	Cash advance app	Up to 3 business days or instant for a fee up to $25	None	Requires monthly membership fee (undisclosed)	Read review
LendYou	Connection service	As soon as same business day	Varies	Varies by lender	Read review
Cleo	Cash advance app	3 to 4 days or instant for a fee. of $3.99 to $9.99	None	$5.99 a month	Go to site
Brigit	Cash advance app	2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.	None	$8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee	Go to site
OneMain Financial	Personal loan	As soon as the same day	Varies	18% to 35.99%	Go to site
Chime MyPay	Cash advance app	Within 24 hours or instant for a fee of $2	None	Free	Read review
Check Into Cash	Payday loan	1 to 2 business days	None	Varies	Read review
Speedy Cash	Payday loan	1 business day	Varies	Varies	Read review

7 fast loans for good and fair credit

These lenders can be a good option if you have a credit score of 580 or higher, and you want to avoid the high rates of payday lenders or cash advance apps. Plus, you could get your loan funded within one business day if you apply online.

Provider	Turnaround time	Min credit score	Rates
Upstart	1 to 3 business days	300	6.70% to 35.99%	Go to site
Upgrade	1 to 4 business days	580	7.99% to 35.99%	Go to site
Lightstream	As soon as the same day	660	7.49% to 25.49%	Go to site
Rocketloans	As soon as the same day	640	9.116% to 29.99%	Go to site
Avant	As soon as the next business day	580	9.95% to 35.99%	Go to site
Credible	As soon as 1 business day	Fair to excellent credit	6.94% to 35.99%	Go to site
BestEgg	As soon as the next business day	640	7.99% to 35.99%	Go to site

How to apply for a fast-money loan

Follow these steps to help you borrow money as fast as possible.

1. Check your bank or credit union. Call, stop by or look on the website to see if it offers fast personal loans that you can qualify for. If available, this option could be your fastest and least expensive.
2. Check your credit score. Get an estimate of your credit rating before you compare lenders so you don’t waste time with providers you can’t qualify with.
3. Compare all options available to you. Look into all options available to people with your credit score, income and state of residence. One easy way to do this is to use a connection service to prequalify with multiple lenders.
4. Get your documents ready. Have PDFs ready for applying, such as your last three bank statements and a copy of your most recent pay stubs, proof of residence, valid ID, etc. Having these items ready can speed up the process.
5. Apply. If you’re applying online, you typically need to fill out a form with information about your income, debts and personal finances.
6. Review and sign the contract. Make sure you understand the costs, loan terms and when your payments are due. Also, look out for any information about late or prepayment penalties.

8 ways to borrow money fast

Depending on your credit score and income, you may have less emergency fast-funding loan options. Banks and credit unions typically require a good credit score, but even if you’re lacking in that department, there are multiple routes to explore if you need money fast. Some may work better for a larger emergency like your car breaking down, while others may cover smaller emergencies like needing money for gas quickly.

1. Credit card cash advance

• Turnaround: Instant
• Amount: Up your to borrowing limit

If you already have a credit card, you can withdraw a cash advance from any ATM. But this can be one of the most expensive options out there — even more expensive than payday loans for smaller amounts.

2. Pawn shops

• Turnaround: Instant
• Amount: 40% to 60% of the item’s value

If you have valuables like jewelry or electronics, you can often pawn them for around 40% to 60% of their value. You’ll get your money instantly — and your item back after you repay the money plus interest, at rates sometimes as high as 200%. However, you have a limited time to retrieve your item, usually up to 30 days.

3. Personal loan with your bank

• Turnaround: Same day to one business day
• Amount: Typically up to $50,000

Some banks offer fast, low-cost personal loans to current customers in good standing. If approved, you won’t have to wait for an ACH transfer — and you’ll usually get your funds that day.

4. Personal loan with your credit union

• Turnaround: Same day to one business day
• Amount: Typically up to $50,000

Credit unions work similarly to banks and often offer lower rates to people with fair credit. They also usually have options for borrowers who need smaller loan amounts. But for a fast loan, you may need to already be a member in good standing.

5. Payday lenders

• Turnaround: Same-day funding
• Amount: Around $100 to $500

Payday lenders often offer between $100 and $500 in same-day loans if you apply at a location or the next business day if you apply online. A few lenders will pay a percentage of your paycheck. But these often come with rates as high as 700% APR, and you risk getting caught in a cycle of debt. Consider other options first.

6. Cash advance apps

• Turnaround: Same-day funding to three business days
• Amount: Around $50 to $600

You can check out cash advance apps like EarnIn if you’re an hourly worker and try to get an advance on wages you’ve already earned this pay cycle. Instead of interest, you may have to pay for a monthly subscription. Many offer instant or same-day funding, though faster transfers usually carry a fee.

7. Online lenders

• Turnaround: Next business day funding
• Amount: Varies

Online lenders use algorithms instead of bankers to underwrite their loans, meaning you can get approved within minutes. But it usually takes a day to transfer the funds to your bank account. Online loans are easier to qualify for than a traditional bank loan, though rates may be higher.

8. PTO cash advance

• Turnaround: As little as minutes after approval
• Amount: Varies

A PTO cash advance can offer you a way to turn your hard-earned PTO into cash when you’re in a pinch. How much you qualify for depends on how much unused PTO you have. In some cases, you’ll make interest-only monthly payments on your loan until you leave your job or your term is up.

Loans below $1,000

Many personal lenders have minimum loan amounts starting at $1,000. If you need less than that, then a payday lender may be the route for you. Just keep in mind that it can be a pricey option.

• Guide to $50 loans
• Guide to $100 loans
• Guide to $500 loans
• Guide to $1,000 loans

What to watch out for with fast loans

Fast loans can help you out in an emergency, but they can come with some major drawbacks.

• High interest rates and fees. The fastest loans often cost more than traditional loans. Payday loan APRs can often top 700%.
• Short repayment periods. Payday loans can require repayment within a few weeks or a month, which can be difficult to afford. Plus, if you roll over your repayment, you’re typically charged an additional fee.
• Cycle of debt. If you roll over your loan more than once, you could end up racking up fees at a rate that makes it difficult to repay. This situation is called a debt cycle, which can lead to default. In the worst cases, your lender could even sue you for nonpayment.

Other ways to generate fast cash

Sometimes it makes more sense to find other ways to get some extra cash rather than taking out a loan. Consider these ways to generate cash if you need money fast.

• Sell stuff online. If you have anything of value you don’t need — such as old electronics, clothing or furniture — you could try selling it online. Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist are two options. Just watch out for scammers.
• Sell your gift cards. Websites like CardCash and others allow you to sell your gift cards for cash, although you won’t get the full value. In some cases, it could take a few days to receive funds, especially if you have to mail the card in.
• Short-term gig work. You can search Craigslist or other sites to find listings for short-term work that pays upon completion of the job.
• Dog walking. Are you a dog lover? You could sign up with a dog walking service like Rover or ask friends or family if they need any dog walking or pet-sitting services.
• Ridesharing or delivery services. If you have a reliable vehicle, you could drive for a ridesharing or delivery service to make some extra money. Uber even has an option where you can cash out your earnings up to six times a day.
• Look for community assistance. Many federal, state and local agencies can provide assistance to those in need if you’re short of cash for necessities like food, rent or utilities.
• Tap into your retirement account. If you have an individual retirement account (IRA) or a 401(k), you may be able to dip into those savings if you really need to. However, you may have to pay taxes or penalty fees, and if you don’t repay it, you’re shorting yourself for your retirement years.
• Ask for an advance on your paycheck. Rather than paying fees and subscription charges from a cash advance app, you could ask your boss to float you some cash until your next payday.