What will an emergency loan do to my credit score?

While some types of emergency loans may have an impact on your credit score, others won’t. The lender won’t report your account information to credit bureaus. Unless you default or a collection agency adds bad debts to your credit reports, it will not impact your credit score. If a lender shares your account information with the credit bureaus it’s a different story.

Online lenders, credit unions and banks often report account information to credit bureaus. Title lenders and payday lenders typically do not.

The way you manage your emergency loan will determine whether or not it will improve your credit score. Your credit score may improve if you pay your bills on time. An emergency loan can hurt your credit score if you default on payments or are late with your payments.

What is the fastest way to get an emergency loan?

Lenders often offer quick funding for qualified borrowers. Some personal loan lenders will even deposit funds in your bank account as soon as you are approved for financing.

Loan funding can take up to several weeks or even days depending on the lender. Some lenders may take longer to approve your loan application or release funds. Your personal bank or credit union might hold funds that a lender has deposited into your account for a few more days before you are able to access them.

Are you eligible for an emergency loan with no credit check?

While some lenders will grant loans without credit checks, it is not recommended. These lenders, such as payday loan lenders, are often seen as predatory and have high origination fees, high APRs and other fees. These loans may be a good option if you are in an emergency. However, it is important to exercise extreme caution. These types of loans are very costly and you may end up in a cycle of payday borrowing that is difficult to break.

What are the alternatives to emergency loans?

Alternatives to emergency loans include asking your employer for a payday advance or negotiating hardship payment plans. These options may not work for you. You could also get a cash advance from the credit card issuer (be careful, these can be expensive) or a payday loan alternative (PAL) from a credit union of $200 to $1,000. The APRs are not more than 28% and PALs must be repaid in one to six months.

Methodology

Investopedia provides impartial, thorough reviews of personal loan lenders. We gathered hundreds of data points from more than 40 lenders to help you make an informed decision about your borrowing needs.